Course 1a - Weiße Elster between Pegau and Leipzig

• START: 27,5 km Pegau

Entry possibility at the Schützenplatz (at normal water level behind the weir threshold under the road bridge), parking possibility for cars available

• 21,0 km Kleindalzig settling basin

Be careful when entering! After the exit there are small rapids, from about 200 m before the basin the Weiße Elster flows to Hartmannsdorf in the artificially created riverbed around the former Zwenkau open-cast mine.

• 17,9 km Zitzschen

Bridge with small rapids.

• 13,0 km gradient Hartmannsdorf

Caution, danger to life, 3 m high weir! Carry the boat to the left just after the S 186 bridge to Knautnaundorf, possibility to launch behind the weir on the concrete ramp. Caution, slippery concrete embankment when wet!

• 12,9 km Hartmannsdorf

Entry point for the half-day tour is at the concrete ramp below the weir, parking space for cars is available. Be careful, the concrete embankment is slippery when wet!

• 10,4 km Knauthain distribution weir

Caution weir! The weir is navigable when the gates are open. The weir is closed during high water - no navigation. Danger to life! Last exit before the Zschocherscher Winkel nature priority area. Do not continue driving during the special protection period.

***Zschocherscher Winkel nature priority area: To protect the valuable natural area, please refrain from navigating during the protection period from 15 February to 15 May and please observe the "10 rules for navigating rivers".***

• 9,8 km bridge Ritter-Pflugk-Straße

Be careful of the current! Start of the old riverbed of the White Elster.

• 7,1 km Großzschocher weir

Be careful of the weir! Carry around to the right. Danger to life, do not use the channel in the middle! Keep your distance from the backflow of the weir, end of the nature priority area.

• 7,0 km Sportverein Südwest e. V.

Caution, larger area with stronger current!

• 6,0 km bridge S 46

Smaller current, keep in the middle.

• 5,5 km Brückenstraße / junction

Possibility of deployment during the special protection period, parking facility for cars available.

• 4,7 km Großzschocher dividing weir

Caution weir, danger to life! Strong current, please pass at a sufficient distance along the left bank.

• 4,6 km Elster flood bed portage

Portage into the Elster flood bed above the training course past the club grounds of the Leipziger Kanu-Club eV, mooring available.

• 1,7 km horse racing track

Pier at the racecourse. Access via the racecourse path, parking available.

• 0,8 km mouth of the Elstermühlgraben

Caution: Danger to life at the Palmengarten weir! Keep your distance, turn right under the Peterssteg into the Elstermühlgraben.

• DESTINATION: Leipzig City Harbor

Exit at the pier, parking available.

Waterproof carrying bag, rain and sun protection, provisions and water. 

By car: Follow B2 to Leipziger Vorstadt in Pegau.

By bike: past the Elster-Pleiße-Auwald, Cospudener See and Zwenkauer See. Continue via Mausitz along Carsdorfer Str. into Pegau.

Schützenplatz, Pegau

ZUG: HP Pegau

BUS: HP Pegau, Kirchplatz or Elsteraue

city ​​harbor, Leipzig

TRAM: HP Leipzig, Westplatz (Leipzig Central Station - approx. 1,5 kilometers away)

By public transport: Take the RB13 or RE 12 to the Pegau stop

Facts about Course 1a

Difficulty level: for experienced paddlers

Length: about 27,5 km

Locks: none

Portage: 3x from the Pegau boarding point, 2x from the Hartmannsdorf boarding point (boat trolley helpful)

Fully usable for: Canoe (navigable downstream)

Sectionally usable for: LeipzigBoat/Boats adapted to waterways (Elsterflutbett, Elstermühlgraben), Rowing boat (Elsterflutbett, Elstermühlgraben) / Passenger shipping (Elstermühlgraben, Elsterflutbett)

Further water hiking courses and information on the tourist water network in Leipzig’s New Lake District can be found on www.gewaesserverbund.de.

Be careful, danger spots!

• Gradient level Hartmannsdorf: 3 m high weir, carry the boat in time before the weir
• Knauthain distribution weir: The weir is only navigable when the gates are open, otherwise you have to carry your boat around!
• Großzschocher fire department: The sign for the weir is just behind the bridge in Knauthain, which means it is well before the weir. There are no further signs to the weir in Großzschocher. At the weir, portage to the right and keep your distance from the weir's back current. Do not use the channel in the middle or the boat slide.
• Großzschocher division weir: strong current, please pass at a sufficient distance along the left bank
• Palmengartenwehr: keep distance

Safe and correct navigation on the waters: Tips for Water Hiking

To protect the Zschocherscher Winkel nature priority area, navigation on the section of the river towards Leipzig between the Knauthain weir and the bridge on Ritter-Plugk-Straße is not permitted from mid-February to mid-May.