--- title: "Course 1a - White Elster between Pegau and Leipzig" url: "https://www.visitsaxony.com/tour/course-1a-white-elster-between-pegau-and-leipzig" description: "The White Elster is less turbulent between Pegau and Leipzig. The White Elster flows through the historic old town of Pegau, known among other things for its charming Renaissance town hall and the St. Laurentius Church with the tombstone of Margrave Wiprecht von Groitzsch and its Kreutzbach organ. The boat dock at Pegau's Schützenplatz offers two large covered rest areas and several caravan parking spaces. From here, experienced canoeists can start the approximately 27-kilometer-long water route towards Leipzig. On this route, portaging the boats at three weirs is still necessary, but the beauty of the largely untouched floodplain landscape makes this paddling trip an unforgettable experience." language: "en" type: "SportsActivityLocation" image: "https://dam.destination.one/2906012/ce9439747cf5cf9b94dbb36732f1009f9b0bdc8a3f229ba39633620ba9e20659/.jpg" breadcrumb: "Root > Home > Special > Destination.Data Details > Tour" --- GPX Share Course 1a - White Elster between Pegau and Leipzig ================================================== - 27.45 km long - Difficulty: medium - Condition: medium - Great panorama - Canoe - 7:00 h - 27.45 km - 3 m - 22 m - 105 m - 127 m - 22 m - - Start: Pegau, Schützenplatz - Destination: Leipzig, Stadthafen The route includes three portage stations and is suitable for experienced paddlers. The White Elster is less turbulent between Pegau and Leipzig. The White Elster flows through the historic old town of Pegau, known among other things for its charming Renaissance town hall and the St. Laurentius Church with the tombstone of Margrave Wiprecht von Groitzsch and its Kreutzbach organ. The boat dock at Pegau's Schützenplatz offers two large covered rest areas and several caravan parking spaces. From here, experienced canoeists can start the approximately 27-kilometer-long water route towards Leipzig. On this route, portaging the boats at three weirs is still necessary, but the beauty of the largely untouched floodplain landscape makes this paddling trip an unforgettable experience. Read more Good to know ------------ Best to visit suitable Depends on weather - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Directions - **START: 27.5 km Pegau** Entry possible at Schützenplatz (at normal water level behind the weir crest under the road bridge), parking available for cars - **21.0 km Settling basin Kleindalzig** Caution on entry! After exit, small rapids, from approx. 200 m before the basin the White Elster runs to Hartmannsdorf in an artificially created riverbed around the former Zwenkau open-pit mine. - **17.9 km Zitzschen** Bridge with small rapid. - **13.0 km Drop stage Hartmannsdorf** Caution, danger to life, 3 m high storm weir! Portage left in time shortly after the S 186 bridge to Knautnaundorf, possibility to launch behind the weir at the concrete ramp. Caution, slippery concrete banks when wet! - **12.9 km Hartmannsdorf** Entry point for half-day trip at concrete ramp below the weir, parking available for cars. Caution, slippery concrete banks when wet! - **10.4 km Distributor weir Knauthain** Caution weir installation! The weir is passable with open gates. The weir is closed at high water – no navigation. Danger to life! Last exit before nature priority area Zschocherscher Winkel. No further navigation during the special protection period. \*\*\*Nature priority area Zschocherscher Winkel: To protect this valuable natural area, please refrain from navigating during the protection period from February 15 to May 15 and observe the “10 rules for navigating flowing waters.”\*\*\* - **9.8 km Bridge Ritter-Pflugk-Straße** Caution current! Beginning of the old riverbed of the White Elster. - **7.1 km Weir Großzschocher** Caution weir installation! Portage on the right. Danger to life, do not use the fairway in the middle! Keep distance from the backflow of the weir, end of nature priority area. - **7.0 km Sports club Südwest e. V.** Caution, larger area with stronger current! - **6.0 km Bridge S 46** Smaller current, keep middle position. - **5.5 km Brückenstraße / junction** Possible to launch during the special protection period, parking available for cars. - **4.7 km Division weir Großzschocher** Caution weir installation, danger to life! Strong current, please pass at a sufficient distance along the left bank. - **4.6 km Portage site Elster floodbed** Portage into the Elster floodbed above the training route past the Leipziger Kanu-Club e.V. club grounds, dock available. - **1.7 km Horse racetrack** Dock at the racetrack. Access via Rennbahnweg, parking available. - **0.8 km Mouth Elstermühlgraben** Caution danger to life at Palmengarten weir! Keep distance, turn right under the Peterssteg into the Elstermühlgraben. - **FINISH: Stadthafen Leipzig** Exit at the dock, parking available. Read more Tour information - Stop at an Inn Equipment Waterproof transport bag, rain and sun protection, provisions and water. Read more Directions & Parking facilities **Getting there**By car: Follow B2 to Leipziger Vorstadt in Pegau. By bike: Past Elster-Pleiße floodplain forest, Cospudener See and Zwenkauer See. Then continue via Mausitz along Carsdorfer Str. into Pegau. Read more **Public transportation****Schützenplatz, Pegau** TRAIN: HP Pegau BUS: HP Pegau, Kirchplatz or Elsteraue **Stadthafen, Leipzig** TRAM: HP Leipzig, Westplatz (Leipzig Main Station - approx. 1.5 kilometers away) By public transport: Take RB13 or RE12 to Pegau station Read more Additional information **Facts about course 1a** Difficulty: for experienced paddlers Length: approx. 27.5 km Locks: none Portages: 3x from Pegau entry point, 2x from Hartmannsdorf entry point (boat trolley helpful) Fully usable for: canoe (downriver navigable) Partially usable for: LeipzigBoat/water-adapted boats (Elster floodbed, Elstermühlgraben), rowing boat (Elster floodbed, Elstermühlgraben) / passenger shipping (Elstermühlgraben, Elster floodbed) More water hiking courses and information on the tourist water network in the Leipzig New Lakes District can be found at . Read more Author Franziska Tiedtke Organization LEIPZIG REGION License (master data) Franziska Tiedtke Safety guidelines **Caution, danger spots!** - **Drop stage Hartmannsdorf:** 3 m high storm weir, portage the boat in time before the weir - **Distributor weir Knauthain:** The weir is only passable with open gates, otherwise portage the boat! - **Weir Großzschocher:** Notice of the weir is shortly after the bridge in Knauthain, therefore already far before the weir, no further signage to the weir in Großzschocher follows. Portage on the right at the weir and keep distance from the backflow of the weir. Do not use the fairway in the middle or the boat slide. - **Division weir Großzschocher:** strong current, please pass at a sufficient distance along the left bank - **Palmengarten weir:** keep distance Safe and correct on the waters: To protect the Zschocherscher Winkel nature priority area, navigation downstream between the Knauthain weir and the bridge at Ritter-Plugk-Strasse is not permitted from mid-February to mid-May. Read more Nearby ------ View on map Contact 04523 Pegau Download GPX file - - - -