Even back in the days of the GDR, Saxony was the alpine hub of East Germany. The Elbe Sandstone Mountains in Saxon Switzerland are considered a climber’s paradise, while the Ore Mountains and the Vogtland region are known for their ski resorts. After reunification in the 1990s, mountain biking took hold in Saxony. “There was a spirit of optimism, and the first single trails were created,” recalls Tilman Sobek, who, as managing director of absolutGPS, plays a leading role in Saxony’s development as a mountain biking destination.  

The state aims to become one of the leading mountain biking destinations in Germany and Central Europe. What initially sounds like a niche topic is, in fact, part of a comprehensive tourism and infrastructure strategy for the Free State. Behind the initiative lies the realization that mountain biking is no longer a marginal phenomenon, but rather a booming recreational and economic factor. At the same time, expanding mountain biking offerings is intended to help strengthen the economies of low-mountain regions, develop year-round tourism, and attract new target groups.

The foundation for this is the “Specialized Planning for Mountain Bike Tourism in the Free State of Saxony,” presented in 2021, which was developed by the Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture, and Tourism in collaboration with the Saxony State Tourism Association. It is complemented by the work of the Saxon Network Center for Mountain Bike Tourism as well as numerous concrete projects in the regions. The fact that the issue is a top political priority in the state cabinet, where the Prime Minister and his ministers deal with it directly, testifies to the importance attached to it in Saxony, Sobek emphasizes: “This is unique in Germany.”

Mountain Biking as a Market of the Future

Mountain biking and cycling tourism in general open up enormous opportunities, particularly for rural areas in Saxony. With the Ore Mountains, Vogtland, Saxon Switzerland, and the Zittau Mountains, the Free State boasts several low mountain ranges that offer ideal conditions for nature-based biking experiences. Added to this are existing flagship projects such as the Stoneman Miriquidi in the Ore Mountains, the TrailCenter Rabenberg, the Bikewelt Schöneck, and the Black Mountain Bikepark Elstra. These offerings established Saxony early on as a key destination in German mountain bike tourism.

Ever since the first mountain biking initiative emerged in 2008, systematic efforts have been made to market and establish the sport. But that required a lot of persuasion at first, as Sobek explains: “It took seven years, and we had to deal with the same problems as elsewhere. “The reservations were the same as those found in other regions and among various stakeholders in nature conservation, forestry, and agriculture.” With the “Sax Tracks” brochure, the Free State was among the pioneers among Germany’s federal states. Later, additional projects were added, such as the first German trail center at Rabenberg in 2015 or the Blockline in the Eastern Ore Mountains.

At the same time, a mountain biking network was developing across the border in the Czech Republic, leading to the creation of the so-called Bike Belt in 2016. This represents a unique, cross-border collaboration. “Here you can ride trails that cross national borders, which adds a very special sense of adventure,” says Sobek. This cross-border biking offering now also includes routes leading into Poland. The long-term strategy extends far beyond Saxony. The Free State sees itself as the “heartland” of the so-called MTB:Belt—a large cross-border mountain biking region spanning Saxony, the Czech Republic, Poland, Bavaria, and Austria. The stated goal is to jointly develop an international biking destination with a high density of offerings.

Structural Change and Year-Round Tourism

With its mountain biking strategy, Saxony aims to address the structural changes currently affecting its low mountain ranges. The Ore Mountains and other winter sports areas are under particular pressure because climate change is making winters with reliable snowfall increasingly rare. The technical planning refers to forecasts indicating that days with frost and economically viable snow periods will decline significantly in the coming decades.

By expanding biking offerings, tourism is intended to become less dependent on the winter season. Instead of attracting visitors for only a few months a year, regions are to become attractive year-round. This will allow existing infrastructure such as ski lifts, hotels, and restaurants to be utilized more efficiently. E-mountain bikes play a central role in this, as they significantly expand the target audience for biking offerings in the low mountain ranges.

Conflicts and Problems

Despite all the ambitions, the issue remains politically sensitive. This is because mountain biking takes place predominantly in natural and forested areas. That is why experts in the field repeatedly emphasize that the experience of nature and nature conservation must be considered together. To address reservations, input is sought from best-practice examples. For example, a Saxon delegation, including the minister of tourism, visited Scotland in 2023, a country whose conditions could serve as a model. 

Sobek makes no secret of the fact that Saxony, too, has faced setbacks on the path to becoming a mountain biking destination. For instance, the state’s agriculture and forestry department issued a position paper that made creating new single-track trails significantly more difficult. On the nature conservation side, meanwhile, the region has had to contend with ideological decisions that were directed against mountain biking. For example, Saxony has a 2.5-meter rule, similar to the one in Baden-Württemberg. On paths narrower than 2.5 meters that have not been approved for cycling, a fine is theoretically possible. Theoretically, because this is not currently enforced in practice, as Sobek explains. Yet such legal frameworks do not make project development any easier.&

The specialized planning relies on respectful interaction among all forest users and emphasizes the role of mountain biking as a legitimate form of recreation in natural areas. The key to conflict avoidance is visitor management. Instead of uncontrolled use, attractive and officially planned routes are intended to ensure that visitor flows can be directed in a targeted manner. This is intended to minimize conflicts with hikers, forest owners, the forestry industry, or nature conservation efforts.

Where does Saxony stand today?

A lot has happened since the publication of the specialized plan in 2021. Despite setbacks and difficulties, Sobek is convinced that they are on the right track. The Free State has established its own Saxon Network Office for Mountain Bike Tourism, which coordinates the implementation of the strategy. The office supports regions, municipalities, and project sponsors in planning, communication, and conflict management.

In addition, several concrete projects have been implemented or expanded in recent years. The Blockline in the Eastern Ore Mountains has become one of Saxony’s best-known biking destinations. The approximately 140-kilometer-long route connects several towns in the Ore Mountains and is specifically designed for families and recreational cyclists. Cross-border projects are also gaining importance. In Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland, new joint offerings with Czech partners are emerging through the “Borderless Trails.” At the same time, various regions are investing in pump tracks, skill parks, trail networks, and bike infrastructure.

In 2025, the first “Saxon Bike Summit” was also held, bringing together tourism stakeholders, municipalities, clubs, and the bike community. The network office now speaks of a significant upswing in Saxon cycling and mountain biking tourism. A lot of work is currently happening behind the scenes. “Even if, as an outsider, one might get the impression that development has lost momentum, a lot is happening behind the scenes. Over the next three to five years, Saxony will take another major step toward becoming a mountain bike destination,” predicts Sobek.

“New Horizons” at the German MTB Congress

By 2030, Saxony aims to become one of Europe’s leading cross-border mountain bike destinations. This and other forward-looking projects will be discussed from June 16 to 18 at the ninth German Mountain Bike Congress, which will take place in Aalen. Tilman Sobek, managing director of absolutGPS and an expert on Saxony, will also be speaking there about future visions for cycling tourism.