Jurasteig

Stage 1: Kelheim - Bad Abbach

Hiking on the southern edge of the Jura – from the Celts to Emperor Karl

19.9 km    5.0 hrs.

Total ascent: 473.1 meters
Total descent: 476.7 meters

Start: Kelheim, Danube dam between the Danube boat landing and large car park
Finish: Bad Abbach, Kurhaus, Kaiser-Karl-V.-Allee 5

The first stage of the Jurasteig begins in the Wittelsbach town of Kelheim at the Danube boat landing, from where the route leads through the old town. For those interested in cultural history, worthwhile detours are offered, such as to King Ludwig I’s Liberation Hall or to the archaeological museum. In the north of the town, the Jurasteig immediately leads up the Goldberg, where for the first time a typical Jura landscape appears with shady beech forests. Shortly before Kapfelberg, a magnificent view over the Danube valley with the Devil’s Rocks near Bad Abbach opens up, before the Jurasteig crosses the Danube on the other side at Poikam. Along a beautiful path, the route continues through an idyllic hillside forest, directly into the spa park in Bad Abbach, where Emperor Charles V already knew how to use the powers of the Bad Abbach healing springs.

Stage 2: Bad Abbach - Schönhofen

From the Danube valley by ferry to alpine terrain

17.2 km    4.3 hrs.

Total ascent: 465.9 meters
Total descent: 388.1 meters

Start: Bad Abbach, Kurhaus, Kaiser-Karl-V.-Allee 5
Finish: Schönhofen, Naturschutzhaus car park, Alpinenstraße 18

Before the Jurasteig takes its path from Bad Abbach over the "Oberndorferhänge" landscape protection area, it first follows the idyllic Danube shore to the pedestrian bridge in the north of Bad Abbach. After the climb through the Kalkofenring settlement, the path leads through a varied forest landscape, offering beautiful views of the Danube valley. In Matting, a cable ferry brings the hiker to the other side of the Danube. With its steep rock walls, the Mattinger Hänge nature reserve offers an impressive backdrop and the possibility to observe the peregrine falcon on its hunting flight. A side path leads from the height to a magnificent viewpoint that offers a last look over the Danube valley. Via the Zuylen Chapel, the route finally reaches Alling in the valley of the Black Laber. Through beautiful beech woods, the path continues on natural paths to Eilsbrunn. The last section of this stage runs over Mediterranean-looking dry slopes, which count among the most beautiful in the entire Jura.

Stage 3: Schönhofen - Pielenhofen

To a monastic destination over the robbers' cave through the Naab valley

14.9 km    3.7 hrs.

Total ascent: 355.5 meters
Total descent: 426.6 meters

Start: Schönhofen, Naturschutzhaus car park, Alpinenstraße 18
Finish: Pielenhofen, Naab bridge near Pielenhofen monastery

Initially through semi-open hedgerow and meadow landscapes, later over open terrain, the path leads from Schönhofen to Etterzhausen directly into the wide Naab valley. On a narrow forest path you reach the Robbers' Cave, which is definitely worth the 50-meter detour. But please remember that the Robbers' Cave is the habitat of numerous bats, which must not be disturbed by noise or fire! After a varied hike through forest and woodland, shortly before reaching the small town of Penk, a magnificent view of the Naab valley with its summer-green forests and Jura rocks opens up. In Penk, the Gasthof Spitzauer invites you to linger. Through the idyllic and tranquil Penk valley, which is particularly attractive in early summer with its elongated meadows, the route continues towards Pielenhofen. The last kilometers of the Jurasteig run once again on narrow, natural forest paths before the impressive monastery in Pielenhofen suddenly appears.

Stage 4: Pielenhofen - Kallmünz

Naab valley hike between monastery tavern and castle hill

15.9 km    4.0 hrs.

Total ascent: 420.4 meters
Total descent: 367.8 meters

Start: Pielenhofen, Naab bridge near Pielenhofen monastery
Finish: Kallmünz, Alte Dinauer Straße, western town exit (on the mountain opposite Netto market on the state road)

In Pielenhofen, the Jurasteig crosses to the other side of the Naab and immediately leads out of the town into the beech forest above the settlement. North of Pielenhofen, a picturesque forest path winds through the pine and beech forests dotted with rocks of the Naabrangen nature reserve. After a short but steep climb above Kleinduggendorf, the hiker is rewarded with a beautiful view of Duggendorf. Up to Heitzenhofen, the Jurasteig now leads through varied mixed forest, where the rare dittany blooms in the clearings in early summer. On the other side of the river, the path leads quietly through an open landscape dominated by meadows rich in butterflies and hedges. Through the mixed forest, it goes up to the high plateau, on which lies the small village of Dallackenried. From there, there is a magnificent view of the wooded Jura landscape before the path initially goes over fields, later down the hillside forest, to the gates of picturesque Kallmünz.

