Schwäbische Alb

The Hohenurachsteig is a master at showing hikers the most beautiful sides of the Swabian Alb UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. There are varied paths to go from one promising rock to the next. And in the end a proud piece of history awaits you.You can prepare yourself for a sporty climb right at the start of the hike: from the center of Bad Urach you go up to the Hanner rocks. And there is not just one, not two, but three. Each individual - the front, middle and rear - rewards you for the strenuous ascent with a few unique views of the city and the hilly landscape of the Swabian Jura. And so you practically jump from one Hanner rock to the next until you finally come to narrow forest paths and a meadow path.The next lookout point is not far: You reach the Eppenzillfelsen, from where you can see the Urach waterfall and the Hohenurach castle ruins in the distance. The latter also has to be admired up close. That's why you now descend on a narrow path along the edge of the slope, pass the Kreuzhütte with a barbecue area and climb the Schlossberg a little later, where the Hohenurach castle ruins are enthroned. Take your time, because there is not only a fantastic view to discover up here. When you are ready, you hike back to your starting point.

Everyone knows the saying: "The best comes at the end". But not this premium hiking trail: it offers you several great highlights. Right at the start, throughout the tour and, yes, at the end.To do this, you start hiking southwards at the start of the tour, the Hörnle hiking car park. A wide forest path takes you to Teck Castle, the first highlight of your hike. If you want, you can take a first break here and treat yourself to a refreshment. In any case, you should let the view work on you for a while. Then you hike back a part of the route and then along the Albtrauf in the direction of the Yellow Rock, which gives you a magnificent view of the Lenninger valley.It goes downhill for a while, then up a steep serpentine path to the Alb plateau. Signs lead you to the Rauber ruin, mystically located in the forest, where you definitely deserve a break after the strenuous ascent. How practical that there is also a barbecue area here. With the view down to Bissingen and the Teck, the food tastes twice as good. Freshly strengthened, you hike eastwards through the unique flora and fauna of the Albrand. On the way you will meet one of the last active, private cemeteries in Baden-Württemberg and a beautiful dirt road later to the Mörike House in Ochsenwang, where the German poet Eduard Mörike once lived. You will also find one or the other inn where you can stop for a rest.Then the next highlight will soon follow - the rocky outcrop of Breitenstein, which opens up a magnificent panorama of the Albvorland and the three Kaiserberge mountains. And from there it goes downhill: over the northern edge path to the foot of the Swabian Jura. Follow a serpentine path through the forest to the outskirts of Bissingen. The tour still has one highlight in store: Follow the signs up to the Hörnle, enjoy the wonderful orchards that you cross and give your tour a fitting conclusion with the fantastic panorama up there.

This ten kilometer long hike takes you from the idyllic valley of the Schlichen up to the plateau. You then hike along the edge of the eaves to the Hörnle at 956 meters. The tour starts at the Schischemhalle in Meßstetten-Tieringen.To get going for the hike, you can take a loop through the almost one kilometer long barefoot path before putting on your hiking shoes. Then you hike on the banks of the still young Schlichen, which later flows into the Neckar near Epfendorf, through the beautiful valley. At the source of the stream, you can cool off on a hot day and drink the fresh spring water.You continue to hike uphill and soon have the first great views. With good visibility you can see as far as Feldberg in the Black Forest and maybe even up to the Swiss Alps. Through the species-rich nature reserve "Hülenbuch", the path then leads you along the almost vertically sloping edge of the Albtrauf towards Hörnle. From the mountain, which is over 950 meters high, you have a great view of the region and can even look as far as the Stuttgart TV tower if the visibility is good. Make yourself comfortable on one of the benches and let your eyes wander north.Over lush meadows and then through an unspoilt spell forest you hike back to your starting point. There is another round of wellness for your feet in the barefoot park.

Once Donauwelle, completely without calories! But with a lot of enjoyment. On the eleven kilometer long DonauWelle Kraftstein circuit you will get to know the wonderful heath landscape of the nature reserve Kraftstein. The tour starts at the hiking car park "Mittlerer Platz" above the Risiberg in Dürbheim.From there you hike along the juniper heather "Grasmutter", past the hamlet of Rußberg and past formerly inhabited castle sites down to the idyllic Ursental valley. At the ruins of Bräunisburg you can enjoy a wonderful view before continuing on the edge of the valley. You cross the narrow valley and hike up on the opposite side. Now the path leads you through the nature reserve Kraftstein and on to the castle ruin of the same name. The high plateau on the Bräunisberg is almost completely covered by a juniper heath. Here you always have a great view of the valley and the densely forested slopes.In a relaxed up and down you hike back to your starting point. Shortly before the goal you will pass the Waldeck restaurant. How about finishing with a piece of Danube wave?

