Gerstenberg Circular Trail – A taste of Canada in the Ore Mountains

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Forest idyll, views of the water and World Heritage Site

This easy circular walk starts at the car park near the Eibenstock Dam, Saxony’s largest drinking water reservoir. A wide forest path leads pleasantly around the Gerstenberg. At the first junction, keep left and follow the main path through dense coniferous woods.

Views of the dam open up time and again, whilst information boards provide interesting facts about nature and the region. About halfway along the route, it’s worth taking a detour to the dam wall. The well-maintained path leads to impressive views, and you can also top up your drinking water for free here.

Back on the route, a rest area with a view of the water invites you to linger. The peaceful surroundings are reminiscent of Nordic landscapes. Further along, traces of historic tin mining come into view.

The tour ends at the starting point, combining nature, knowledge and history.

Details

n°96156395
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.89 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 56 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 58 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 605 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 568 m
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Photos

At the start of the hike in the World Heritage Site
A break with a view of the reservoir
Along the pleasantly wide path, there are frequent informative signposts
Wurzelrudi marks the start of the mining trail

Description of the walk

Start: Hiking car park on the B283

Marking: Three Dams Hike

(S/E) Start at the car park and leave the road, heading into the forest. After about 350 m, turn left.

(1) From here, follow the clearly marked main path – the dam will always be on your left.

(2) After about 2 km, you will reach a fork in the path.
If you like, you can take a detour here along the left-hand path: downhill to the dam (return via the same route).
Continue along the path on the right, past the rest area and round the Gerstenberg to the right. Stay on the main path until you reach the first junction again.

(1) From there, continue straight ahead and after a further 350 m you will reach the car park again.
Alternatively, at the junction you can take the Mining Nature Trail to the left (approx. 1 km extra). The path has been redesigned and is highly recommended, but sure-footedness is required. It runs in two curves and ends almost opposite the car park. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 573 m - Hiking car park on the B283
  2. 1 : km 0.35 - alt. 576 m - Follow the ‘Drei-Talsperren’ sign to the left
  3. 2 : km 2.24 - alt. 584 m - Detour to the left to the dam
  4. S/E : km 4.89 - alt. 573 m - Hiking car park on the B283

Notes

Getting there

Public transport

Bus stops near the hiking route:

  • Wolfsgrün, Gasthof
  • Eibenstock, Badegärten

Directions

  • via the B283

Parking

  • Hiking car park at the start of the walk
  • Multi-storey car park at the Eibenstock Bathing Gardens

Coordinates

  • DD 50.510537, 12.603061
  • GMS 50°30'37.9"N 12°36'11.0"E
  • UTM 33U 330053 5598141
  • w3w ///sheep.intense.readable

Places to stop for refreshments

Eibenstock

Worth a visit

Author’s tip

A visit to the dam wall is highly recommended! We also recommend experiencing the World Heritage Site on the mining trail (approx. 1 km long), which starts right by the path!

Further information and links

Mining trail

Other walks in the area

Walking On the charcoal burner's nature trail around Sosa

Tourist office
Auf dem Köhlerlehrpfad rund um Sosa
↔12.45 km ↗+305 m ↘-303 m ◔4h 25 ▲Moderate
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The circular hike leads along the Köhlerweg around Sosa and offers magnificent views of the charcoal burners' village. To this day, one of the oldest craft techniques known to mankind can be experienced first-hand in Sosa. The circular hike on the Köhlerweg around Sosa leads past historic charcoal kilns and offers magnificent panoramic views of the idyllically situated charcoal burner's village. Along the way, you can watch the last commercial charcoal burner in the Ore Mountains at work in his sooty craft. Near the large car park at the dam is the former quarry for the quarry stones used in the dam wall of the Sosa dam, built between 1949 and 1952, which later also housed a charcoal kiln and where a show charcoal kiln is currently being built. Another impressive sight is the dam wall of the Sosa dam, from where there is an impressive view over the water to the Auersberg or deep into the wild and romantic rocky valley of the Höllengrund.

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Everything comes from mining! – This motto characterises the mining town of Schneeberg. Here, nature, geology, history and world heritage come together. Rich silver finds led to the emergence of the mining town of Schneeberg in 1471. After the decline of silver mining, the rich cobalt ore deposits gained worldwide importance from the 16th century onwards. From the 16th to the 19th century, the Schneeberg district was the world's largest and most important source of cobalt ore. The popular cobalt blue extracted from the ore was used in ceramics, porcelain and glass design. The lovingly decorated Baroque buildings are also witnesses to this period. Many valuable artefacts from the historic mining era in Schneeberg have been preserved, especially in Neustädtel. As early as 1978, the unique landscape, characterised by mining, was declared a protected monument. Since 6 July 2019, the Schneeberg mining landscape has also been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Ore Mountains/Krušnohoří Mining Region".

Walking Forest paths and views of the water in Carlsfeld

Tourist office
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↔5.91 km ↗+115 m ↘-114 m ◔2h 00 ▲Easy
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Experience the ridge trail, forest paths and reservoir panorama Weitersglashütte lies in the tranquil forests of the western Ore Mountains – the starting point for this nature-filled circular walk. From the turning loop, the path leads through the village to the Erzgebirge-Vogtland ridge trail, which you follow to the left. Initially, the route runs idyllically along the edge of the forest, later descending through dense woodland on narrow, root-covered paths. Small bridges cross babbling brooks before a rest area with a rustic log cabin invites you to take a break. The path then climbs gently. With every step, views of meadows and hills open up until Carlsfeld and its church come into view. A viewpoint invites you to stop for a moment. After crossing a ski slope, the route leads to the Carlsfeld dam. The tranquil expanse of water and the dam wall offer impressive views. The route leads back to the starting point via forest paths.

Walking Bad Schlema's mining and remediation nature trail Terrainkurweg 7

Tourist office
Bad Schlemas Bergbau- und Sanierungslehrpfad Terrainkurweg 7
↔9.58 km ↗+219 m ↘-220 m ◔3h 20 ▲Easy
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Walking On the E3 to Sachsenstein near Lauter

Tourist office
Auf dem E3 zum Sachsenstein bei Lauter
↔10.05 km ↗+249 m ↘-246 m ◔3h 35 ▲Moderate
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Walking Distant views guaranteed – on EB and E3 between Lauter and Schwarzenberg

Tourist office
Fernblicke garantiert - auf EB und E3 zwischen Lauter und Schwarzenberg
↔21.06 km ↗+590 m ↘-587 m ◔7h 40 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Lauter-Bernsbach (Erzgebirgskreis)
This challenging hike follows the E3 and EB trails and offers beautiful views of the low mountain range landscape. This varied hike combines sweeping views, quiet forest paths and culture in the Ore Mountains. It starts in Lauter near the outdoor swimming pool on the E3 long-distance hiking trail toDanelchristelgut,whereyou takethe turnoff to the Sachsenstein viewpoint with its impressive panorama .Passing Conradswiese and the Morgenleithe mountain restaurant, a long section through the dense Ore Mountains forestfollows .Later, the route leads via Antonsthal with its historic silver wash towards Schwarzenberg. In addition to further fascinating views, a detour to the famous forest stageawaits. The route then takes you back to the starting pointvia the Griesetal valley and the nine-trunk beech tree.

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Walking Henneberg/Oberjugel circular hiking trail

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Rundwanderweg "Henneberg/Oberjugel"
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