Steinmeier Promotes German Hiking Day in the Ore Mountains

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier enjoys hiking and is promoting the German Hiking Day in Oberwiesenthal. The event is taking place under the motto “Active and Connected—Together Through the Ore Mountains,” with Steinmeier serving as patron. He recently tested a section of the trail in the low mountain range near Eibenstock together with his wife, Elke Büdenbender, and representatives of the German Hiking Association—in perfect weather. “It’s not just the patron who’s happy when an umbrella isn’t needed on a day like this,” he remarked about the conditions.

Steinmeier thanked all the volunteers who, in their free time, ensure that hiking trails in the woods, fields, and mountains are well maintained. Repairing and maintaining the trails, as well as putting up signs, involved a lot of work. “We both enjoy hiking ourselves,” said the Federal President on behalf of his wife, mentioning recent hikes in the Pre-Alps and the Swabian Alps. Hikers not only enjoy hiking but are also very responsible toward nature.

Representatives of the forestry administration told Steinmeier how they are adapting Saxony’s forests to the effects of climate change and which tree species are being selected and planted to cope with the changing conditions. 

Eibenstock is located in the Western Ore Mountains, and the forest has a unique feature: for some time now, lynx have once again been roaming the wilderness here. From Eibenstock, the big cats are being reintroduced into the wild through a reintroduction program run by the Free State of Saxony. 

The 123rd German Hiking Day will take place from September 24 to 27, 2026, in the spa town of Oberwiesenthal and the surrounding area. This marks the return of the country’s largest hiking event to the Ore Mountains after 23 years. In 2003, Schwarzenberg hosted the event. More than 20,000 guests from all over Europe are expected to attend. For the first time, the Hiking Day will coincide with the European hiking festival Eurorando. This creates a joint project that connects Germany and the Czech Republic across borders.