Ridge trail stage 11 "From Johanngeorgenstadt to Weitersglashütte"
- 5:50 h
- 20.00 km
- 676 m
- 442 m
- 677 m
- 1,018 m
- 341 m
- Start: Johanngeorgenstadt, train station
- Destination: Further glassworks
On some hiking days, the start of the ridge trail can vary slightly depending on the accommodation, as is the case in Johanngeorgenstadt. The hosts always give tips on the best access route. We hike past the youth hostel, enter the Lehmer Grund and soon reach the ridge trail after passing the ski jump facilities on the heights. This is one of the most snow-sure trails in the German low mountain range. Once in Steinbach, we follow the beautiful forest trail with its many roots. Here you can really forget time and space. Only when we reach the road do we realize that we need to pay attention again. The path takes us to the Sauschwemme and then the challenging, straight left-hand path ascent begins, first to the parking lot and then via the original Natur-Aktiv-Garten to the Auersberg (1,018 meters) with a mountain inn and fantastic views as a reward. The first observation tower in the Ore Mountains was inaugurated up here in 1861. The next 2.5-kilometre descent takes us along the Schlangenweg trail to the former hammer mill community of Wildenthal, almost 300 meters below. It lies in the valley of the "Große Bockau" and is considered one of the oldest summer resorts in the Ore Mountains. It was once a transit point for many spa guests from Karlovy Vary, including Goethe. By the time we reach our stage destination of Weitersglashütte, a drop or two of sweat may still appear on our foreheads, despite the summer resort. But we arrive at the top in a good mood - clearly, we are in the hiking flow.
Milestones: Train station - Glöckl show mine - Anton-Günther-Höhe - Lehmergrund - ski jump complex - Loipenhaus - Steinbachtal - Auersberg (1018 m) with viewing tower and nature activity garden - Wildenthal village ring - Amselweg - Alter Fritz old mining area - Weitersglashütte
Good to know
Pavements
- Street (2%)Asphalt (7%)Gravel (15%)Trail (48%)Path (29%)
Best to visit
- suitableDepends on weather
Directions
From Johanngeorgenstadt railroad station, we walk through the industrial settlement until shortly before the Potucky border crossing. We can either plunge into the hustle and bustle of the cross-border market, discover the "Glöckl" show mine underground or continue along the ridge path up to the former old town. (Please note: after crossing the Schwarzbach stream, please turn right 100 m further along Eisenwegstraße and Wittigsthaler Straße to the crossroads and then right up the beautiful meadow path to Untere Gasse and left along this to the Kammweg junction - as shown on the map)
The old town fell victim to mining decades ago and only the Evangelical Lutheran church remained standing. On the Kammweg trail, we will see that the mining safety measures and renaturation are being driven forward. Even on the way to the youth hostel or to the ski jumps, we experience distant views as far as the Bohemian Ore Mountains, blooming mountain meadows and wildly romantic stream valleys, e.g. in the Lehmergrund, on the Schwefelbach and on the Steinbach. In the birthplace of the Erzgebirge candle arch, we repeatedly encounter evidence of mining. A short detour to the Pferdegöpel mining museum is always worthwhile. Due to its altitude of between 700 - 1000 m above sea level, Johanngeorgenstadt is one of the highest towns in the Ore Mountains. NN, Johanngeorgenstadt is one of the most snow-sure winter sports resorts in the German low mountain range. The town also offers numerous sporting and cultural facilities for active vacationers all year round. Those looking to cool off on hot summer days will find it in the natural swimming pool at Schwefelbach. Via the Ziegelhüttenweg and the paved iron road, we finally reach the start of the idyllic Steinbachtal forest nature trail.
Before reaching the parking lot and Sauschwemme inn, the ridge trail branches off via Eibenstocker Straße. Passing individual farmsteads, we reach the ascent to the Auersberg. During the challenging ascent on the path alongside the road, benches invite you to rest and gather your strength. Finally, you can see the viewing tower. The detour to the summit is well worth it! At the hikers' parking lot, we follow the newly created Nature Active Garden up to an altitude of 1018 m without much effort. Here we are greeted by fantastic views from the observation tower over the Westerzgebirge, rest areas and refreshments at Haus Auersberg.
Back at the hiking parking lot, the ridge trail turns off onto the snake trail and gradually winds its way back down through the beech forest on serpentines. As soon as we see the first houses, we have reached the hammer mill village of Wildenthal. A wonderful section of the trail now lies ahead of us on the village ring road. The many opportunities to take a break and the views of the mountain landscape will inspire us. Coming from the Bärenzechenweg, we cross the road. Before the hikers' parking lot, a short ascent along the ski slope leads to the Amselweg trail. The markings guide us along the edge of the forest for one kilometer. We work up quite a sweat on the Flößholzzechenweg. The path continues straight ahead at the refuge until we reach the road. We cross the Glashüttenbach stream and reach the Zigeunergrund. Through dense forest, we pass the old mining site "Alter Fritz" and reach Weitersglashütte.
At the end of the stage, an inn invites you to stop for refreshments.
Tour information
Stop at an Inn
Equipment
Weatherproof clothing, sure-footed footwear and rucksack provisions are recommended.
Directions & Parking facilities
- Getting therefrom Schwarzenberg via S272, from Eibenstock via S275 to JohanngeorgenstadtParkingJohanngeorgenstadt, parking lots Loipenzentrum, hiking parking lot Sauschwemme
Weiterglashütte parking lots in the village and Carlsfeld
Public transportation Additional information
Author
Birgit Knöbel
Organization
Erlebnisheimat Erzgebirge
Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author
Auersberg with observation tower
Sosa and Carlsfeld dams
Weitersglashütte upland moor nature reserve
Carlsfeld with Trinitatis circular church and bandonion exhibition
Safety guidelines
Attention: Due to trees lying across private property and further danger of spruce falling on the slope, the Kammweg was rerouted from kilometer 0.1 to 1.3 via Eisenwerkstraße - Wittigthaler Straße - Bahnhofsteig - Untere Gasse. Signposting on site took place at the beginning of May.
Map
Overview map Kammweg Erzgebirge-Vogtland, scale 1 : 25,000, Publicpress-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-89920-658-6, Leporello, weatherproof and tearproof, retail price: € 14.90
Hiking, skiing and cycling map Kammweg Erzgebirge-Vogtland, scale 1 : 35,000, Dr. Barthel Verlag, ISBN 987-3-89591-059-3, retail price: €10.90