Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm
67% of reviewers say this trail is moderate
2.4miLength
620ftElevation gain
1–1.5hrEstimated time
Loop
The scenic trail through the Bielatal in Saxon Switzerland leads past impressive sandstone rock formations near the Ottomühle parking area. Winding through dense forest, the path first visits the towering Herkulessäulen before crossing toward the rock towers at Johanniswacht. Proceeding south toward the Wiesensteine, the route passes the historic Gasthof Ottomühle. The second half of the loop becomes a bit overgrown, featuring downed trees that require climbing over before reaching the Ottostein, Daxstein, and Kanzelturm. Sturdy footwear helps navigate the rugged terrain and fallen logs along this adventurous forest loop.
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Top sights
Kanzelstein
Cliff
Wohlrabhöhle
Cave
Kapuziner
Peak
Herkulessohn
Peak
Chinesischer Turm
Peak
Johanniskegel
Peak
Pötzschturm
Peak
Felsquelle
Spring
Wiesenkopf
Peak
Hauptwiesenstein
Peak
Nördlicher Wiesenstein
Peak
Mittlerer Wiesenstein
Peak
Johanniswacht
Viewpoint
Südwestliche Zinne
Peak
Krallenturm
Peak
Arnsteiner Turm
Peak
Kubulus
Peak
Harmonienadel
Peak
Harmoniekopf
Peak
Herkuleshöhle
Cave
Herkuleswand
Peak
Große Herkulessäule
Peak
Großvaterstuhl
Peak
Rumpelstilz
Peak
Johannismauer
Peak
Hinterer Wiesenstein
Peak
Artariastein
Peak
Mauerblümchen
Peak
Friederike
Peak
Hallenkopf
Peak
Wegelagerer
Peak
Fritziturm
Peak
Puppe
Peak
Schwere Zacke
Peak
Juliturm
Peak
Schwarzmühlenspitze
Peak
Kleiner Mühlenwächter
Peak
Schwarzmühlenwächter
Peak
Sachsenspitze
Peak
Herkuleskopf
Peak
Pumpenwärter
Peak
Kleiner Herkulesstein
Peak
Vorderer Schroffer Stein
Peak
Herkulesstein
Peak
Schraubenkopf
Peak
Kleine Zinne
Peak
Mäuseturm
Peak
Glatte Keule
Peak
Kanzelsteinaussicht
Viewpoint
Bielablick
Viewpoint
Mandarin
Peak
Käseloch
Cave
Geburtstagshöhle
Cave
Zerklüftete Wand
Peak
Rosenthaler Turm
Peak
Baumschulenturm
Peak
Baumschulenwarte
Peak
Baumschulenwächter
Peak
Daxenstein
Peak
Ottostein
Peak
Großer Mühlenwächter
Peak
Morsche Wand
Peak
Johanniskopf
Peak
Ringelturm
Peak
Zarathustra Junior
Peak
Daxkopf
Peak
Kuchenturm
Peak
Zarathustra
Peak
Zauberberg
Peak
Wiesenturm
Peak
Südlicher Wiesenstein
Peak
Schusterturm
Peak
Bielawächter
Peak
Trautmannsfels
Peak
Nasser Stein
Peak
Raupe
Peak
Schiefer Turm
Peak
Leichte Zacke
Peak
Johannisturm
Peak
Sonnenwendstein
Peak
Kanzelturm
Peak
Bewachsener Fels
Peak
Schiefe Zacke
Peak
Gesuchter Turm
Peak
Sonny
Peak
Hallenstein
Peak
Kleine Herkulessäule
Peak
Glück-Auf-Turm
Peak
Schildkrötenturm
Peak
Schluchtnadel
Peak
Hinterer Schroffer Stein
Peak
Glasergrundwand
Peak
Pagode
Peak
Große Zinne
Peak
Glasergrundwarte
Peak
Glasergrundnadel
Peak
Waldzahn
Peak
Top sights
Kanzelstein
Cliff
Wohlrabhöhle
Cave
Kapuziner
Peak
Herkulessohn
Peak
Chinesischer Turm
Peak
Johanniskegel
Peak
Pötzschturm
Peak
Felsquelle
Spring
Wiesenkopf
Peak
Hauptwiesenstein
Peak
Nördlicher Wiesenstein
Peak
Mittlerer Wiesenstein
Peak
Johanniswacht
Viewpoint
Südwestliche Zinne
Peak
Krallenturm
Peak
Arnsteiner Turm
Peak
Kubulus
Peak
Harmonienadel
Peak
Harmoniekopf
Peak
Herkuleshöhle
Cave
Herkuleswand
Peak
Große Herkulessäule
Peak
Großvaterstuhl
Peak
Rumpelstilz
Peak
Johannismauer
Peak
Hinterer Wiesenstein
Peak
Artariastein
Peak
Mauerblümchen
Peak
Friederike
Peak
Hallenkopf
Peak
Wegelagerer
Peak
Fritziturm
Peak
Puppe
Peak
Schwere Zacke
Peak
Juliturm
Peak
Schwarzmühlenspitze
Peak
Kleiner Mühlenwächter
Peak
Schwarzmühlenwächter
Peak
Sachsenspitze
Peak
Herkuleskopf
Peak
Pumpenwärter
Peak
Kleiner Herkulesstein
Peak
Vorderer Schroffer Stein
Peak
Herkulesstein
Peak
Schraubenkopf
Peak
Kleine Zinne
Peak
Mäuseturm
Peak
Glatte Keule
Peak
Kanzelsteinaussicht
Viewpoint
Bielablick
Viewpoint
Mandarin
Peak
Käseloch
Cave
Geburtstagshöhle
Cave
Zerklüftete Wand
Peak
Rosenthaler Turm
Peak
Baumschulenturm
Peak
Baumschulenwarte
Peak
Baumschulenwächter
Peak
Daxenstein
Peak
Ottostein
Peak
Großer Mühlenwächter
Peak
Morsche Wand