Stage 5: Kallmünz - Schmidmühlen

Over the slopes of the Vils to the gateway of the Lauterach valley

17.9 km    4.5 hrs.

Total ascent: 428.5 meters
Total descent: 465.8 meters

Start: Kallmünz, Alte Dinauer Straße, western town exit (on the mountain opposite Netto market on the state road)
Finish: Schmidmühlen, Gasthof Pension Lindenhof, Am Anger 1 (on the state road to Kallmünz)

After a worthwhile detour in picturesque Kallmünz with its widely visible castle complex, the Jurasteig now leaves the Naab valley and takes its path over the Vils valley. Until Rohrbach, the route runs in the valley; then it goes up a semi-shaded path on the other side of the Vils. Towards Dietldorf, the hiker is rewarded with a pretty backdrop with horse studs at Birkhof. The path down to the Vils valley passes through a hedge-rich landscape with numerous species of wild roses, which boast an unusual variety in early summer. Over varied, bright pine and mixed deciduous forests, the Jurasteig now leads further north. At Greßthal, sunny Jura meadows appear one last time before a longer section with a slight incline goes through the forest towards Lanzenried. In some places here – unusual for the Jura – foxglove grows. For several kilometers towards Schmidmühlen, the hiker again finds the familiar mixed beech forest from Lanzenried, mostly with beautiful forest paths. From Hirschberg (junction from the Jurasteig on trail no. 20 at the hairpin bend), a short detour leads into the valley to Emhof, where not only some pubs can be found but also accommodation options, if you do not want to stay overnight at the stage destination in Schmidmühlen. Otherwise, you follow the signs further through the forest into the market town of Schmidmühlen, where numerous dining options are available after this longer stage.

Stage 6: Schmidmühlen - Hohenburg

Over fragrant juniper heaths into the picturesque Lauterach valley

14.7 km    3.7 hrs.

Total ascent: 295.3 meters
Total descent: 258.0 meters

Start: Schmidmühlen, Gasthof Pension Lindenhof, Am Anger 1 (on the state road to Kallmünz)
Finish: Hohenburg, Church at the junction of Mendorferbucherstraße - Am Kalvarienberg

West of the market town of Schmidmühlen, the Jurasteig initially takes its path over a narrow path up the Blaugrund. Quite wild, a romantically winding path leads through a near-natural mixed forest until the route again relatively levelly passes through the forest on the height. Before reaching the village of Winbuch, the Jurasteig offers beautiful views over the rolling landscape. After Winbuch, the route initially continues over open terrain until the path descends again through shady forest. At Aicha, the hiker reaches the Lauterach valley, which until Hohenburg is characterized by the typical Jura landscape with airy beech forests, species-rich dry grasslands, and bright pine forests, through which the Jurasteig mostly leads on near-natural paths. Shortly before Hohenburg, the hiker passes through a particularly attractive juniper heath with a view of the Stettkirchen pilgrimage church. From Kalvarienberg, which the route ascends shortly before reaching Hohenburg, you have a lovely view of the town and the ruined castle, which towers over the town on the other side of the Lauterach.

Stage 7: Hohenburg - Habsberg

With highest goals through beech forest and pine heath

22.7 km    5.7 hrs.

Total ascent: 622.8 meters
Total descent: 430.7 meters

Start: Hohenburg, Church at the junction of Mendorferbucherstraße - Am Kalvarienberg
Finish: Habsberg, Wallfahrtskirche car park

From Hohenburg with its welcome dining options and a remarkable marketplace, it immediately goes back up to the Jura high plateau. Shortly before Allersburg, a grandiose view of the ruin Hohenburg opens up, which towers beyond the Lauterach on the Schlossberg. Allersburg itself impresses with its picturesque, walled St. Michael's Church from the ninth century. Further through orchid-rich pine forests, repeatedly interrupted by magnificent forest meadows, the hiker reaches roughly halfway the northernmost point on the Jurasteig, where the route with a last crossing of the Lauterach leads further southwest. Between Mühlhausen and Utzenhofen, another hill must again be overcome, which, however, compensates with a colorful mixture of near-natural forests, flowering Jura meadows, and narrow forest paths. Along a gently ascending path, from Utzenhofen the landscape of the Kuppenalb gradually becomes more distinct until with the Habsberg (621 m) and its widely visible pilgrimage church, the highest elevation on the Jurasteig is finally reached.

