Hohenstadt: Trails to Alb Panoramas and into the Wassertal Valley

Hohenstadt is a destination for days spent exploring trails through the Swabian Alb landscape. The local routes vary in length and elevation gain; they also lead to a viewpoint and into the Wassertal Valley, a karst landscape with rare plants. The village’s history has also left its mark. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between shorter trails with views and longer routes through the landscape.

Trails with views and varied terrain

The red-marked Hohenstadt Loop is 8.5 kilometres long, has 180 metres of elevation gain and runs mostly on paved paths. The blue-marked Panorama Trail is shorter: it is 3.5 kilometres long, has 50 metres of elevation gain and also runs mostly on paved paths. These figures offer a clear comparison of route lengths and elevation gains.

The Panorama Trail leads to a distinctive viewpoint at a particularly high elevation in the district of Göppingen. From there, views stretch across the Alb landscape and, on clear days, as far as the Zugspitze and the Alpine range. Anyone wishing to make the views the focus of their hiking day will find a different route profile here than on the longer Hohenstadt Loop.

Into the Wassertal Valley: karst landscape and former settlements

The black-marked Wassertal route is listed with lengths of 6.5 and 8.5 kilometres and elevation gains of 100 and 50 metres; it runs mostly on paved paths. The route starts at the Stöcke car park. It follows old Roman roads past a former Celtic settlement area, across the gently undulating plateau and through the Feuerbuch forest into the Wassertal Valley.

The Wassertal Valley is a closed karst basin and a botanical gem, home to a variety of rare plant species. At the junction at Eselshau, you can extend the route by around two kilometres via the former hamlet of Weidstetten. Check local trail conditions before setting out, especially if you plan to take this extension.

Village history and natural attractions

The high altar of the Catholic parish church of St Margaret in the village features wooden figures from the Ulm School of Woodcarving dating to the 15th century. Another trace of local tradition leads to the Afra field area: a chapel dedicated to Saint Afra is said to have once stood near this spot. This account remains uncertain tradition. The Schertelshöhle cave, a natural attraction, is located in Westerheim, in Hohenstadt’s immediate vicinity.

In the wider destination of Göppingen

Those looking beyond Hohenstadt will find more to explore in the wider destination of Göppingen. The Märklineum in Göppingen presents Märklin’s more than 165-year company history and its products. Wäscher Castle in Wäschenbeuren dates back to the early 13th century. At district level, the Löwenpfade offer circular hiking routes ranging from 3 to 24 kilometres. The 186-kilometre Albtäler cycling route runs through the district of Göppingen as well as the neighbouring districts of Heidenheim and Alb-Donau-Kreis. Hohenstadt’s hiking trails therefore complement the cultural and cycling attractions of the wider destination.

Discover more destinations

Discover destinations: Rechberghausen, Schlat, Wiesensteig, Geislingen An Der Steige, Ottenbach, Aichelberg, Uhingen, Heiningen.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Göppingen.