Most beautiful hiking trails in southern Germany

Discover the most beautiful hiking trails in southern Germany

We asked travel bloggers what their most beautiful hiking trails are in southern Germany. Discovering Europe while traveling works well with hiking. The result was a collection of hiking trails in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg that are worth discovering. From the Bavarian Forest over the Chiemgau her hikes lead as far as the Allgäu. These include easy hikes, but also challenging hikes for experienced hikers. It is worth discovering their proposals. Maybe there is something for you? Let yourself be inspired by the suggestions of travel bloggers. Browse through their hiking suggestions in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

 

 

 

Hiking trails in southern Germany recommended by travel bloggers

 

 

Hiking in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Most people know Rothenburg ob der Tauber with its towers and half-timbered houses. The fact that you can also hike there with a great view may be new. In October 2019 (perfect time of year!) During our visit we have the hiking trails W4 and W6 for about 13 km long hike combined. It starts at the town hall, but the signs only begin outside the city wall. You start to the Plönlein and on to the Spitalturm. Behind it, the path markings start on red signs.

After a short stretch of road, a fairly steep downhill path takes you on a narrow path and then continues along the Tauber and later above the Tauber with a slight incline. You can also shorten the path (W4) in the direction of the Gipsmühle. Almost the entire W4 leads through forest - only the beginning in Rothenburg and the last part back, where it goes steeply up, not. There is also no place to stop here.

At the Gipsmühle we leave the W4 and continue on the W6, the panorama path. In between it is a little steeper uphill and the last part to Rothenburg is very steep. In between, however, there is a dream view of Rothenburg with its towers and a hiking trail on the edge of the forest and through the forest. There are refreshment stops at the kiosk in the climbing garden (with toilet) and shortly before Rothenburg in the beer garden “Unter den Linden”.

Without the break in the beer garden, we were on the road for about 3,5 hours. You can find a description of the hike around Rothenburg ob der Tauber including a link to the Komoot trail above (about 220 meters in altitude).

 

 

Via traveler blog

Hubert reports on short vacations and pleasure trips in his traveler blog, mainly in German-speaking countries. One focus is on hikes, whether circular or long-distance hiking (without backpack / luggage). But he also feels at home in cities and on the water. When there are fireworks and culinary delights, it floats on cloud nine.

 

 

 

The Donaufelsen tour in Baden-Württemberg - hiking trails in southern Germany

The Donaufelsen tour in the southwest of the Swabian Alb is one of the Danube Wave premium trails in the Danube England. The day hike is one of our favorite hikes in Baden-Württemberg. The tour is a circular hike, which means it starts and ends at the Beuron Monastery parking lot in the heart of the Danube Valley. It is a good 20 kilometers long and can be done in around 6 hours of walking. The Donaufelsen tour is one of the more demanding hikes, as you have to ascend and descend 600 meters in altitude. It runs partly over rocky terrain and now and then directly along the edge of the rock. Therefore you should be reasonably sure-footed. The hike is easy to do with children, provided they like to walk longer distances. The route is not suitable for pushchairs.

The best time for the Danube Valley hike is roughly between April and the end of October. My favorite season is autumn, when the forests are colored. In winter and even after prolonged rainfall, it is too slippery on the rocks.

The exciting thing about the hike is that the path leads for a long time through the valley along the young Danube, and then climbs up to the rocks via narrow paths. From up there are views of the river and the rocks. We like to take a backpack vesper and something to grill with, but there are also several places to stop along the way. We love the Jägerhaus, which is romantically located in the valley. There are Danube Wave cakes that you should definitely try.

You can find the hiking route to our favorite tour with tips in our article about the Donaufelsen tour on the Swabian Alb.

 

 

About Travelsanne

Sanne was practically born with a love for hiking and nature. She loves to explore her homeland, Baden-Württemberg. On her family travel blog Travelsanne, she makes people want to travel, hike and experience nature with children and teenagers.

