A lot of the sandstone I saw was ridged since, over time, the sandstone has weathered and dissolved due to both natural causes and human manipulation. It is also possible to see the many layers of sand, quartz and other materials that make up each larger standstone. These stones are truly massive, mountain-sized formations! They are certainly not like a typical stone you might see in your neighborhood park.
I was completely in awe of the sandstone formations! There is a beautiful place in the national park called the Basteibrücke, which is a man-made stone bridge that connects a portion of the sandstone formations. I had a great time walking along this bridge marveling at the stone up close. I also found it very relaxing to look at the fall leaves on the trees blending into the sandstone surroundings. Since the sandstone formations are so tall, I got a great view of the Elbe River and the village of Rathen once I reached the top of the trail, too. I was really grateful that I got a chance to see such breath-taking views. It was wonderful to take a break from my usual urban life in Dresden and to get some fresh air up in the mountains!
The sandstone in the Sächsische Schweiz also extends across the German border into the Czech Republic. The national park also crosses over into the Czech Republic since the Czech border is only about 12 miles away from the Basteibrücke. Hikers are advised to bring their passports since it's common to unknowingly cross the Czech border while hiking.