Stage 8: Habsberg - Deining

From the Kuppenalb into the realm of the beaver

23.2 km    5.8 hrs.

Total ascent: 327.7 meters
Total descent: 451.1 meters

Start: Habsberg, Wallfahrtskirche car park
Finish: Deining, Hotel-Gasthof Zum Hahnenwirt, Untere Hauptstraße (opposite gas station)

From the pilgrimage church, the path leads south past the environmental education center "Haus am Habsberg," a worthwhile facility definitely worth a stop. Past the rock-dotted and species-rich dry slope of Schanzberg, the path skirts the small village of Unterwiesenacker. Over fields and meadows, always on the plateau and with a clear view of the surrounding landscape, the hiker finally reaches at Weikenhammer the lowlands of the Schwarzen Laber with the swamp forest of the Deusmauer Moor nature reserve. Past a deer enclosure near Dürn, the Jurasteig soon passes again through an extensive forest and meadow landscape. After overcoming a longer, straight field path, the hiker at Rothenfels is immediately rewarded with a varied forest tour before finally reaching the pretty pilgrimage church in Lengenbach. On sandy ground, it goes again over the Schellenberg into a pine forest covered with blueberry bushes through which the Jurasteig leads directly down to Arzthofen. Until Deining, the route now continually leads through the idyllic valley of the White Laber, past the Siegenhofer mill, and finally over the "Beaver Path" into the town.

Stage 9: Deining - Holnstein

Spring-rich tour through the colorful Dogger

19.9 km    5.0 hrs.

Total ascent: 404.3 meters
Total descent: 447.8 meters

Start: Deining, Hotel-Gasthof Zum Hahnenwirt, Untere Hauptstraße (opposite gas station)
Finish: Holnstein, pedestrian bridge over the White Laber, corner Reymotusstraße - Am Felsen - Am Höglberg (below Regens-Wagner complex)

Shortly before the Jurasteig leaves Deining, a sign points to the rock cellars – smaller and larger caves dug into the sandy Dogger rock that were previously used to store all kinds of food, beer, and ice. Today they represent an attraction definitely worth the 50-meter detour. One kilometer further, you encounter again the sandy Dogger rock in a disused quarry, which here offers an impressive play of colors. After an idyllic forest pond, the Jurasteig now consistently runs in the valley of the White Laber. Again and again, wonderful scenes of the swampy wilderness of this unique valley, largely under nature protection, present themselves. Before reaching the highest point of this stage in Sternberg, an idyllic beer garden at the Sippelmühle invites you to linger. Further on the way towards Simbach, the hearts of all nature lovers will beat faster, because the "Land of 1,000 Springs" is not only very scenic but also home to lords-and-ladies, fire salamander, and kingfisher. After Simbach, the route leads on the other side of the valley uphill to the Mary spring and further halfway up through shady forest to guide the hiker after a last side change into picturesque Holnstein.

Stage 10: Holnstein - Dietfurt a.d. Altmühl

Watery hike over buffalo and monkshood to the seven-valley town

15.3 km    3.8 hrs.

Total ascent: 212.9 meters
Total descent: 265.9 meters

Start: Holnstein, pedestrian bridge over the White Laber, corner Reymotusstraße - Am Felsen - Am Höglberg (below Regens-Wagner complex)
Finish: Dietfurt a.d. Altmühl, town center, town hall/marketplace

Given the amount of natural springs that emerge from the rock in the area around Holnstein, it seems credible that the name Holnstein comes from "hollow stone." On just such a rock, today stands the Regens-Wagner complex, a comprehensive facility for people with disabilities. Further down in the town, the hiker encounters freely grazing cattle that are also sometimes allowed to bathe in the river. On the way towards Erbmühle, a detour to the impressive tufa terraces is recommended, which represent a natural work of art and (PLEASE!) should not be entered as the sensitive structures would be permanently destroyed. Unbelievable but true, the hiker encounters Indian water buffalo at Erbmühle. So, the culinary question arises at Erbmühle: buffalo or trout? Along the gently gurgling White Laber, the route reaches Unterbürg, at whose entrance a stone spring artwork welcomes its guests. Two kilometers further, the Jurasteig crosses a picturesque natural stone bridge to the other side of the lovely valley. On level paths, one goes on to just before Dietfurt until the last kilometer leads over the hillside forest and brings the hiker into the worth-lingering seven-valley town.

