Löwenpfad "Steigen Tour" - Along the Swabian Landmark of the Century

On this challenging and varied hiking tour, we’ll first follow the trails of the historic Swabian “Geislinger Steige” and learn interesting facts about Geislingen’s industrialization along a section of the “Geislinger Steige Adventure Trail,” which is equipped with informational signs.

At the start, we pass Geislingen’s most popular viewpoints—the Helfenstein Castle ruins and the medieval Ödenturm—and enjoy the view directly over the historic old town and the Geislinger Steige.

Where the adventure trail continues along the valley, we hike uphill a second time to the Albtrauf and follow nature trails along it, discovering new perspectives on the Geislinger Steige and the Rohrachtal Nature Reserve from the opposite side.

Finally, from the Ostlandkreuz, we take in all five of the city’s valleys and look far into the lower Filstal as far as Hohenstaufen.

You can reach the town of Geislingen an der Steige by car via the A8 (Stuttgart–Ulm), taking the Mühlhausen exit (B 466) or the Merklingen exit (L 1230) toward Geislingen an der Steige.

Alternatively, you can also take the B10 and exit at Geislingen an der Steige.

Navigate to the starting point with Google Maps

In Geislingen/Steige, there are connections to the MEX and RE trains of the Filstalbahn on the Stuttgart-Ulm route. From the train station, it’s about a 5-minute walk to the starting point at the Jahnhalle parking lot.

You can find the circuit schedule at: www.vvs.de/fahrplan

Jahnhalle Parking Lot (unlimited and free on Sundays; free for 4 hours Mon–Sat (note hiking hours))

Parking garages: MAG (Schillerstraße) – daily rate €15 // Sonne-Center (Hauptstraße 43) – daily rate €10

Parking lot at the Geislingen train station (fee applies) – daily rate €5.20

Alternative starting points: Ziegelhütte parking lot (Steighof 1, Amstetten), parking lot at the Straub Mill (free)

Respectful Coexistence in the Göppingen District.

Code of Conduct:

Respect trail closures and the quiet zones established in the recreational trail plan. Leave no trace—such as trash or animal waste—and treat the trails with care. Be proactive and considerate. Adapt your behavior to the situation at hand. Safety comes first. Respect other users of the woods and open fields. Be considerate of animals and plants. Plan ahead and make the most of daylight. Try to avoid the early morning and evening twilight hours. Observe the ban on entering agricultural land during the growing season. Stay on marked trails and avoid forest edges; this helps wildlife get used to people.

For more information, visit ruecksicht-macht-wege-breiter.de

The ancient ruins of Helfenstein Castle, perched above the town, are a true classic among Geislingen’s tourist attractions. The castle was built around the year 1100 as the ancestral seat of the Helfenstein family. After the county was sold to Ulm, the castle was expanded into a fortress before being demolished in the 16th century following a decision by the Ulm City Council. Today, the castle ruins are a popular spot for relaxing and barbecuing, especially in the summer. From the vantage point above, sunsets bathe the town and the Geislinger Steige in a golden glow, and on summer weekends, the rustic castle tavern invites visitors to linger.

The construction of the Geislinger Steige was a difficult undertaking, not least because the railroad right-of-way had to be blasted into the rock in many places. A particular challenge was the massive Mühltal rock face, known as the “General”:

During the blasting in the mid-19th century, the drill holes were still driven into the rock by hand to place 75 kilograms of explosives inside. The engineers’ plan worked, and today we can enjoy the postcard-perfect view of the Geislinger Steige from there.