 

 

 

Hike on the Kocher-Jagst-Trail - hiking trails in southern Germany

Most people will probably agree on one thing - summer 2020 is the opportunity to take a vacation in your own country and explore all the great things there is to explore in your home region. I have also used the last few months intensively to get to know my home around Crailsheim in southern Germany better and through this I became aware of the Kocher-Jagst-Trail, which for me is one of the best hikes in Germany.

The Kocher-Jagst-Trail is a network of more than 200 kilometers, which connects the cities of Ellwangen, Schwäbisch Hall and Crailsheim along the Jagst and Kocher rivers. However, you don't have to cover the whole way, you can choose one of the stages. For example, I have the small town Ellwangen used as a starting point to walk the first stage of the Bühlersteig of the Kocher-Jagst-Trail, from Ellwangen via Hohenberg to Willa (Rosenberg), from where a bus will bring you back to Ellwangen. The 16-kilometer hiking trail is relatively flat and not demanding, but offers a great mix of forest, fields, meadows and lakes. Especially in spring and summer, when the sun is shining, you can enjoy the great landscape. You will pass small towns and villages. However, it is best to take your own provisions with you - or you can stop by Ellwangen after your return trip.

By the way, you can of course also cover other parts of the trail or spend the night on the route - you can practically put together your optimal hiking route yourself, because the Kocher-Jagst-Trail can be designed very flexibly. Have lots of fun with it!

 

 

About German Backpacker

Patrick is a travel blogger at German Backpacker and presents exotic countries around the world as well as domestic travel destinations on his website and social media channels.

 

 

The 5-Seidla-Steig in Franconian Switzerland - hiking trails in southern Germany for beer lovers

I did a particularly beautiful hike in autumn because I was on the "5-Seidla-Steig“In Franconian Switzerland. This hiking trail connects forest and meadow landscapes with five Franconian breweries. For this reason it is the perfect combination of hiking and Franconian enjoyment. I started my hiking tour in Egloffstein because I stayed there. You can just as easily start the hiking trail at Weißenohe train station, Graefenberg train station or in Thuisbrunn. Depending on how long you want to hike, a tour of 10 km with a stop at the breweries is recommended. The round trip then leads to the train stations Graefenberg (17 km) or Weißenohe (19 km). From both train stations there is also the possibility to return with the Graefenbergbahn every hour at the weekend.

I would describe the hiking tour as easy and family-friendly, because there are only slight and shorter inclines on the way. Nevertheless, you should wear sturdy shoes for the field, forest and meadow paths. You don't have to have a picnic with you, as there are opportunities to stop for refreshments on the hiking trail, where you can not only have Franconian beer but also a snack. Incidentally, on the way you walk a bit on the Frankenweg (see photo). Since I really like autumn as a season of the year with its colorful foliage and I had sunny and warm weather on my hike at the end of September, I would recommend autumn. Certainly the trail is just as beautiful at any other time of the year.

 

 

About People Abroad

Heiko writes on People Abroad about individual and active travel, hiking, cycling, outdoor adventures, city trips and road trips as focal points. Destinations are regions in Germany, Europe and countries on other continents.

 

 

Winter hike to the Dreisessel - hiking trails in southern Germany in winter

We have often had the three armchair in the Bavarian forest visited and explored hiking trails of various lengths there. Last year we were in our old home for Christmas and really wanted to see a snowy landscape, because it just didn't want to snow in Munich. So we decided to go on a hike to the Dreisessel, which at this time of year almost without exception offers a fairytale-like snow landscape.

We parked in the upper parking lot on Dreisesselstrasse and from here we already had a view of the Alps. We hiked along the tar road with a moderate incline and unforgettable impressions to the Dreisessel rock right next to the inn. Of course, we also climbed the steps on this rock to enjoy the view of the valley. We continued on the winter hiking trail to the Bischof Neumann Chapel, which is carved into the stone. A little further, steps lead to the summit cross on the Hochstein, from which you can enjoy an all-round panorama. On the whole way we were not only accompanied by the bizarre rock formations for which the mountain is known, but also moved in a winter landscape with snow-covered and frozen trees. We didn't expect such a landscape.

