Carolafelsen – Kipphorn Lookout loop from Schmilka-Hirschmühle

Hiking trails & Routes

Germany

Saxony

Saxon Switzerland

Reinhardtsdorf-Schöna

Carolafelsen – Kipphorn Lookout loop from Schmilka-Hirschmühle

Hard

4.8

(557)

1,702

hikers

Carolafelsen – Kipphorn Lookout loop from Schmilka-Hirschmühle

03:42

10.4km

530m

Hiking

Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required. The route includes a crossing by ferry. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 3, 2026

This route includes a ferry crossing

Tips

Includes segments that may be dangerous

Parts of this route comprise highly technical, difficult, or hazardous terrain. Specialist equipment and prior experience is required.

After 3.39 km for 117 m

After 3.57 km for 117 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

461 m

Schmilka Mill Bakery and Organic Brewery

Highlight • Restaurant

There is not only super-delicious bread, but also home-brewed beer. Had today vegetable pie, slightly warmed with a dip - a dream!

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473 m

Schmilka village center

Highlight • Settlement

The very lovingly restored village center with mill bakery, brewery and inns invites you to linger. A great end to any hike in the area. Bread, beer and cakes are a must-try!

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2.66 km

Heilige Stiege (Middle Section)

Highlight • Trail

To put it briefly: strenuous
But you should do it, because it's worth it.

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2.71 km

Heilige Stiege

Highlight • Trail

very nice easy exit with an endless staircase and a fantastic view of the Schmilkauer Kessel at the end.

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2.78 km

View of Heringsgrund

Highlight • Viewpoint

When the weather is nice, you have a great view over the whole of Saxon Switzerland and it is not quite as crowded as the other hotspots.

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3.17 km

Stairs to Carola Rock

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

What a beautiful path, the reward for the scramble is the view from the Carola rock🤗

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3.52 km

Carolafelsen

Highlight • Viewpoint

A great vantage point, easy to reach and great views.

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7.67 km

Kipphorn Lookout

Highlight • Viewpoint

The Kipphornaussicht is also one of the motives of the famous painter, Casper David Friedrich. Part of the well-developed and famous Malerweg, which served as a backdrop for some paintings …

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10.4 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

5.03 km

2.75 km

1.60 km

742 m

220 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

5.56 km

2.05 km

1.26 km

1.01 km

416 m

142 m

Elevation

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

Highest point (540 m)

Lowest point (120 m)

Weather

Thursday 15 October

16°C

4°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 15.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

April 23, 2022,TOURmitKIDS:Schmilka-Heilige-Stiege-großer-Winterberg

A very nice tour, but also exhausting. In particular, the descent just doesn't want to end ;-) Good weather is strongly recommended, otherwise the path will be too slippery for the descent. For children from 8 years.

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December 28, 2023,Schmilka-Heilige Stiege-Carolafelsen-Frienstein-Idagrotte-Kipphornaussicht

Short but tough hike with a number of steps. Finally, fresh mill bread from Schmilka. 🤗

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May 15, 2022,Über die Heilige Stiege zur Idargrotte und Kipphornaussicht

Hello dear hikers, yesterday we looked for a nice "easy" stair tour with wonderful vantage points in Saxon Switzerland in the best hiking weather. The starting point was the large hiking car park in Schmilka. A day ticket costs €8. From there it was a short, crisp climb up to the small bastion. Here we were able to enjoy the …

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November 20, 2022,Heilige Stiege – Großer Winterberg - Runde von Schmilka

Attractive ascent from Schmilka via the Holy Stiege. Then along the height towards Großer Winterberg, the second highest elevation in Saxon Switzerland. Unfortunately, the observation tower and restaurants have long been closed. At least there is a snack. Then it's the short but steep path through the forest over cobblestones back to Schmilka.

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December 4, 2022,🕯️🕯️ [Sächsische Schweiz ] Adventswanderung Schmilka

A sweet little hike with friends, steep climbs, impressive views and a delicious stop at the Mühlen beer garden in Schmilka.

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May 31, 2024,Großer Winterberg und Kipphornaussicht

"The person on the summit is at the same time the person on the edge of the abyss that lies before him. But the abyss is shrouded in mist. It contains the future, which is hidden from the eye of mortals."
Hans Joachim Neidhardt

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August 10, 2023,Winterberg groß und klein - Frienstein - Carolafelsen - Heilige Stiege

From Schmilka, our path led, quite steeply, first to the Kipphorn viewpoint and then to the large Winterberg.

Finding the small Winterberg was quite difficult at first, as there were no signposts to be found, but intrepid hikers like us fought our way through the thicket and suddenly the path was there.

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