Green forest and view towards the Bastei mountain by Adriana Müller

View towards the green forest and the sandstones in the Bastei area. In the distance you can see the rock castle of Neurathen, the Bastei vantage point, and the prominent rocks called Mönch and Talwächter. Mountain landscape near Rathen in Saxon Switzerland.

On my hikes in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, I particularly enjoy the small paths in the midst of nature. Away from the main hiking trails, I love to explore vantage points and remote places where sometimes completely new perspectives on the sandstones open up. This gives me a good view of the well-known tourist destinations in the region from a distance, such as the Bastei mountain or the Amselsee lake. In my opinion it is very attractive to be very close to the tourist destinations and at the same time to enjoy the seclusion of the Saxon mountains.

Such a trail leads from the idyllic town of Rathen via the trail at the Honigsteine mountains up to the Lokomotive climbing rock. After a rest on the rock plateau, the route descends into the Amselgrund valley. After a second ascent you easily reach the Gamrig mountain. The hike leads through an idyllic forest area and is rewarded with beautiful views of the wooded mountain landscape. For this reason, I have dedicated a photo series to this hiking route.

The rugged rock formations in the Rathen area fascinate me very much. During the summer season, the striking shapes of the eroded sandstones meet the lush green of the treetops. This photo is meant to bring the scenic beauty of Saxon Switzerland into your four walls.