Geislinger Steige adventure trail

The hike begins at Geislingen (Steige) railroad station. After crossing the railroad bridge, the path leads right towards Alte Weiler Steige up to the ruins of Helfenstein Castle. From the castle ruins, you can enjoy an impressive view of the surrounding area. The trail continues to the district of Weiler ob Helfenstein, where it branches off to the right to the Ödenturm tower. The Ödenturm offers a magnificent view over the five-valley town of Geislingen.

At the fork at the Ödenturm, follow the path towards Hofstett am Steig. At the edge of the forest before Hofstett, the route turns right onto a narrow path into the forest. This leads south over the Mühltalfelsen to the Ziegelhütte. From the Mühltalfelsen, there is an impressive view of the Geislinger Steige, an important structure in Swabian railroad history and once the steepest railroad line in continental Europe.

After the Ziegelhütte, the trail leads a short distance along the B10 towards Geislingen. At the junction to Türkheim-Wittingen, a hiking trail branches off to the left and leads down into the idyllic Rohrachtal valley. Pass the Schimmelmühle and Straubmühle mills and follow a barrier-free path through the picturesque Rohrachtal nature reserve back to Geislingen. The trail leads along the Rohrach, through the pedestrian zone and the town park, until you finally reach the starting point at Geislingen (Steige) railroad station.

The detour along the narrow nature trail to the Knoll monument should only be undertaken in dry conditions, with sturdy hiking boots and absolute surefootedness.

In wet conditions, some paths can be slippery and dangerous. Watch your steps and use walking poles for stability if necessary.

By car
You can reach Geislingen an der Steige via the B10 Stuttgart - Ulm and via the A8 Stuttgart - Munich exits Mühlhausen i. Täle or Merklingen.

Take the RE 5 and MEX 16 from Stuttgart or Ulm to Geislingen/ Steige. The hiking tour starts right next to the station.

You can find the district timetable at www.vvs.de/fahrplan

Parking options at the start/end point at Geislingen (Steige) station

Further parking options
Helfenstein parking lot
Parking lot in Hofstett am Steig
Ziegelhütte parking lot

Respectful cooperation in the district of Göppingen.

Code of conduct:

Respect trail closures and the quiet zones developed in the leisure trail concept. Leave no traces such as garbage and animal droppings, treat your path with care. Act with foresight and consideration. Adapt your behavior to the situation at hand. Safety first. Respect other users of the forest and meadows. Be considerate of animals and plants. Plan ahead and make the most of daylight. Try to avoid dusk in the morning and evening. Observe the ban on entering agricultural land during the growing season. Stay on the designated paths and avoid the edges of the forest so that wild animals can get used to people better.

More information at ruecksicht-macht-wege-breiter.de

For even more background knowledge, a guided tour is worthwhile (booking: 07331 / 9463204).

Alternatively, plan extra time at the viewpoints on clear days - the views from the Ödenturm and Mühltalfelsen are particularly impressive.