Caspar David Friedrich Trail

It's doable. Few highlights, decent scenery, good fitness required, and few restaurants along the way.

The Caspar David Friedrich Trail (circular trail) begins in Krippen. The trail takes 5.5 hours. It is also a good idea to start from the Schöna S-Bahn station. Between Krippen and Schöna, the trail follows the Elbe bank halfway up, mostly in the shade, on narrow paths. Then it goes to Schöna into the town. Detours to the Kaiserkrone and Zirkelstein are recommended. In Schöna and Reinhardtsdorf, follow roads in a zigzag pattern (sometimes very unclear). Return to Krippen and then through the forest on hiking trails.

On April 29, 2024, a new circular hiking trail was opened as part of the anniversary year for the 250th birthday of Caspar David Friedrich. 😀 https://www.saechsische-schweiz.de/nebelmeer https://www.saechsische-schweiz.de/wanderungen/caspar-david-friedrich-weg Even if part of it is currently not accessible due to tree felling work and some of the information boards are not (yet) in their correct location, it is a very beautiful hiking trail. 😊

I've actually done it many times before, but after watching the interesting documentary yesterday about the CDF trail, today I went for a purely leisurely hike and relaxed, enjoying nature... No pressure on time or pace, and no running... just enjoying the trail... We started in Krippen, following the Mittelhangweg path along the Elbe to Schmilka, then climbed towards Kaiserkrone, where we quickly enjoyed breakfast... We headed down and had some delicious pea soup at the village shop... We continued along the edge of the fields and past the villages along the CDF trail back to Krippen...

"See Saxon Switzerland with different eyes: Following in the footsteps of a great romantic." - A wonderful tour that was created here by the Saxon Forest and its FÖJlers.

The Casper David Friedrich trail has applied to be Germany's most beautiful hiking trail in 2025. A relatively easy route, suitable for strollers and strollers. But beautiful and relaxing with wonderful viewpoints.

Today we did the CDF tour again in beautiful weather. The MittelhangWeg (middle slope path) between Krippen and Hirschgrund is not suitable for hikers with children or unsuitable footwear!!! The path is mostly shoulder-width wide, sometimes only 2 feet wide, and dotted with potential slip-off spots down the steep slope.

Curious about "Germany's Most Beautiful Hiking Trail (DSW 2025)," we hiked the entire Caspar David Friedrich Trail today. Starting from Krippen, you head southeast between the railway line and the Elbe bank. Beautiful trails lead you to the Kaiserkrone via the Mittelhangweg, Elbhangweg, and Aschersteig. We climbed the summit and were able to see as far as the Lilienstein with excellent views. The return route to the northwest begins with an urban section in Reinhardtsdorf-Schöna. It's on asphalt and we didn't quite enjoy it. However, if you'd like, you'll find good places to stop for refreshments halfway through. At Wolfsberg, you have a beautiful view of the surrounding area. At Schrammsteinblick, just outside Reinhardtsdorf, we visited the baroque church. Past the Old Quarry Reinhardtsdorf, the descent back to Krippen begins, again on a very beautiful trail. The hiking trail was in excellent condition during our visit. While the trail's profile is somewhat challenging, the walk was still relatively easy. Navigation was easy, and the trail was well signposted. The trail is also available from the Saxon Switzerland Tourist Board. Conclusion: Highly recommended.