A trip with my dog to Brand viewpoint in Saxon Switzerland

Back in September of 2023, I took a trip with my dog to Saxon Switzerland (Sächsische Schweiz).

While we were there, we stayed at this hotel which turned out to be a great choice overall, and also a perfect starting point for a hike towards the famous “Brandaussicht” or Brand viewpoint. You can find all the details about this trip below.

If you are looking to spend more time in the region, I can also recommend hiking to the Herkulessäulen, another beautiful spot.

THE ROUTE

If you come by car, you can park in this paid parking lot which is close to the starting point of the hike. You can walk into the forest right behind the Parkhotel Hohnstein, which is also a great place to stay if you are looking to spend more time in the area. My review of the hotel can be found here.

The route through the national park is mostly flat and wide. Follow the signs leading to “Brand” and as you make your way towards the viewpoint, you will already get a sneak preview of what is still to come.

After roughly 30-45 minutes you will reach the Brandaussicht viewpoint where you are rewarded with a beautiful panorama. You have a really fantastic view spanning across the East, South and West of the Saxon Switzerland area.

Why not sit down for a drink or a snack at the Brand Baude restaurant and enjoy the view across the peaks for a bit longer?

HOW LONG IT TAKES AND WHO IT’S FOR

Overall, this hike took us around 90 minutes there and back. Starting from the hotel, the walk towards the viewpoint was mostly flat, a great advantage compared to other routes that lead to the Brandaussicht through an ascent of the Brandstufen (around 850 steps on various staors). This route is definitely less strenuous and suitable for less experienced hikers as well.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The Brandaussicht viewpoint was more than worth it. What a gorgeous view! This is a great route to enjoy the Brand panorama without the strenuous ascent, so this is a very nice hike to take with your dog in Saxon Switzerland.