"Steinbachtal" circular hiking trail

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Circular walk with many attractive viewpoints through the idyllic, rocky Steinbach Valley in the town of Schwibbogen: Johanngeorgenstadt.

The circular hike through the Steinbach Valley begins with an impressive ensemble consisting of a procession of exiles, a large pyramid and the world's largest free-standing Schwibbogen. After a short section through the village, the trail leads downhill into nature, past the edge of the forest and across a meadow with beautiful views of Rabenberg, Fichtelberg and Plattenberg. Soon the path plunges into the forest and reaches the idyllic Steinbach Valley, where it is accompanied by the splashing of the stream. Then the imposing Teufelssteine (Devil's Stones) rise up before the path climbs, crosses a road and leads back into dense forest. At the edge of the village, wide views open up. The way back passes the natural swimming pool and the horse-drawn galley, a gem of technical history and a fitting end to the tour.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.00 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 906 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 925 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,943 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,293 ft
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Photos

The world's largest Schwibbogen in Johanngeorgenstadt
The figures of the historical exile procession
Climbers enjoy the view over the forests of the Ore Mountains
Am Schwefelbach natural swimming pool

Description of the walk

Start/finish: Tourist information office in Mittelstadt. Car park at Platz des Bergmanns in Johanngeorgenstadt.

(S/E) The hike begins at the tourist information office in the town centre. We walk 1 km uphill on the yellow-marked trail along Eibenstocker Straße and turn right at Grauer Mann.

(1) There, the path continues as a meadow path.

(2) Once you reach the edge of the forest, it is only a short distance to the ski hut, a former base for the mountain rescue service.

(3) A quiet path winds its way down for about 1 km to the Kanzelstein junction.

(4) We follow the trail markers to the Kellerschleiferei.

(5) Here we turn left towards Johanngeorgenstadt and follow the path upstream. Passing the Teufelssteine (6), we reach the district of Steinbach. The path leads here into Eibenstocker Straße.

(7) From there, there are two options:

  • the quick option is to turn left along Eibenstocker Straße and return through the town (total 9.0 km)
  • The more natural option is to follow the route (total 11.4 km)

Turn right and walk just under 100 m along Eibenstocker Straße to Kammweg.

(8) Turn left towards Loipenhaus/Bhf. and follow Kammweg to Schwefelwerkstraße Pension Sonnentau.

(9) Leave Kammweg here and continue straight ahead until you reach the turn-off to the right onto Häuersteig.

(10) Turn right here. We reach the south bank of the natural swimming pool at Schwefelbach and continue to Henneberger Flügel.

(11) Turn left and continue straight ahead on Auenstraße until you reach Schwefelwerkstraße.

(12) Turn right to return to the starting point of the hike. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,726 ft - Tourist information in the town centre
  2. 1 : mi 0.65 - alt. 2,858 ft - At the Grey Man
  3. 2 : mi 1.1 - alt. 2,861 ft - Edge of forest, right
  4. 3 : mi 1.23 - alt. 2,815 ft - Ski lodge
  5. 4 : mi 1.89 - alt. 2,595 ft - Kanzelstein intersection, left
  6. 5 : mi 2.34 - alt. 2,300 ft - Cellar grinding shop, left
  7. 6 : mi 2.91 - alt. 2,477 ft - Devil's Stones
  8. 7 : mi 4.04 - alt. 2,753 ft - Steinbach, two options
  9. 8 : mi 4.2 - alt. 2,703 ft - Kammweg, left
  10. 9 : mi 5.91 - alt. 2,838 ft - Pension Sonnentau
  11. 10 : mi 6.08 - alt. 2,795 ft - Häuersteig, right
  12. 11 : mi 6.48 - alt. 2,654 ft - Henneberg wing, left
  13. 12 : mi 6.85 - alt. 2,713 ft - Schwefelwerkstraße, on the right
  14. S/E : mi 7 - alt. 2,726 ft - Tourist information in the town centre

Notes

Author's tip

Feel free to use the Steinbachtal nature trail as a nature-friendly alternative to Steinbachtalstraße.

Safety

Please watch out for traffic when crossing the road.

Equipment

We recommend weatherproof clothing, sturdy footwear and a rucksack with provisions for the journey.

Further information and links

Tourist Information Tel. 03773 888222
www.johanngeorgenstadt.de

Places to stop

Public transport

Rail

Erzgebirgsbahn railway station Johanngeorgenstadt, then approx. 2.2 km to the starting point on foot or by bus – lines 348, 346, 334 to the Platz des Bergmanns stop

RB 95 from Zwickau to Johanngeorgenstadt

Bus

  • Stop: Johanngeorgenstadt, Platz des Bergmanns
  • Line 334 from Aue to Johanngeorgenstadt (Platz des Bergmanns)
  • Line 336 from Schwarzenberg to Johanngeorgenstadt (Platz des Bergmanns)
  • Line 346 from Eibenstock to Johanngeorgenstadt (Platz des Bergmanns)
  • Line 348/350 City bus

How to get

Access via the B101 to Johanngeorgenstadt

Park

  • Car park at Platz des Bergmanns
  • Car park on Eibenstocker Str. Johanngeorgenstadt
  • Car park – Loipenhaus Johanngeorgenstadt
  • Car park – Pferdegöpel, Johanngeorgenstadt

Coordinates

  • DD 50.432116, 12.713123
  • GMS 50°25'55.6"N 12°42'47.2"E
  • UTM 33U 337587 5589176
  • w3w ///grown.service.opening

Worth a visit

Other walks in the area

Walking Henneberg/Oberjugel circular hiking trail

Tourist office
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↔5.18 mi ↗+607 ft ↘-607 ft ◔2h 55 ▲Easy
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A hike through the Ore Mountains forest and deep silence to the moor and nature reserve "Kleiner Kranichsee". The Henneberg/Oberjugel circular trail begins in Johanngeorgenstadt with its Christmas pyramid, exile procession and the largest free-standing Schwibbogen. Passing the Pferdegöpel, a technical monument to mining, the trail leads into the forest, while the natural swimming pool shimmers through the trees on the right. Along the Henneberg wing, the trail leads deep into the quiet Ore Mountain forest to the Kleiner Kranichsee high moor, one of the best-preserved moors in the low mountain range. A platform offers impressive views of the sensitive moor landscape. New to the route is a nature trail with rare moorland plants. The trail continues to the edge of the Oberjugel forest with sweeping views. It descends via the old bobsleigh run to the romantic Lehmer Grund valley and finally back to the starting point.

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Walking In the footsteps of the exiles to Johanngeorgenstadt

Tourist office
Auf den Spuren der Exulanten nach Johanngeorgenstadt
↔7.06 mi ↗+302 ft ↘-958 ft ◔3h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Czechia
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Tourist office
↔8.34 mi ↗+1,070 ft ↘-1,053 ft ◔4h 45 ▲Moderate
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Walking Forest paths and views of the water in Carlsfeld

Tourist office
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↔3.67 mi ↗+377 ft ↘-374 ft ◔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.

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Tourist office
Auf dem Köhlerlehrpfad rund um Sosa
↔7.73 mi ↗+1,001 ft ↘-994 ft ◔4h 25 ▲Moderate
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Tourist office
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Tourist office
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⚑Departure from Breitenbrunn/Erzgebirge (Erzgebirgskreis)
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