Wolfsschlucht Hohnstein

Useful Information

Location:	Polenztal 2, 01848 Hohnstein. (50.979949, 14.103174)
Open:	No restrictions. [2026]
Fee:	free. [2026]
Classification:	Gorge
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Wolfsschlucht Hohnstein, Polenztal 2, 01848 Hohnstein.
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History

Description

The Wolfsschlucht (Wolf’s Gorge) near Hohnstein is one of several gorges known as ‘Wolfsschlucht’, which is why we have added the place name to distinguish it. We were also somewhat undecided as to whether we should actually use ‘Hohnstein’, the name of the nearby village, or rather Hockstein, which is the name of the rock formation in which the gorge is located. It is situated not far from the Elbe in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, though not on the Elbe itself, but on a tributary called the Polenz. The S163 runs from Hohnstein to Rathewald, winding its way down into the steep valley and then, on the other side, winding its way back up between the Hockstein and the Wartenberg castle ruins. Down in the valley there is a car park for hikers, from which a footpath leads up to the Hockstein and the Hockstein viewpoint. The rocks form a labyrinth of gorges known as the Wolfsschlucht. As is typical in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, the gorges are the result of tectonic activity – fissures formed by the movement of the Earth’s crust – and the widening of these fissures through erosion, primarily due to frost action. However, there was no erosion caused by a stream. This caused the characteristic shape of the gorges, which have extremely straight walls that look as though they have been cut with a knife. This gorge here, however, is much more interesting; the walls open and close, there are cave-like passages and then open gorges again. The Wolfsschlucht has been made accessible; a steel staircase leads through it, otherwise it would only be accessible with climbing equipment.