Throngs of individuals opt for Germany's most scenic hiking route, attracting tens of thousands
Germany's Most Beautiful Hiking Trails: The "Hossinger Leiter" Shines Amongst the Best
The "Hossinger Leiter" trail in the Swabian Alb, Germany, has once again garnered recognition, coming in seventh place in the recent reader's vote for Germany's most beautiful hiking trail organised by the specialist magazine, Wandermagazin.
This year, the competition was fierce, with the "Caspar-David-Friedrich-Weg" in Saxon Switzerland, Saxony, taking the top spot with 6,033 votes, and the Traumschleife Hunolsteiner Klammtour in Hunsrück, Rhineland-Palatinate, coming in third with 4,717 votes. The "Hossinger Leiter" was not far behind, receiving 4,743 votes.
The "Hossinger Leiter" is renowned for its dramatic, steep rock tower and climbing features. However, the voted top trails tend to emphasize spectacular river vistas, mystical forests, or cultural landscapes with panoramic hilltop views. The Osterspaier Langhalsweg on the Romantic Rhine, for instance, offers more river and village scenery, while the Grüne-Hölle-Tour Bollendorf in the Eifel boasts more forested, rugged natural landscapes.
The Dreifürstensteig, another trail in the Swabian Alb, shares regional proximity and high praise comparable to the "Hossinger Leiter". It was voted Germany’s second most beautiful hiking trail in a 2014 Wandermagazin competition. The Upper Lusatian Mountain Trail, on the other hand, offers more cultural and village scenery.
Approximately 46,000 hiking enthusiasts participated in the voting period, which ran from March to the end of June. The "Hossinger Leiter" was nominated by a high-profile jury that included Manuel Andrack, hiking expert and author, Kathrin Heckmann (alias Fräulein Draußen), Spiegel bestselling author, extreme hiker Thorsten Hoyer, chief editor of the Wandermagazin, and "Hegefire," one of the most influential German outdoor influencers with over 300,000 followers.
The "Hossinger Leiter" continues to attract tourists to the Alb with its spectacular views, impressive prehistoric structures, and fairytale-like ascent through the wild romantic gorge. Albstadt, the city where the trail is located, had hoped to win the title for its anniversary year. Although it did not secure the top spot, the fact that the "Hossinger Leiter" was nominated by the jury is quite remarkable, according to Roscher, and speaks for its quality.
Besides the "Hossinger Ladder," two other high-caliber hiking trails from Baden-Württemberg were nominated in the competition: the Bernauer High Valley Trail (ranked 4th) and the Schluchtenduo in the Nagold Valley (ranked 8th). The Wandermagazine has awarded the "Germany's Most Beautiful Hiking Trail" audience prize for the 19th time.
In addition to the "Hossinger Leiter," two brand new competitors, the Caspar-David-Friedrich-Weg and the Heideschleife Büsenbachtal, are on the winner's podium this year. The latter is part of an entire nature reserve. The "Hanging Stone," a part of the Zollernburg Panorama ridge trail in Albstadt, was recently designated a UNESCO Geopoint.
Despite not securing the top spot, the "Hossinger Leiter" continues to stand out as a unique and challenging hiking trail in the Swabian Alb, offering a distinctive rock tower climbing experience that sets it apart from other top-ranked trails across Germany.
The "Hossinger Leiter" is not only a renowned hiking trail, but it also showcases a unique sports activity, rock climbing, within its dramatic rock tower.
Sports enthusiasts who appreciate hiking and rock climbing would undoubtedly enjoy the challenge of the "Hossinger Leiter" trail in the Swabian Alb, Germany.
