Kammweg Erzgebirge-Vogtland Stage 8: Bärenstein - Oberwiesenthal

This route follows stage 8 of the certified "Kammweg Erzgebirge-Vogtland" premium trail, connecting Bärenstein with Oberwiesenthal on a peak-scaling and highly varied section. The hike initially leads downhill to the picturesque Cranzahl Dam, where a 500-meter (0.3-mile) long retaining wall offers an inviting spot to rest. Passing the Toskabank viewpoint with its beautifully carved wooden seating area, the trail continues toward Kretscham-Rothensehma, accompanied by the whistling of the historic Fichtelberg steam railway. After a refreshing break at a Kneipp water-treading facility and passing the "Waldeck" sports lodge, the final stretch climbs steeply up the "Himmelsleiter" (Ladder to Heaven) and the Amtssteig path. The destination rewards you atop the 1,215-meter (3,986-foot) Fichtelberg—Saxony's highest mountain—just above Oberwiesenthal, Germany's highest town. Excellent, hiker-friendly accommodations and cozy mountain inns are readily available on the Fichtelberg summit and within the winter sports resort of Oberwiesenthal; wild camping is prohibited. The start and finish points are perfectly connected to public transit via the Fichtelbergbahn steam train and regional bus networks; schedules are available through local transit networks.