Hohenstadt: Trails, Water Valley and Panoramic Views

Marked trails with different route lengths

The red-marked Hohenstadt Circuit is 8.5 kilometres long, has 180 metres of elevation gain and runs mostly along paved paths. The blue-marked Panorama Trail is considerably shorter: it covers 3.5 kilometres and 50 metres of elevation gain, also mostly on paved surfaces. Along the route is a particularly high and distinctive viewpoint in the district of Göppingen. From there, the view extends across the Swabian Alb landscape and, on clear days, as far as the Zugspitze and the Alpine range.

The details on distance, elevation gain and trail surface make the two routes easy to compare, so you do not have to rely on their names alone. If a distant view is important to you, the Panorama Trail offers a specific viewpoint; the longer Hohenstadt Circuit provides a different route option. When planning your day, consider which distance and elevation gain suit your plans.

On the way to the Water Valley

The black-marked Water Valley route starts at the Stöcke car park. It follows old Roman roads past a former Celtic settlement, across the gently rolling plateau and through the Feuerbuch forest into the Water Valley. Two distances are listed for the route: 6.5 and 8.5 kilometres. The elevation gains given are 100 and 50 metres. This lets you compare the listed options with the Hohenstadt Circuit and the shorter Panorama Trail.

At the junction at Eselshau, you can extend the Water Valley route by around two kilometres via the former hamlet of Weidstetten. Check local trail conditions before setting out. The Water Valley itself is a closed karst basin with a rich variety of rare plant species. This route brings together old paths, a gently rolling plateau and a distinctive karst landscape.

Church, nature and regional themes

The high altar of the Catholic parish church of St. Margaretha features wooden figures from the Ulm School of Carving dating from the 15th century. A chapel dedicated to St. Afra is said to have once stood near the Afra area of the fields.

Horse riding is also one of the leisure activities available in Hohenstadt. Nearby natural attractions include the Schertel Cave in Westerheim, the source of the Fils in Wiesensteig and the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve. So, alongside local hiking routes, you can explore nature in the surrounding area, while St. Margaretha and the tradition of St. Afra provide a distinct cultural connection.

More to explore in the wider destination of Göppingen

In the wider destination of Göppingen, the Märklineum presents the more than 165-year history of the Märklin company and its products. Another hiking option explicitly located at district level is the Löwenpfade (Lion Trails) in the district of Göppingen: these circular trails are between 3 and 24 kilometres long and are signposted and marked in both directions. At each starting point, an information board provides details about the route, an elevation profile and sights along the way. This wider range of distances can be compared with the Hohenstadt routes without treating them as the same trails.

Choose a holiday apartment to suit your interests

When looking for a holiday apartment in Hohenstadt, you can start by thinking about what you want your stay to focus on: the viewpoint on the Panorama Trail, the longer Hohenstadt Circuit, the Water Valley or the cultural connection to St. Margaretha. Compare the listed distances and elevation gains with the pace you want for your day. If you would like to explore other regional themes, the wider context of Göppingen offers additional points of interest, clearly distinct from Hohenstadt’s local features. This way, you can choose where to stay based on the experiences that matter to you, rather than on a general idea of the right holiday destination.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ottenbach, Süßen, Heiningen, Ebersbach An Der Fils, Salach, Börtlingen, Böhmenkirch, Geislingen An Der Steige.

View the wider travel overview: Göppingen.