For a stay in Hirschfeld, two hiking options take center stage: the Hirschfeld Circular Trail, rated easy, and the Vogtland Way of St. James, which passes through the town. The circular trail is a clearly defined route; the Way of St. James places Hirschfeld on the route connecting Zwickau and Hof. This lets you decide whether you are looking for a loop that returns to its starting point or want to include a section of a long-distance hiking route in your plans. Both trails give your choice of destination a specific focus, but they differ in how their routes are laid out.
The Hirschfeld Circular Trail
The 17.66-kilometer loop starts and ends in the Tierpark/Minigolf area. It leads through woods and meadows to the LochmĂĽhle and follows a stream to the Rinnelsbrunnen. The route also includes a viewpoint overlooking the Erzgebirge, nature information boards, and benches. This makes it possible to follow the route by its named landmarks and varied stretches of scenery, not just by distance. The route is rated easy. Check the trail markings and conditions locally; signs and facilities may be updated over time.
The Way of St. James through Hirschfeld
The Vogtland Way of St. James runs from Zwickau to Hof through Hirschfeld and continues via Kirchberg toward the Erzgebirge. The local section is a historic salt route and long-distance hiking route. It differs from the circular trail in how you plan your hike: the focus here is on a section of a route that extends beyond the local area. The connection from Zwickau to Hof and the link via Kirchberg set the direction. Trail markings and route maintenance may change; check the current signs if you plan to hike this route.
Wildlife Park and Seasonal Mini Golf
Hirschfeld Wildlife Park was founded in 1956. A municipal publication from 2023 lists the park as covering 23 hectares and being home to around 600 animals from more than 100 species; animal numbers may change. The wildlife park has a playground. A mini-golf course is located immediately next to it and operates seasonally. If mini golf is part of your plans, take this seasonal operation into account when planning. The Tierpark/Minigolf area is also the starting and finishing point of the circular trail.
Hiking in the Zwickau District
On a broader regional scale, the Zwickau district lies between the valley of the Zwickauer Mulde and the foothills of the Erzgebirge. The district currently has 14 FFH areas and two bird protection areas designated, covering a total of around 2,200 hectares; these figures may be revised. The area has an extensive, well-developed network of marked hiking trails, with many rest areas and places to eat. Around 700 kilometers can be explored on foot in the district. This is a different scale from the individual Hirschfeld Circular Trail: the 17.66 kilometers refer to the local loop, while the approximately 700 kilometers refer to the hiking trail network in the Zwickau district.
Discover more destinations: Werdau, Gersdorf, Zwickau, Oberlungwitz, Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Crimmitschau, Reinsdorf, Hartenstein.
Back to the main travel overview: Zwickauer Land.
