Hiking huts

Winter break! The forest trak "Forststeig" and all forest places to overnight are closed from November 1st. The new season starts on April 2, 2024.

Saxony Forestry Services provides select forest huts in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains (on the left side of the Elbe River) as trekking huts to Forststeig hikers to sleep in the forest. The trekking huts are not locked during this time and can be used after paying for the service by using the trekking ticket.

The general regulations for overnight stays, code of conduct in huts, the facilities as well as usage conditions must be observed when using the huts.

Code of conduct for huts

Share the huts with others in a considerate way, make space for late-comers and be quiet when others are sleeping. Every new-comer must be provided with shelter until all provided sleeping spots are occupied. Priority is given to families with children and long-distance hikers.
Always use the trekking ticket at the start of your stay and enter your name, place of residence and next goal in the hut book.
Keep the hut clean and tidy, Broom, brush & dustpan, and bucket are provided – please use them and keep dirty boots outside (bring hut slippers with you). Always close windows and doors before leaving the hut.
Monitor the gas when using gas cookers or gas lamps. Always open a window or door while cooking so that dangerous carbon monoxide vapours can escape.
Keep an eye on boiling water / food, and ensure that gas cookers and lamps are turned off over night and upon leaving the hut. Share boiled water with the other guests to help save gas.
Be careful of using the wood stoves, and never leave the fire unattended. Only burn dry wood and be careful with hot ash. Upon leaving, ensure that the fire is really extinguished. Use provided wood sparingly and replace the used wood for the next visitors.
Take everything that you brought with you when you leave. Separate your garbage. Bring two bags in order to separate recycling from garbage / food remains, so you can dispose of these in a responsible manner upon exiting the forest. Observe the rule of conduct to “experience and preserve nature” when enjoying recreation in the forest and in nature.
Smoking is prohibited in the forest and in the hut. Barbecuing is only permitted at designated areas.
Dogs are not permitted inside the hut and must be on leash in the outdoor area.
Work is being done in the forest! Observe signs and expect obstructions and forestry work.

Trekking hut facilities

Sleeping spots are only on a wooden surface with a width of 75 centimetres per person or sleeping loft.
Rain water is collected from roof run-off in water tanks and can be used for general purposes. It is not drinking water. Hut users must bring drinking water with them.
There is a hut book. At the start of their stay, hut users must enter their names in the hut book in order to assist in search and rescue measures. This also tells Saxony Forestry Services how often the hut is being used.
Since there is no electricity, candle holders are provided in most huts. Hut users should always bring a candle and a flashlight.
In order that hut users can leave the hut in a clean and tidy condition, there is always a broom, hand brush, dustpan and bucket available in the huts. Please use them.
There is a composting toilet outside the huts. Always bring your own toilet paper.
There is a sink outside of each hut for the environmentally-friendly disposal of waste water. The sink is for waste water only.
There is firewood and the necessary tool (axe) to heat the wood stove in the hut.
There is an ash container outside where ash from the wood stove can be disposed of.

What the trekking hut does not have

Mattresses, shower, bedsheets or blankets: Bring your own sleeping mat and sleeping bag.
Stove or cooker: If guests bring their own gas stove, always open the window or doors so that hazardous carbon monoxide can escape out the window!
Cooking utensils, pots, pans, dishes, cutlery or food.
Collect and dispose of garbage: All garbage must always be taken with you when you leave!
Toilet paper is generally not provided!
Drinking water and electricity: Bring your own drinking water, candles, lighter and flashlight.
Telephone: Be aware that there may not be any mobile phone service. So be sure to inform friends or acquaintances in advance of your location.

Regulations for shared use of the trekking huts (terms of use)

Trekking huts can only be reached by foot or with a bike. Guests are not permitted to drive there with motorised vehicles.
During their stay, hut users are responsible for their own organisation, planning, order and safety. Use at your own risk!
Usage of a trekking hut is only permitted for a maximum of one night.
After usage, leave the area of use in a clean condition so that the next guest finds the place neat and tidy.
The hut users recognise the “trekking hut code of conduct” and the “Saxony Forestry Services guidelines on conduct during forest recreation”, as well as the posted hut regulations.
Saxony Forestry Services can close the access route and usage area due to weather-related or unexpected operational reasons. No claims can be made based on purchasing the Trekking ticket due to these and other usage restrictions.
The liability of the Free State of Saxony shall be excluded for any damages hut users incur related to usage, as far as legally possible..
The hut user is liable for all damages caused by him/her within the framework of legal provisions, to the Saxony Forestry Services resulting from shared use (e.g. damage to the forest, paths and facilities).
The user is also liable for resulting damages related to usage of third parties, and the satisfaction of all claims that could be made against the free State of Saxony. Damage to property must be reported to Forestry Services.
In general, the following applies:

Be considerate to everyone enjoying recreation and all other forest users.
The rules and prohibitions of the respective protected area ordinance, plus any other authorisation requirements for usage apply to the protected areas, as per the Nature Conservation Act of Saxony.
Follow the guidelines given by Forestry personnel on duty with regard to forestry, hunting or forest protection and those given by authorized hut keepers about hut usage.
Smoking and fires are not permitted in the forest. Fires and barbecues are only permitted in the designated areas. If the forest fire hazard level rises to 3 or higher, the fire ban extends to the wood stoves in the huts.
Administrative offences are punishable by the responsible forestry department in accordance with § 52 SächsWaldG.

