Steinmeier promotes German Hiking Day in Erzgebirge: 20,000 guests, lynx return and a cross-border first

Presidential trail test

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, patron of the 123rd German Hiking Day, tested a section of the Erzgebirge trail near Eibenstock on 24 July. He was accompanied by his wife Elke Büdenbender and representatives of the German Hiking Association. The event motto is “Bewegt verbunden – Gemeinsam durch das Erzgebirge.” Favorable weather prompted his remark:

Not only the patron is happy when on such a day no umbrella is necessary.

The president and his wife have recently completed hikes in the Alpine foothills and on the Swabian Alp. Steinmeier stressed that walkers are responsible nature lovers, noting their deep commitment to the environment.

Recognition for volunteers

During the hike, Steinmeier expressed gratitude to the many volunteers who maintain forest, field and mountain paths in their free time. He noted that repairing trails and updating signage involves considerable work.

We both enjoy hiking ourselves.

He made the statement on behalf of himself and his wife, reinforcing his personal connection to the pastime. The volunteers were praised for ensuring that Germany's extensive trail network remains safe and welcoming for the public.

Forest adaptation and lynx return

Forest administration representatives briefed Steinmeier on efforts to adapt Saxony’s forests to climate change, including the search for and planting of tree species that can cope with altered conditions. The Westerzgebirge forest near Eibenstock has a distinctive feature: lynxes have been reintroduced through a state release program and now roam the area again. State reintroduction efforts have established a small population of the predators, which disperse from Eibenstock into the surrounding forests. The sighting of lynx adds a rare wildlife element to the trail experience.

A cross-border festival

The 123rd German Hiking Day will be held from 24 to 27 September 2026 in the resort town of Oberwiesenthal and its surroundings. It marks the return of the country’s largest hiking event to the Erzgebirge after 23 years; the last local edition took place in Schwarzenberg in 2003. Organisers expect more than 20,000 guests from across Europe. For the first time, the German Hiking Day coincides with the European hiking festival Eurorando, forming a joint project that connects Germany and the Czech Republic across borders. The choice of Oberwiesenthal, a spa town near the Czech border, underscores the cross-border character of this year’s event. Participants will be able to walk routes that span both countries, with Eurorando providing an international dimension to the festivities.