“Our Elbe Sandstone Mountains – a mountain landscape uniting the wild and the mild in a confined space, a piece of the living earth that is worth keeping as a single great nature protection park.”  Paul Wagner, 1931

The Saxon Switzerland provides numerous opportunities to experience nature. Enjoy the landscape while hiking, climbing, cycling, boating … and enjoy the fantastic panorama.

• almost 400 km of marked hiking paths, some surfaced, some with bridges
• mountain paths especially for experienced climbers
• 745 authorised climbing rocks with almost 11,600 climbing paths and different degrees of difficulty
• 36 km of marked out cycle paths
• A plethora of vantage points with panoramic views – for example the Bastei, Lilienstein, Brand, Schrammstein rocks, Kipphorn, Kuhstall, Goldstein
• Boat trip on the upper sluice near Hinterhermsdorf and on Amsel lake
• Neurathen rock castle

In these modern times of genetic engineering, experiencing wild, untouched nature has become a rare treat. And anyway, we have only an inkling of how these natural processes actually happen. The national park serves as an opportunity for scientific research and exploration of natural structures and processes. Amongst other things 4000 permanent observation areas have been set up in a network for the purpose of securing knowledge on long-term forest development. Opportunities for experiences, interpretation and information of nature:

• guided hikes with the national park watch
• special guided tours, excursions and presentations
• educational programmes for children and young people, families and disabled people
• Saxon Switzerland National Park House in Bad Schandau
• Information centres: "Schweizerhaus" on the famous Bastei, Amselfallbaude („lodge at Amsell falls"), the Blockhaus Brand in the vicinity of Hohnstein, the Eishaus on top of the „Großer Winterberg", the info point Schmilka and the house „Beize" with the outdoor activity area „Waldhusche" in Hinterhermsdorf
• Information boards for visitors in the area of the national park
• nature trail e. g. along the "Flößersteig" through the Kirnitzschtal and trail Hohnstein
• Brochures and leaflets with information on nature and culture