Beer culture is lived in Ehingen, and it is not for nothing that the town on the Danube is nicknamed the Beer Culture City. The best prerequisites for getting to know the local breweries on this 14 km hike. It starts at the Bierkulturstadt signpost on the market square.At the start of the circular hike you walk through the city center and have the chance to taste the in-house hop juice at four historic breweries. At the inner-city breweries Schwanen, Adler, Schwert and Rössle, among other things, beautiful beer gardens await you for a sociable break. Well strengthened you hike out of the city and towards the Danube.The path leads you through the Donauried on a nature experience path to Nasgenstadt. This habitat was given back to the animals and plants through extensive restoration measures. You may even spot beavers, storks or a kingfisher.In Nasgenstadt you cross the Danube and hike the next piece along the river bank to Berg. Thirst? Then a stop at the Berg brewery is just right. With fresh energy it goes back to Ehingen. There you can make yourself comfortable at the end of the hike in one of the city's beer gardens. Well then cheers!

The Wurmlinger chapel is enthroned high on the mountain - the view is accordingly great. You can enjoy this view on the five-kilometer-long Wurmlinger Kapellenwegle. When it comes to fruit, the name says it all: the path leads you along flowering orchards and steep vineyards.The tour starts at the chapel parking lot in Wurmlingen. You start on a flat route and warm yourself up completely relaxed. From Hohenzollernblick you can see the striking silhouette of the imposing castle well. Shortly afterwards you will learn interesting facts about wine growing in the region on the wine educational trail.Then the path climbs slightly to the summit of the Chapel Mountain, on which the famous Wurmling Chapel is located. Stop at this place and enjoy the wonderful view around the church. Not far from the chapel you will find a comfortable wooden lounger from which you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Ammertal.Through the vineyards and past lush meadows and fruit trees you hike back to the starting point. There is a small kiosk at the hiking car park. If you still want to stop off, you can find a good selection in Wurmlingen or in neighboring Rottenburg am Neckar.

"Swigger" has nothing to do with hip youth, this is the first name of the 4th ruler of Gundelfingen from the 12th century. The "Hochgehswiggert", which is a good six kilometers long, leads you in the footsteps of the ruler through the local recreation area Großes Lautertal. The tour starts at the Heiligental hiking car park.You hike over juniper heaths and on lined paths through the picturesque valley of the Lauter. On the way you will pass numerous sunbathing areas, refreshments and barbecues. So take the circular hike in a relaxed manner and treat yourself to an extensive break here and there.On the way you always enjoy wonderful views of the beautiful landscape. You have a particularly promising view at Derneck Castle and the Hohengundelfingen ruins. Let yourself be enchanted by the beauty of the Lauter Valley. Just like Swigger used to do before.

The Traufgängerle Hexenküche is the youngest and smallest of the eaves. The premium short hike around Ebinger Schlossberg promises pure variety and is especially fun for small hikers. The starting point of the almost five-kilometer circular tour is at the Waldheim car park in Albstadt-Ebingen.Right at the start, the path takes you past a game reserve. Maybe you are lucky and can spot wild boars from the viewing platform. Through the forest it goes on to the "witch kitchen", after which this path is named. Whether the witches once really cooked here between the rock formations or in one of the caves? able to see...You continue to the castle rock tower, from which you can enjoy a wonderful view of Albstadt-Ebingen. An ideal place to take a short break. You can then let off steam in the adventure playground on the edge of the path or in the climbing garden at Waldheim in Ebingen.

On this short circular hike you get to know the picturesque Lauchert Valley. The Lauchert flows on its way to the Danube through the quiet valley on the southern edge of the Swabian Jura. The hike starts at the parking lot at the seven cherry trees.You will soon reach the Nägelesfelsen, from which you have a first fantastic view of the valley. The path then leads you down shortly afterwards. You walk along a gravel path along the edge of the forest and can fully enjoy the peace and idyll.Then it goes up a bit again and you will soon reach the Hertenstein ruin. Only the remains of the former knight's castle can be seen today. Where the lords of the castle once looked for potential enemies, you can now enjoy a wonderful view of the peaceful Lauchert valley. If you have packed up a snack, you can make yourself comfortable on a bench and enjoy it.Through the shady beech forest you hike back to your starting point.

On this eight-kilometer circular hike you can look forward to fantastic views, narrow paths along the Alb edge and cozy wooden loungers to relax. The starting point of the Hochbergsteig, incidentally one of the five premium hiking trails Grafensteige, is at the Zittelstatt sports field in Bad Urach.At the beginning the path leads you through the meadow valley before you turn into the forest and climb uphill. You will soon reach the water stone cave. You can enter the portal of the cave, which is more than 30 meters long. A little bit uphill now, then you have reached the Alb plateau.You walk on a beautiful meadow path across the flat surface and enjoy the peace. You will soon reach the Kunstmühlefels, where you can make yourself comfortable on one of the wooden loungers and enjoy the wonderful view of the Seeburger valley. With new energy you hike on the Albkante to the viewpoint Hochbergfelsen and further to Michelskäppele. You have beautiful views of the valley and the surrounding rocks and mountains. This makes hiking in the Swabian Alb particularly fun.After you've had enough of your fill, you can take a steep path down to the valley and the starting point of the hike. In Bad Urach you will find several places to stop for a successful end to your hiking day.