The starting point of the route is the Porschdorf stop, which lies somewhat enchantingly in the Sebnitz valley. As a station of the National Park Train U28, it is easily accessible from Bad Schandau by public transport. Just behind the stop the Sebnitz flows into the Polenz, whose valley you now follow upstream (red dot marking). "Core zone" is written on a sign at the forest edge. Here the National Park is particularly wild and in need of protection. Soon the first impressive mountain ridge comes into view. The Polenz winds elegantly in curves through the valley. At the Waltersdorf mill, cross a bridge to the other side of the river. On the left stand the rocks of the Ziegenrücken, a narrow rock formation almost two kilometers long like a wall. As a result, little light reaches this side of the valley. Perfect conditions for mosses, which partly grow here like beards on branches or completely surround trunks. On the other side, the massive Polenztal guardian moves into the light with its delicate companion, the Polenztal barbarine.
Above the Old Hockstein, the path turns right into the Schindergraben, which leads up to Hohnstein Castle. Below the castle, you pass the remains of a once mighty barrier wall of the former bear garden. The ivy-covered ruin, through which a brook babbles, stands so perfectly spooky-romantic between the slopes as if waiting to be painted on a full moon night by Caspar David Friedrich.
From Hohnstein, follow the blue mark for about 30 minutes to the Brand viewpoint. Once you arrive at the "balcony of Saxon Switzerland," you get a unique 180-degree panorama with Polenztal, fields, forests, villages, and the curious silhouettes of the table mountains on the horizon.
The epilogue of the route is the approximately 800 Brand stairs down into the valley. Once you reach Tiefen Grund, the Waitzdorfer brook and the Polenz accompany you back to Porschdorf along the blue mark.