The total distance is almost 1,5 km and there are 90 meters of altitude to be mastered in the ascent. It takes 1 hour to walk from the parking lot to the summit cross. The mountain inn on the Dreisessel is open daily from 09 a.m. to 00 p.m.

 

 

Via Urlaubreise.blog

Tina and Manfred write a lot about vacation destinations in Germany and Europe on their travel blog. But you can also find inspiration and planning tips for trips to Asia and Africa. Anyone looking for further suggestions for hikes in the Bavarian forest will also find what they are looking for on Urlaubreise.blog.

 

 

Mountain tour to the Schrecksee in the Allgäu - hiking trails in southern Germany to mountain lakes

The tour to the Schrecksee starts in Hinterstein near Hindelang in the Allgäu. At the end of the village there is the “Auf der Höh” car park. Alternatively, you can take the bus from Hindelang to Hinterstein. You can take the bus to the Auele power station at the start of the tour (or you can walk straight from the parking lot). From there it's 900 meters in altitude to Schrecksee. The ascent takes 2:45 hours. Most of the way leads steeply upwards. It literally goes over hill and dale. After about an hour it is a little more level across alpine meadows. From here on there is no more shadow. Then it goes again steeply to the lake.

The sight of the Schrecksee lets you quickly forget all exertions on arrival. With this look you will understand why this is my most beautiful hike. The lake is at 1.800 meters and is one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in the Allgäu. The Schrecksee is surrounded by a meadow and invites you to have a picnic. If you want, you can also take a dip in the lake.

Either the same path leads downwards or, as an alternative, the Jubiläumsweg directly to Hinterstein.

The tour is rather difficult and you need to be in good shape. It's best to start the tour early in the morning. Then you have enough time for the hike. The tour lasts 5-6 hours. Pack enough to eat and drink. There is no place to stop. The best season is from summer to late autumn. There may still be snow in the spring.
The tour on the blog: Tour from Hinterstein to the Schrecksee in the Allgäu High Alps

 

 

About travel and food

Thomas has been traveling the world for over 30 years. He loves individual travel and also the comfort and luxury. On the move in Germany, Europe and the world. The blog is intended to inspire and inform for travel.

 

 

Hike from Schwangau to the Rohrkopfhütte - hiking trails in southern Germany

Around Füssen in the Allgäu there are opportunities for all kinds of outdoor activities. Many lakes and meadows make nature an experience there. And no matter where you look - mountain landscapes all around.

We made our most beautiful hike from the Tegelbergbahn near Schwangau up to the Rohrkopfhütte.

The tour is about 10 kilometers long, takes a total of three hours if you hike without interruption and there are around 500 meters of altitude to overcome. This makes it ideal for beginners. We took almost a day for the tour, including a stop, as there are so many views to enjoy.

The starting point is the first parking lot on the left after the bridge at the Tegelbergbahn. From there you follow the signs to the Drehhütte or Rohrkopfhütte. The path, which is well developed, meanders evenly to the destination.

Once at the top, you can stop in the Rohrkopfhütte for a hearty Bavarian meal and have a fresh cold drink. The highlight of the hut is the view of Neuschwanstein Castle.

For the descent, which is quite steep, we recommend hiking sticks. Just follow the signs down to the Tegelberg valley station.

More details on this Hike and bike tours around Füssen You can also find out more on the travel blog Empfehlbar.de.

 

 

Via Empfehlbar.de

Oliver has been writing about his travels around the world on his travel blog since 2013. You will also find travel tips and reports on experiences and city trips there.

 

 

Hiking trail at the Königssee - the Malerwinkel circular trail

The Königssee is one of the most popular excursion destinations in Germany. A popular hiking route with a view of the Konigssee is the Malerwinkel circular route.

This circular route is 3,5 km long and starts at the lake Koenigssee on the left side by the boat houses. Thanks to the signposting, the path is hard to miss. First of all, the Malerwinkel circular route leads past the Malerwinkel Cafe, where you can marvel at the Königssee for the first time from a little further up and where you can stop off to strengthen yourself.

