White-covered fields and picturesque views: The Swabian Alb offers the perfect backdrop for winter hikes. We give 9 tips for the most beautiful tours.
The Swabian Alb is not only a popular excursion destination in the summer months. In the cold season, the plateau can be discovered in a completely new way. Numerous winter hiking trails meander through white-powdered fields and forests and always provide a view all the way to the Alps.
From a leisurely walk to a sporty round trip with a lot of elevation gain – we give tips for the most beautiful routes. All you need is enough warm clothing and sturdy shoes.
Winter hiking trail Great Lautertal
If you want to take a short, leisurely hike through the snow, this route is recommended. Via the Glückshof to Haldenegg it takes just under an hour through snowy winter landscapes in the Großer Lautertal.
To strengthen yourself, Café Ikarus in Buttenhausen invites you to coffee and cake. You can find more details about the route here.
Difficulty level: Light
Duration: 50 minutes
Altitude: 132 Meter
Route: 2,7 Kilometer
Starting point: Riedwiesen car park, Münsingen
Winter hike to Fuchseck and Lotenberg
A bit of endurance is required on this hike: around 14 kilometers and a few meters of altitude have to be conquered until the well-known Fuchseck viewpoint is rewarded with a view far down into the Neckar Valley. The hiking trail then leads down past a quarry and further into the picturesque Lotenberg. Here you will find more information.
Difficulty level: Medium
Duration: 4 hours
Altitude: 402 Meter
Route: 13,5 Kilometer
Starting point: Hiking parking lot at Heininger Voralbbad
Beutenlay winter hiking trail
The Bienenlay winter hiking trail promises a relaxed circular tour. The path leads almost five kilometers from the Hopfenburg around the nature reserve and the Heutal. When you take a break, you can watch the cross-country skiers or enjoy the view over Münsingen from the Hopfenburg. A tour that is also suitable for the untrained. More information is available here.
Difficulty level: Light
Duration: 1.10 hour
Altitude: 45 meters altitude
Route: 4,7 Kilometer
Starting point: Hofgut Hopfenburg car park
Winter hiking trail, former military training area
The former Münsingen military training area is also ideal for walks in the winter months. Due to military use, the area with its approximately 6,700 hectares was largely spared from road construction, settlement and intensive agricultural use. Since 2006, the unique cultural landscape has been used primarily by cyclists and hikers. And: The extensive and pristine pasture landscape looks even more picturesque in winter.
A special feature of the area is certainly the village of Gruorn, which had to be abandoned by its residents in the 1930s and in which today only a church and the school building remain. You can stop here with coffee or tea to warm up. You can find more details about the route here.
Difficulty level: Light
Duration: 40 minutes
Altitude: 40 Meter
Route: 2 Kilometer
Starting point: Parking trail finger saw
Winter hike to Bertaburg and Sielenwang
If you are looking for a hike with special viewpoints, you will find it here: It starts at the hiking car park at Galgenbuckel near Gammelshausen. And then comes the first magnificent view of the Alb foreland and the Hohenstaufen. We continue to the Bertaburg and the Kornbergsattel towards the east.
On the way there is a view of all three Kaiserberge and the valley towns of Gammelshausen and Dürnau. The promising tour through untouched snow landscapes ends after around nine kilometers. And thanks to the altitude you have to climb, you’ll work up a sweat even on very cold days. You can find more details about the route here.
Difficulty level: Medium
Duration: 2.45 hours
Altitude: 250 Meter
Route: 9 Kilometer
Starting point: Hiking car park at the Galgenbuckel near Gammelshausen
Eaves winter fairy tale in Albstadt
The Winter Fairytale hike leads through snow-covered treetops. Archive photo: Albstadt Tourism
Snow-covered juniper heaths, snow-covered fields and picturesque views: the Traufgang Wintermärchen premium winter hiking trail starts in Albstadt-Onstmettingen and is around seven kilometers long.
The Raichberg Tower offers a particularly beautiful view along the way. On a clear day you can see as far as the Alps from a height of 956 meters.
But be careful: the path is only accessible when there has been enough snow. Therefore, those interested should do so in advance Check the homepage to see whether the hiking trail is currently open.
Difficulty level: Medium
Duration: 2.5 hours
Altitude: 170 Meter
Route: 7,5 Kilometer
Starting point: Ski lift/ Zollernburg-Panorama car park, Albstatt-Onstmettingen
Eaves Snow Waltz in Albstadt
When enough snow has fallen, the route of the Schneewalzer winter hike will be opened. Benches along the way invite you to take a break. Archive photo: Albstadt Tourism
With a white winter world in front of our eyes and thick winter boots on our feet, we set off from the Heersberg Albstadt-Burgfelden car park. On the way, winter hikers encounter numerous highlights: the Heersberg viewpoint, the Eaves Edge or the picturesque Alpine village of Burgfelden.
And the same applies here as with the winter fairytale eaves walk: the path is only accessible when there has been enough snow. The current snow conditions are published on the website.
Difficulty level: Medium
Duration: 2.5 hours
Altitude: 97 Meter
Route: 5,2 Kilometer
Starting point: Heersberg Albstadt-Burgfelden car park
Winter hike on the moor and maar
The easy and panoramic circular tour through the Schopflocher Moor to the Randecker Maar also offers some experiences for children. Among other things, the path leads past the Ziegelhütte farm and if you want, you can then make a stop at the Schopflocher Alb nature conservation center. More information can be found here.
Difficulty level: Light
Duration: 1.45 hours
Altitude: 97 Meter
Route: 6,7 Kilometer
Starting point: Randecker Maar hiking car park
Winter Lion Trail “Spielburg Circuit”
The fairly short tour is perfect for an afternoon walk. It starts at the hiking car park in Hohenstaufen, continues around Göppingen’s local mountain and finally the path leads to the panoramic rock formation “Spielburg”.
On the tour, walkers repeatedly pass remnants of the Hohenstaufen history. If you want to know more, visit the exhibition at the foot of the Hohenstaufen. All information about this and other Lion Trail hikes can be found here.
Difficulty level: Light
Duration: 1 hour
Altitude: 109 Meter
Route: 3,5 Kilometer
Starting point: Hiking parking lot at the sports field in Hohenstaufen