Bouldering in the Bahratal: A weekend adventure from Berlin with public transport

During my time in Freiburg, I often had the opportunity to be in the city's climbing and bouldering gyms. While there, I constantly heard about the adventurous weekend trips my fellow climbers took to experience real rock climbing. Whether in the Black Forest, the Vosges Mountains, or the Alps, the climbing destinations seemed endless. Switzerland was practically around the corner. One often even heard of trips as far as Fontainebleau or Ticino, just to feel the real rock under one's fingers.

When I moved to Berlin, I expected similar stories of weekend adventures, but they were rare. The destinations might have been similar, but the travel time was much longer.

Finally, someone let me in on the secret: "Vic, here you go to Saxon Switzerland or the Czech Republic to climb, it's really great. Here, people aren't so proud and don't tell it around so loudly!" When I moved to Berlin, I expected similar stories of weekend adventures, but they were rare. The destinations may have been similar, but the travel time was much longer.

So I headed east, to the Czech border. The Bahra Valley was called the little Fontainebleau and was only 2 hours from Berlin. Since I love adventure, the question arose if it was possible to travel there by bus and train. I asked three adventurous friends to accompany me, borrowed tents from VAUDE Rent, and the trip could begin!

The route to Dresden was pretty easy, followed by a short S-Bahn ride to Pirna and then a bus. If you're not in a hurry and catch the right connection, the nature campground in Berggießhübel is pretty easy to get to.

Unfortunately, we were not very lucky with the weather, but we brought good mood and delicious breakfast. We could wait patiently until the sun dried the rock for us. Drying the rock is crucial if you want to climb outside, to protect holds from breaking and to preserve nature. After all, we want future generations to enjoy climbing.

In the afternoon it was finally time, the popular family block, which also looked very tempting for me, was dry enough to master some bouldering. But the most important thing was that we had a lot of fun being outside and working together on the rocks.

The skies closed in again and we returned to the campsite. There we cooked outside on the tent lawn and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere.

Unfortunately, the early rain prevented our plans for Sunday morning to be at the rock again. Nevertheless, we kept our good mood. We had come to experience adventure, nature and friendship, and that's exactly what we had found.

It was time to pack our tents. Unfortunately, the bus from the campground didn't run on weekends, so we took a short hike to Berggießhübel village to catch the bus to Pirna. So we were quickly back on the road to Berlin.

The tents were returned to Vaude Rent, and I told everyone about our "south style" adventure and how easy it is to get out for a weekend! I hope you will follow suit or find your own adventures in the great outdoors.

I hope you have fun doing it!
Vic

Arrival and accommodation

The journey from Berlin city center to the Bahratal couldn't be easier. First you drive to Dresden, either by car or environmentally friendly and relaxed by train. From there, a short S-Bahn ride will take you to Pirna, followed by a bus ride to the Bahratal. If you plan to camp, we recommend the nature campground in Berggießhübel, which offers a convenient option with all the necessary facilities.

Info and equipment on site

Crashpads can be rented at the campground, and there is a kitchen with kitchenette, dishes, and coffee maker (so you can travel light). Uwe, the campground owner, is very knowledgeable about connections and helped us find a good return connection.

Climbing in the Bahratal

The Bahratal is best known for its outstanding bouldering. The sandstone formations offer excellent grip strength and a wide range of difficulty levels, so both beginners and experienced climbers get their money's worth. In addition to bouldering, there are also top-rope and lead climbing opportunities that highlight the versatility of this climbing area.

Weather considerations and environmental protection

Before planning your trip, keep an eye on the weather forecasts, as rain can affect climbing conditions. To protect the environment, please follow basic ethical climbing practices. Clean holds, remove chalk, and take your trash with you to ensure this climbing paradise is preserved for generations to come.