Our little adventure vacation in Saxon Switzerland last summer was a complete success. We explored the area in perfect weather and hiked more than ever before. One destination on our imaginary list was “Upper Lock in Hinterhermsdorf,” because we wanted to take a picturesque and idyllic boat trip there. We got this fantastic tip from friends who had vacationed in Saxon Switzerland a few weeks earlier. So, we set off by car to Hinterhermsdorf, where our little adventure would begin. In the following article, we’ll take you on this wonderful hike and boat trip and provide you with all the useful tips. Have fun browsing!

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• These reports might also interest you:
• Arrival in Hinterhermsdorf
• Upper Lock in Hinterhermsdorf – Starting Point
• From Königsplatz to the Hermannseck
• Boat dock at the Upper Lock in Hinterhermsdorf
• Our private boat trip
• Arrival at the Rindenhütte
• Back to the parking lot
• Upper Lock in Hinterhermsdorf – Our conclusion

Arrival in Hinterhermsdorf

Hinterhermsdorf is located in the beautiful Kirnitzsch Valley and is only about 30 minutes from Bad Schandau. If you don’t want to or can’t travel by car, it’s best to take the hiking bus 241, which runs between Pirna and Hinterhermsdorf (timetable here). Incidentally, there are a total of 12 attractive bus lines in Saxon Switzerland, all labeled “Wanderbus” (hiking bus), which will quickly take you to your destination.

If you’re arriving by car, we recommend the “Buchenparkhalle” parking lot. Although there’s a fee, it offers enough space for many cars and buses. You can also start your hike to the Upper Lock directly from the parking lot. The day ticket costs only €4, which we found more than fair. But be careful: bring coins, as this machine doesn’t accept bills. There is also a free public restroom at the parking lot.

Upper Lock in Hinterhermsdorf – Starting Point

We set off from the parking lot along the Hohweg and spontaneously decided to do this tour the other way around. According to information, most visitors go directly to the boat station (45 minutes walk), then take a boat across the Kirnitzsch River (15 minutes), and then hike a longer distance (approx. 2 hours) back to the parking lot. Why not swim against the current? No sooner said than done.

After a few meters through the forest, we came to a fork and decided to take the red path, which led us first to Königsplatz and then to Hermannseck. At this point, we had absolutely no idea whether a boater would take us the other way, but we wanted to give it a try. But first, we had almost 2 hours of hiking ahead of us, and we enjoyed the time in the truly lush nature.

From Königsplatz to Hermannseck

The first stage led us through the lush forest, past huge stones, fallen trees, and narrow crevices that we had to walk through. We noticed that we often had to walk down steps and were glad we didn’t do this tour the other way around. Pay attention to the signposts, which are usually found on trees (red line/blue line). On our way to Hermannseck, we passed the Königsplatz viewpoint, from where we had a beautiful view. We then slowly made our way down into the valley via the so-called Tunnelweg.

Now we went through a fantastic rocky landscape with many stairs and steps, as well as a kind of cave (called a tunnel). We then passed the Schweinslöcher (pork holes) and continued along the forest path towards Wettinplatz. Now we had almost made it and were getting a little closer to our destination. We hardly encountered any tourists yet, and we were practically alone. Leaving Wettinplatz behind us, we reached the crossroads at Hohberg a little later, from where we met the Blue Trail.

Boat dock at the Upper Lock in Hinterhermsdorf

We could already hear the water lapping and headed down to the right to the boat dock at the Upper Lock here in the beautiful Kirnitzsch Valley. We immediately felt the cooler and wetter climate and were amazed by this magical scenery. On one side, the water cascaded loudly; on the other, it was completely still and peaceful. In the immediate distance, we saw a fully occupied boat with a driver and sensed our opportunity. The boat came closer and closer, and soon the tourists were disembarking. We politely asked the driver if he would give us a ride, and he immediately agreed.

Our private boat ride

The driver let us board his boat and asked us if we wanted to enjoy a quiet ride or if he should tell us interesting things about the valley and the river. Naturally, we wanted to learn more about this area. So we sat completely alone with the driver on the boat and enjoyed this beautiful view. The boat glided silently through the waters of the wild and romantic Kirnitzsch Gorge, and our driver told us that the Kirnitzsch River originates right next door in Krasna Lipa, Czechia, and flows into the Elbe, 38 km away, in Bad Schandau. The river thus forms a natural border between Germany and the Czech Republic.

Our driver was very witty and narrated everything in a typical Saxon dialect. He repeatedly pushed himself and the boat off the ground with a long wooden paddle. He showed us special rock formations (e.g., in the shape of a crocodile) and plants, as well as a small heart-shaped island. This is said to be especially popular with couples in love. If we remember correctly, there was even a bra lying on the stone there. The entire trip is only about 700 meters and ended after about 15 minutes. We repeatedly encountered fully occupied boats, and the tourists inside were always surprised to see our boat empty. Apparently, no one thought of doing this hike the other way around.

Arrival at the Rindenhütte

We ended our trip at the boat station, got out of the boat, and thanked everyone for the wonderful and entertaining trip. Here at the ticket booth, we paid for our ride (€7 per person) and quickly ordered a coffee at the Rindenhütte (snack bar). You can buy small snacks and drinks there, but there are no public restrooms (you’ll find them at the parking lot). During the season, the small hut is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (cash only).

Back to the parking lot

We hiked back to the starting point along the Blue Trail. Only a relaxing 45 minutes lay ahead of us, and we met more and more visitors. We were so glad that we no longer had a super strenuous hike ahead of us. If we remember correctly, we only had to climb a few steps once. We left the Kirnitzschtal Valley via the so-called “Dachslöcher” (badger holes) and finally reached the Hohweg again. Now we were only a few minutes’ walk from our car.

Upper Schleuse in Hinterhermsdorf – Our Conclusion

After around 4 hours, we were back at the car and were so happy that we had chosen the other route when we started the hike. Firstly, this saved us the many steps up, and secondly, we were able to take the boat trip through the valley completely alone and privately. At this point, however, we would like to emphasize that we can’t say for sure whether this type of tour is generally “desirable.” Our boat driver, however, had no problem with it and was happy to take us back to the boat station on his boat. The internet recommends this route for the busy summer months to avoid the crowds. But no matter which way you do this hike, including the boat trip, it’s worth it! We highly recommend the Upper Lock in Hinterhermsdorf, including the boat trip!