Peak
Johanniskopf
Peak
Ringelturm
Peak
Zarathustra Junior
Peak
Daxkopf
Peak
Kuchenturm
Peak
Zarathustra
Peak
Zauberberg
Peak
Wiesenturm
Peak
Südlicher Wiesenstein
Peak
Schusterturm
Peak
Bielawächter
Peak
Trautmannsfels
Peak
Nasser Stein
Peak
Raupe
Peak
Schiefer Turm
Peak
Leichte Zacke
Peak
Johannisturm
Peak
Sonnenwendstein
Peak
Kanzelturm
Peak
Bewachsener Fels
Peak
Schiefe Zacke
Peak
Gesuchter Turm
Peak
Sonny
Peak
Hallenstein
Peak
Kleine Herkulessäule
Peak
Glück-Auf-Turm
Peak
Schildkrötenturm
Peak
Schluchtnadel
Peak
Hinterer Schroffer Stein
Peak
Glasergrundwand
Peak
Pagode
Peak
Große Zinne
Peak
Glasergrundwarte
Peak
Glasergrundnadel
Peak
Waldzahn
Peak
Popular times
When is the trail busiest?
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Frequently asked questions
What’s helpful to know about this trail?
Experience this 2.4-mile loop trail near Rosenthal-Bielatal, Saxony. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 20 min to complete. This is a popular trail for rock climbing and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.
What is the expected weather this week for Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm?
Expected weather for Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm for the next 5 days is:
- Sat, September 26 - 65 degrees/clear
- Sun, September 27 - 64 degrees/clear
- Mon, September 28 - 66 degrees/clear
- Tue, September 29 - 65 degrees/clear
- Wed, September 30 - 64 degrees/clear
Where is Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm located?
Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm is a trail located in Saxon Switzerland National Park.
How hard is Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm?
Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm is considered a moderate hike that covers 2.4 mi, with an elevation gain of 620 ft. It takes about 1–1.5 hr to complete. Moderate trails often feature gradual climbs or obstacles like rocks or roots.
What is the elevation gain for Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm?
Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm is considered a moderate hike that covers 2.4 mi, with an elevation gain of 620 ft. It takes about 1–1.5 hr to complete. Moderate trails often feature gradual climbs or obstacles like rocks or roots.
Is Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm a loop?
Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm is a loop trail that covers 2.4 mi, with an elevation gain of 620 ft. It takes about 1–1.5 hr to complete. Loop trails have the same starting point and endpoint. You'll follow a single route without retracing your steps.
How long is Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm?
Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm is a loop trail that covers 2.4 mi, with an elevation gain of 620 ft. It takes about 1–1.5 hr to complete. Loop trails have the same starting point and endpoint. You'll follow a single route without retracing your steps.
Are dogs allowed on Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm?
Dogs may be allowed on Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm. Be sure to check regulations before heading out.
Are there scenic views at Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm?
Yes, according to trailgoers, Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm features multiple scenic viewpoints. Some of the viewpoints include Johanniswacht, Kanzelsteinaussicht, and Bielablick.
Is rock climbing allowed at Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm?
Rock climbing is allowed on Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm in Saxon Switzerland National Park. You should always double check if a permit is required.
Are there forests at Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm?
Yes, Hercules' Column - Johanniswacht - Wiesensteine - Kanzelturm is a forest trail in Saxon Switzerland National Park.
Last updated on September 24, 2026 at 3:52 am GMT+0