Good luck, dear hiking friends and guests,

View of the Lehmergrund
City of Johanngeorgenstadt

Our region is one of the most beautiful and oldest hiking areas in Germany. It is no coincidence that it was here, on the 1,018-meter-high Auersberg, that the idea was born in 1878 to establish the Erzgebirge Association—an initiative aimed at introducing people throughout Germany to the beauty of the Erzgebirge, with its dark forests, romantic valleys, and mountain peaks, as well as its friendly and hardworking residents.

From then on, thousands of kilometers of hiking trails were developed, built, signposted, and mapped. Observation towers, rest areas, and mountain inns sprang up. Numerous visitors—first from Saxony’s old industrial regions, and later from all over Germany—sought and found ample rest and relaxation here. One of the most prominent guests in even earlier times was, among others, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who, in his capacity as a minister, was naturally also an outstanding expert on mining in the Ore Mountains. The great German poet must have known why, on his trips to Karlsbad in Bohemia, he took the route through the Western Ore Mountains, which was arduous at the time.

We have put together some hiking suggestions for you. With the help of Wurzelrudi, the mascot of the Auersberg region—who resembles a good spirit that has lived in our forests for centuries—you can embark on interesting hikes from any town, during which, of course, numerous secrets will be discovered and revealed. Naturally, the suggested hiking tours represent only a selection from the multitude of possibilities. They can be extended, shortened, or combined. We hope you’ll see this as a guide to help you reach many interesting destinations and discover the big and small secrets along the way for yourself. Leave the stress, hustle and bustle, and traffic noise behind and set off on foot into the Auersberg region. Fragrant mountain air, murmuring streams, and the mysterious rustling of the treetops will be your companions.

Suggestions in and around Johanngeorgenstadt

Further recommendations


The Ore Mountains, which are around 130 km long and 35 km wide, owe their name to the rich silver ore deposits that were first discovered more than 800 years ago. The search for riches in the impenetrable forests soon developed into a veritable "mountain rush" and is comparable to the later gold rush in California or Alaska. Wild mining sites developed into countless villages and proud mining towns with numerous privileges.

For centuries, the Auersberg region was primarily a mining area. Almost every valley and hillside was scoured for the earth’s treasures, with tin being the most common find; it was often panned for on the surface in streams or artificial ditches. Even today, we find numerous historical remnants in the woods and fields, such as small spoil heaps, collapsed tunnels, ventilation shafts, and miles of drainage ditches.

After mining had already declined sharply in the 18th century, new industries had to support the population. In addition to woodcarving and bobbin lace-making, which are common throughout the Ore Mountains, specific crafts developed in individual communities, some of which can still be experienced today. For example, visitors to Sosa can watch the last charcoal burners in the Ore Mountains at work right over their shoulders. The people of Bockau specialized in pharmaceuticals and laboratory work, those of Eibenstock in artistic embroidery, in Carlsfeld exquisite clocks and bandonions were manufactured, and in Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz more than 30,000 bells were cast.About 100

years ago, businesspeople and middle-class residents “from the big cities” finally discovered the region’s exceptional recreational value. Thousands of “summer vacationers” were now constantly drawn to the forested area along the Erzgebirge ridge. Now, of course, it’s vacation season here all year round, and the region around the “second-highest peak in Saxony” offers not only magnificent nature but also a wealth of recreational opportunities. In a landscape that is still largely unspoiled in places, you can enjoy many interesting vacation activities while also finding complete peace and relaxation.