Kirnitzschtal, Hickelhöhle und Richterschlüchte

• Danger posed by deadwood in the lower part of the mountain trail: There is an increased risk of falling trees in the lower part of the mountain trail due to standing deadwood. We recommend taking the Erlsgrund and Winterbergstraße routes instead. Areas with a lot of standing deadwood should be avoided, especially in windy, rainy or snowy conditions. Further information and a marked diversion route can be found at: https://nationalpark-saechsische-schweiz.de/warnungen/bergsteig Popular hiking trail in Saxon Switzerland, Saxony. This hike leads through the core zone of Saxon Switzerland. Highlights of the route are the Großer Winterberg, the Zeughaus, the Kirnitzschtal, the Hickelhöhle and the wildly romantic Richterschlüchte. It begins at the paid car park in Schmilka with a steep climb up the mountain path towards Großer Winterberg. Once there, the ascent is rewarded with a magnificent view. The Roßsteig leads past the Alte Zeughaus, which is open seasonally, to the picturesque Kirschnitztal valley, where the route follows the river of the same name for a good stretch. Next up is the Hickelhöhe, where a detour to the Hickelkopf is well worthwhile. Finally, the route continues along the Großer Zschand to the next natural highlight of this route - the Richterschlüchte with an optional visit to the Richter Grotto. The path there is quite sandy and involves a bit of scrambling in places. Highlights of the route: - Wonderful views - Varied natural landscapes - Local flora and fauna