Großer Trauben

0.0 km                Parking lot Riedhof      

The hike through the wild peatland of the Burgweiler-Pfrunger Ried begins with a short asphalt section along the just traveled dead-end road to its end at the former peat factory. After 250 meters, do not turn right (this is the return path), but follow the narrow path straight into the Ried. Between former peat pits, ponds and reeds, you quickly reach the viewing platform at the large bird lake via the first boardwalks and small bridges. Here, as well as along the rest of the route, information boards provide details about the Ried, its use by humans, and the native animal and plant life.

(1) 0.6 km        Bird Lake viewing platform  

After bird watching, continue on the narrow, sometimes wet path directly along the bird lake. Bridges cross the ditches at the Hornbach, then a long boardwalk leads to the edge of the Ried. The path becomes a pretty meadow path and leads through pastures, partly close along the fence, to just before the Ulzhausen parking lot. Here an information board explains the grazing of the nature reserve with Galloway and Scottish Highland cattle.

(2) 3.6 km        Ulzhausen hiking parking lot

At the information board about cattle farming, just before the hiking parking lot, turn right into the asphalt road and follow it with wet meadows on the right and pastures on the left to the end at the forest edge. There benches offer a place to rest. So far mostly open land, the hiking trail around Großer Trauben now enters the protected forest. After the junction of the "Bannwald" circular trail, the Fünfeckweiher is quickly reached. The flooded deadwood areas on the left side of the path are particularly impressive.

(3) 4.9 km        Fünfeckweiher/Protected Forest

The path now becomes a boardwalk for a longer section, runs first along the pond to the "Fünfeckweiher" viewing platform, then crosses the Tiefenbach and winds as a light forest path between the core of the protected forest and the water-rich peatland "Obere Schnöden". Another viewing platform offers insights into the heart of this primeval landscape. Shortly after, the newly constructed Bannwald tower at the forest edge is reached all too quickly.

(4) 6.2 km        Bannwald tower/Tiefenbach bridge

After the panoramic view from the tower, hike on a wide gravel path through magnificent wet meadows where goats and cattle graze peacefully. With a little luck, you can also see storks and herons wading through the mud. Turn right at the Ostrach stream and follow the canal upstream through the "Lower Schnöden" to the visitor platform at the "Hundschen ponds". Here there is another good chance to observe rare bird species.

7.9 km                         Hundschen ponds

At the Hundschen ponds the wide gravel path along the Ostrach is left to the right. Now follow the former peat railway embankment back to the peat factory and on the already known asphalt road back to the nearby Riedhof.

9.9 km                         Parking lot at Riedhof