"Grenzbaude"

The “Grenzbaude” trekking hut is an old border hut whose basic substance is 100 years old. In the 2nd half of the 20th century, extension and development took place so that holiday guests could stay overnight during the time of the GDR.

Since 05/01/2015, the hut has been opened by Saxony Forestry Services as a trekking hut from mid-April to mid-October.

The trekking hut is located in the provincial forest of Saxon Switzerland left of the Elbe between Taubenteich and Hinterem Brand at approx. 430 m high in the forest district of Rosenthal.

The trekking hut has the following facilities:

Common room with a wood oven
Sleeping loft with 12 places to sleep
15 seating opportunities both inside and outside
1 compost toilet

We recommend...

for orientation bringing with you the topographical map for the National Park region of Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland (Scale 1 : 25.000; ISBN: 978-3-89679-361-4) from the state-owned organization for geo-base information and measurement for Saxony,
acquiring exact information and purchasing a sufficient amount of hut tickets!

Please also consider ...

"Haselmausbaude"

The Haselmausbaude trekking hut is an old forest hut that is located left of the Elbe along the Elbe Sandstone Forststeig between Cunnersdorf and the Czech border south of the Buchhübel at approx. 395 m high in the Rosenthal forest district.

Since 09/22/2017, the hut has been opened by Saxony Forestry Services as a trekking hut from mid-April to mid-October.

The trekking hut is reachable by trekking fans in approx. 2.5 hours from Rosenthal and in approx. 1.5 hours from Cunnersdorf via the marked hiking routes and the “Alte Drei” forest trail and complements the Grenzbaude trekking hut, which is approx. 45 minutes away.

The trekking hut has the following facilities:

Common room with a wood oven
Sleeping loft with 8 places to sleep
8 seating opportunities both inside and outside
1 compost toilet

We recommend...

for orientation bringing with you the topographical map for the National Park region of Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland (Scale 1 : 25.000; ISBN: 978-3-89679-361-4) from the state-owned organization for geo-base information and measurement for Saxony,
acquiring exact information and purchasing a sufficient amount of hut tickets!

Please also consider ...

"Willys Ruh"

The “Willys Ruh” trekking hut is an old border hut whose basic substance is over 100 years old. In the 2nd half of the 20th century, an extension took place so that more hunting guests could stay overnight at “Willys Ruh”. The hut has its name from Willy Müller, who was a forester here during the 1960s.

Since 05/01/2015, the hut has been opened by Saxony Forest Services as a trekking hut from mid-April to mid-October.

The trekking hut is located on the Hühnerberg at approx. 430 m high between Fuchsteich and Taubenteich in the Rosenthal forest district.

The trekking hut has the following facilities:

Common room with tiled stove
10 places to sleep in a separate room
15 seating opportunities both inside and outside
1 compost toilet

We recommend...

for orientation bringing with you the topographical map for the National Park region of Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland (Scale 1 : 25.000; ISBN: 978-3-89679-361-4) from the state-owned organization for geo-base information and measurement for Saxony,
acquiring exact information and purchasing a sufficient amount of hut tickets!

Please also consider ...

"Rotsteinhütte"

The “Rotsteinhütte” is an old hunting hut that is located along the Elbe Sandstone Forststeig left of the Elbe and east of the Rotstein (457 m NN) and the Winterleite forest trail in the Rosenthal forest district.

Since 06/30/2016, the hut has been opened by Sachsenforst as a trekking hut from mid-April to mid-October.

The trekking hut can be reached by trekking fans in approx. 2 hours either from Rosenthal or Cunnersdorf via the “Roter Strich” hiking trail and, through its proximity to Rotstein and Katzstein, is located in an attractive hiking area of the Saxon Forest in a conservation area in Saxon Switzerland.

The trekking hut has the following facilities:

Common room with a wood oven
10 places to sleep in common room and separate neighboring room
15 seating opportunities both inside and outside
1 compost toilet

We recommend...

for orientation bringing with you the topographical map for the National Park region of Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland (Scale 1 : 25.000; ISBN: 978-3-89679-361-4) from the state-owned organization for geo-base information and measurement for Saxony,
acquiring exact information and purchasing a sufficient amount of hut tickets!

Please also consider ...

"Kamphütte"

The “Kamphütte” trekking hut is an old forest hut that serves as a district site for the Bielatal forest district. The name of the forest hut came about because it was established as a residence and accommodation building for the forestry workers of the former neighboring Pflanzkamp (a small tree nursery for the advancement of young trees).

Since 04/28/2018, the hut has been opened by Saxony Forest Services as a trekking hut along the Elbe Sandstone Forststeig from April until October.

The trekking hut is located at the Niederen Beutwald above the the Schweizer Mühle at approx. 405 m high between Ottomühle and Raum district.

The trekking hut has the following facilities:

Common room with a wood oven
Altogether 10 places to sleep in separate room
15 seating opportunities both inside and outside
1 compost toilet

We recommend...

for orientation bringing with you the topographical map for the National Park region of Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland (Scale 1 : 25.000; ISBN: 978-3-89679-361-4) from the state-owned organization for geo-base information and measurement for Saxony,
acquiring exact information and purchasing a sufficient amount of hut tickets!