Latest Information 

General:

Especially on extended weekends, holidays and during the vacation season it is difficult to get a place to stay for just one night. This is absolute peak season in Saxon Switzerland. Likewise, the months of May through October are extremely busy. Here we absolutely recommend a reservation in advance! From November to Easter you have a good chance to book an accommodation even at short notice. In the period from January to March, capacities are partly limited and there are accommodations that hibernate. Therefore, you should find out in advance whether the desired accommodation is open at the stage destination.

In the winter months, tree felling and securing work takes place frequently. This can put a lot of strain on the trails. Sturdy, high shoes are highly recommended for hikes on the Malerweg in winter. Grödel (anti-slip spikes) can be hired from the Aktiv-Zentrum Bad Schandau.

The following restrictions currently apply to the Malerweg:

• Information for holidaymakers and hikers on the current situation on the Elbe can be found here in German.
• Stage 2:
  On the night of 23 August 2024, a rockslide occurred in Amselgrund, shortly after the Pionierweg junction. After checking the danger situation, this part of the Malerweg is not passable for the time being until it is cleared, which will happen as soon as possible!
  Your alternative route: From the Bastei via the Gansweg (blue line), through the Schwedenlöcher to the Amselfall and then to Rathewalde.
  
  The Neurathen rock castle cannot be visited at the moment. The route over the Bastei Bridge is NOT affected.
• 2nd stage & 3rd stage:
  In Hohnstein, the Bärengarten road is closed until 20 December 2024 (the asphalt path up to the town hall/town hall road is affected). Please use the hiking trail that leads around the castle on the left after the closure to get to the Hohnstein market. At the start of stage 3, please first walk from the market in Hohnstein in the direction of the car park at the sewage works and from there follow the hiking trail around Hohnstein Castle. This will take you to the Bärengarten.

News from "Hiking Friendly on the Malerweg" partners:

• The Neumannmühle (stage 4): The inn and mountain lodge are always closed on Sundays and Mondays. Further closing days: 25.08.24 - 02.09.24

Good to know: You will only come across burned areas directly in a few places, as the fires were mainly in the valuable and less accessible core zone. However, these areas still need their rest. Therefore, please stay on the marked trails at all times!

Please inform yourself about news also here:

    >> Saxon Switzerland National Park
    >> Current information for guests on www.saechsische-schweiz.de

The content of the news section is frequently changing, that's why we are not able to translate this part manually. But most internet browser offer an integrated translation tool. We we recommend using the Chrome Browser. By right-click, a menu will open and there you will find an option to translate the page into your language.

Bare branches, brown needles, rotten trees. There are some stretches in the National Park area where the bark beetle has been particularly active. It is in fact a kind of natural woodland development where spruce cultures die off to make room for more resistant mixed forest vegetation. While this natural process is going on, certain precautionary measures have to be respected to cope with the danger of falling trees: Keep out of the forest in strong winds, heavy rain or when trees might break under snow. Don’t stop under fragile branches or treetops.

+++ You act at your own risk+++

Take note of diversions Attention: individual sections of the trail can be temporarily impassable because of fallen trees (bark beetle damage). This relates in particular to the 3rd, 4th and 5th stage of the Malerweg Trail.

We make efforts to provide all relevant information without delay on this page.

Before you start your trip, please inform yourself on this homepage or ask your host or tourist information staff for the current state of affairs. You can also call the National Park phone service to update yourself about closed or impassable routes in the National Park: +4935022 50240 (daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Sundays and holidays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

Our information about path closures and impassibilities is sourced from:

https://www.nationalpark-saechsische-schweiz.de/wegeservice-und-wegeinfo/

https://www.sbs.sachsen.de/neustadt-17373.html