At the first junction on the right you will reach the Malerwinkel viewpoint on the north bank of the Königsee. The view from this point is hard to describe. From here you will be able to see the pilgrimage church of St. Bartholomä and a beautiful mountain landscape.

The Malerwinkel circular route then continues through the mixed forest. There you have the opportunity, if you go to the right, to make a detour to the Rabenwand. There is also a lookout point on the Königssee. If you make this detour, it's 4,7 kilometers of circular route. Then the path leads back to the valley station of the Jennerbahn.

The circular route is suitable for all age groups, including families with children and prams. Even in winter this hiking trail is cleared and strewn and invites you to go on a winter hike. The running time with the detour to the Rabenwand is about 2:15 hours.

Since the Malerwinkel circular trail is one of the easiest hiking trails on the Königssee, it can also be busy here. We therefore recommend that you start your hike early in the morning in order to be able to enjoy the circular hike in peace.

 

 

About Vakuya

Valentin and Jasmin love hiking and traveling. They prefer to travel with their backpacks in Southeast Asia or Europe and share their experiences on their travel blog Vakuya.

 

 

Crossing the Untersberg

Nothing characterizes and shapes the area around Berchtesgaden and Salzburg as strongly as the Untersberg, around which myths and legends are entwined. The Untersberg massif not only offers alpine flora and fauna, but also triumphs with a 360 ° view of the surrounding mountains. Even the Dalai Lama paid tribute to the mountain and called it the “heart chakra of Europe”. But regardless of this idea, the mountain exerts a magic and charm on many people.

The first stage goal on this hike is that sturgeon house, which lies a little below the Berchtesgadener Hochthron at 1894 m altitude in a nature reserve. From here one succumbs to the view of the region and the food, so that one likes to linger here. The Störhaus is open from June to September and also offers overnight accommodation. After climbing the summit of the Berchtesgadener Hochthron, continue crossing the plateau to the Salzburger Hochthron. The crossing leads over a path, past alpine nature and chamois to the Untersberg cable car, where there are also refreshment stops. The descent can be done either via the Dopplersteig, the Reitsteig or comfortably with the cable car.

The tour can of course also be walked the other way round. If you want to extend this a bit, you can also combine the crossing with a path through the Almbachklamm near Marktschellenberg, which is definitely worth a trip too.

• Start: Hintergern hiking car park
• Length: about 13 km
• Duration: about 6 hours
• Elevation gain: approx. 1300 m
• Difficulty: difficult, alpine terrain, sure-footedness essential
• Refreshments in the Störhaus, at the summit of the Berchtesgadener Hochthron

 

 

About Adventure & Mon

Adventure & Mo is a family outdoor blog on which you can find hiking tips and excursion destinations for the area around Salzburg and Berchtesgaden.

We would like to thank all travel bloggers for their hiking suggestions in Germany. A great collection of hikes has come together. Let yourself be inspired and use their information for your own hikes in these beautiful places. This hiking trails in Germany are worth exploring.

Well, who is interested in hiking trails in southern Germany?

If you don't feel like tying your backpack with these suggestions for hiking trails in southern Germany. We like to pack our hiking boots and off we go on our next hike through southern Germany. How about you? Hiking is beautiful all year round. If you instead hike more in the middle and north of Germany, then you will find it here the most beautiful hiking trails in northern Germany.

 

 

Do you already know:

• Where can you go hiking in Germany?
• Bad Waldsee - Out and about in the land of the drumlins
• A day in the Sauerland at the Diemelsee
• Excursion destinations Baden-Württemberg
• Rota do Peixe in Portugal
• Hiking the Wild Pacific Trail on Vancouver Island
• Which rain jacket is the best?
• Germany travel destinations
• Gifts for hikers
• Camping accessories store

 

Source: Hiking suggestions from the participating travel bloggers

Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline, and the participating travel bloggers
Photos: © Copyright Canva and the participating travel bloggers