14 Eight-thousanders in the Eastern Ore Mountains

Altenberg (train station)

The starting point is the railway station in Altenberg. The route first heads to Geisingberg (8238 dm). From this point you go downhill to Geising, following the main road through the whole village. On the road towards Löwenhain you turn right onto Lindenallee to the natural swimming pool Hüttenteich. Passing the Hüttenteich swimming pool, you pass through the Erdbachtal valley, turn left towards Fürstenau and reach the summit of Traugotthöhe (8066 dm). Go back the way you came and then turn left around the Kohlhaukuppe to Zinnwald. Directly on the way towards Zinnwald is the Fuchshübel (8138 dm). The hike then leads through the forests between Altenberg and Zinnwald to Scharspitze (8072 dm) and via Biwak-Kuppe (8285 dm) to Zinnwald-Georgenfeld. The next destination are the two Lugstein peaks ("Big Lugstein" 8992 dm and "Little Lugstein" 8937 dm). From there is a fantastic view of the Bohemian Basin. You will continue your hike around the Biathlon Arena. Behind the arena is the Wüste Höhe (8266 dm - also known as the "Unbenannte Höhe"). Proceed westwards to Rehefeld and the Hemmschuh (8473 dm). Here you will find the stamping point next to the wooden hut by the ski lift. From Hemmschuh, continue along the Kammweg Erzgebirge-Vogtland trail to Schickelshöhe (8049 dm). Afterwards, your route returns back along the Kammweg Erzgebirge-Vogtland to Steinkuppe (8048 dm). Then the "14 eight-thousanders" route continues to Holzhau and through it to Kannelberg (8054 dm, also called Drachenkopf). Further on, it heads to Hermsdorf and then to the small town of Schellerhau. Here is the Stephanshöhe (8040 dm). This peak can be found easily along the hiking trail that runs parallel to the village. If you follow the trail above Schellerhau, you will reach the summit of Pöbelknochen (8328 dm). You are now on your way back to Altenberg. Passing the Gallows Ponds (Galgenteichen), you return to Altenberg railway station, your starting point. At the Tourist Information Office in Altenberg, you can pick up a T-shirt with the route logo after presenting a fully completed stamped card and voucher.