Stage 11: Dietfurt a. d. Altmühl - Riedenburg

Demanding hike over heights and valleys to the pearl of the Altmühl valley

26.6 km    6.7 hrs.

Total ascent: 704.0 meters
Total descent: 716.1 meters

Start: Dietfurt a. d. Altmühl, town center, town hall/marketplace
Finish: Riedenburg, town center, An der Altmühl (street above boat landing)

From Dietfurt, this longest stage on the Jurasteig purposefully takes its way along the forest edge towards Mühlbach. From there, the path initially leads through the forest onto the high plateau to then quickly descend into the Altmühl valley over a narrow path. In Meihern, the hiker is rewarded with a magnificent view of the impressive rock pinnacles of Flügelsberg, the breeding territory of the peregrine falcon. On the other side of the Altmühl, it goes through Deising and quickly up to the Rosskopf plateau, where a rest bench marks the meeting point of the Jurasteig and the Altmühltal panorama trail. From here towards Kelheim, the marking of the Altmühltal panorama trail also applies to the Jurasteig! After a wonderful view from Rosskopf on Schloss Eggersberg and the Altmühl valley, the route passes the edge of a juniper heath and continues down to Altmühlmünster. On the way to Obereggersberg, the hiker is rewarded with flowery forest edges and bizarre rock formations. Over Schloss Eggersberg with dining options and the Hofmark museum, it goes again down into the valley, where the path runs up to Gundlfing along near-natural old arms of the Altmühl. One last time, this challenging stage climbs toward Jachenhausen with a fantastic view of Riedenburg and the Altmühl bend with Schloss Eggersberg. Over the Schneider Chapel, you finally reach Riedenburg, the pearl of the Altmühl valley.

Stage 12: Riedenburg - Kelheim

Wildly romantic hike through the Altmühl and Danube valleys

22.6 km    5.7 hrs.

Total ascent: 603.7 meters
Total descent: 612.5 meters

Start: Riedenburg, town center, An der Altmühl (street above boat landing)
Finish: Kelheim, Danube dam between Danube boat landing and large car park

This last, perhaps most beautiful stage through the Altmühl and Danube valleys is identical with the route of the Altmühltal panorama trail, whose signage is thus also followed here by Jurasteig hikers. The path leads over the Altmühl slopes to the fairytale-like rock complex of the Klamm nature forest reserve, from whose highest point there is an impressive view of the opposite Schloss Prunn. The Klamm itself is characterized by a shady rock gorge forest, with hart's-tongue fern and talerleaf, but also mighty Douglas firs planted in the penultimate century. Over the Altmühl bridge at Einthal, you reach the other side of the river, where a sweaty path leads up to Schloss Prunn and the eponymous guesthouse. For the ascent, the hiker is rewarded with spectacular views of the Altmühl valley. Further towards Essing, the route passes the Felsenhäusl and the Blautopf, an azure blue karst spring. With a view of the massive Jura walls above Essing, you cross the longest wooden bridge in Europe, the so-called Tatzelwurm, one last time over the Altmühl and soon reach the entrance to the Celtic rampart, which leads over the hill into the Danube valley. Upon arrival on the viewing plateau, beyond the Danube the world-famous Weltenburg Monastery appears, definitely worth a visit. From the Celtic wall, the Jurasteig continues through the forest down to the Danube. On the last kilometers towards Kelheim, the hiker encounters here in the Weltenburger Enge nature reserve a near-natural river landscape with near-natural beech forests and a rock backdrop that is unrivaled. So it is hardly surprising that peregrine falcon and garden dormouse, eagle owl, and beaver still have a home here. The Jurasteig ends at the boat landing in Kelheim, at least for those who laced their boots for the 230 km long circular Jurasteig route there.