Great Pohlshorn – Hickel Cave loop from Hinterhermsdorf

Hiking trails & Routes

Great Pohlshorn – Hickel Cave loop from Hinterhermsdorf

Hard

4.7

(117)

400

hikers

Great Pohlshorn – Hickel Cave loop from Hinterhermsdorf

05:13

17.6km

500m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 9, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Nationalpark-Kernzone

Nationalpark Sächsische Schweiz

Sächsische Schweiz

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

2.47 km

Great Pohlshorn

Highlight • Viewpoint

Your long climb to the Great Pohlhorn will be rewarded with a great view of the wooded area. Especially in autumn, when the deciduous trees turn yellow between the conifers, the viewpoint is worth a visit.

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2.49 km

Ridge Trail to Pohlshorn Viewpoint

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The path is not difficult.

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6.40 km

Old Armory (Großer Zschand)

Highlight • Mountain Hut

Whether on the way there or back, to the stones or on a bike tour through the national park: the arsenal is always a good place to stop.

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7.94 km

Großer Reitsteig

Highlight • Trail

An incredibly beautiful mountain path

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8.38 km

Thorwalder Walls

Highlight • Gorge

There used to be the Thorwalder Gratweg, a ridge path that ran directly along the edge of the cliff. With over 2,500 steps and ladders, it was one of the …

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11.0 km

Hickel Cave

Highlight • Cave

The second largest and also one of the most famous caves in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. The Hickel cave is a wide layered joint cave that is very typical of …

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11.0 km

Treppengrund Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The path on the southern edge of the Thorwalder walls leads over several meters up to Hickelkopf and connects the Stimmersdorfer way with the Great Reitsteig. At the zenith, he …

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14.8 km

Lower Sluice on the Kirnitzsch

Highlight • Monument

Here you can take a wonderful break and refresh yourself in the cool water. Then you can take a closer look at the building.

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17.6 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

10.1 km

7.36 km

130 m

Surfaces

7.60 km

7.53 km

1.58 km

840 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (400 m)

Lowest point (240 m)

Weather

Thursday 15 October

16°C

5°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

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Comments

July 9, 2024,Hickelhöhle – Kirnitzsch 💚 Runde von Hinterhermsdorf

A beautiful path, pure nature, silence, very rustic, especially in the core zone. I walked alone the whole way, wonderfully quiet....

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June 8, 2026,Coole Wanderung ab Zeltplatz Thorwaldblick

Perfect tour through the core zone almost alone!

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August 13, 2025,Rund um die Thorwalder Wände mit Hickelkopf

Today we went to Saxon Switzerland with @AllesinButterAnett times. We wanted to walk around the Thorwalder Walls and started at the Neumannmühle parking lot. First through the Grosser Zschand to the Zeughaus and then to the Kirnitzsch. From there, we continued on a wide asphalt path and later turned right to the Thorwalder Walls. At the crossing, we made a …

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October 17, 2024,ESG | entlang der Kirnitzsch und über den Großen Reitsteig - Rundweg ab Parkplatz Thorwald

The Große Reitsteig is a must if you are out and about in the Grosser Zschand. Quiet, wild and beautiful. I have photographed all the relevant signposts/markings on our route. This may help you find your way around better.

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June 16, 2023,Sächsische Schweiz. Von der Kirnitzschtalstraße zum Großen Reitsteig

Saxon Switzerland. Hiking in the Kirnitzsch valley.

To Thorwald. Kirnitzschtalstrasse. On the Stimmersdorfer Bridge over the Kirnitzsch. Stimmersdorfer way. stair reason. Hickel Cave. Great riding trail. armory. Dreisteigsteig. Kirnitzschtalstrasse. To Thorwald...

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May 22, 2026,Thorwaldwand - Hickelhöhle – Kirnitzschtal

Another very nice tour. Part of the route runs below fascinating rock formations.

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May 14, 2024,Mit Hund zu den Thorwaldwänden - Schöner Weg ohne Gefahr

Beautiful path - take provisions with you - no major dangers. My watch showed 19.1 km and 652 m of elevation.

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May 1, 2024,4. Tag sächsische Schweiz

Hm, I didn't really think the tour was that great. The climbs were strenuous, but weren't rewarding in themselves or with the result. It was a good run, but I wouldn't do it again.

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