Juniper Trail – Tour through the Upper Palatinate Tuscany

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The Lauterach Valley, which runs between Schmidmühlen and Kastl through the northern Upper Palatinate, is one of the Jura's most special gems. On the flanks of the hilltops on both sides of the romantic Jurabach stream, bizarre rock formations originating from the sponge reefs of a tropical sea adorn the path. The trail often leads directly through fragrant juniper heaths, which have earned the Lauterach Valley the name Bavarian Tuscany. In between, there are small market towns and villages with beautiful old town halls on historic market squares, castles, ruins and, of course, churches, which are further highlights of the tour. Here in the Lauterach Valley is also the last nursery of the greater horseshoe bat, a species of bat that is found nowhere else in Germany.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 36.87 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 752 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 679 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 557 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 357 m

Photos

Wacholderheide
Klosterkirche Markt Kastl
Buchenwald
Rathaus

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S
    Wacholderwanderweg Lauterachtal - Etappe 1

    Juniper hiking trail in the Lauterach Valley – stage 1

    ↔15.64 km ↗260 m ↘235 m
    The first stage of the Juniper Trail starts in Schmidtmühlen, an idyllic market town in the Lauterach Valley. In addition to three castles, the market square with its pretty half-timbered houses is particularly worth a visit. From here, the trail climbs up into the forest and finally, halfway up the slope high above the Lauterach Valley, you can hike through the juniper heaths.
    View the route
  2. 2
    Wacholderwanderweg Lauterachtal - Etappe 2

    Lauterachtal Juniper Trail – Stage 2

    ↔15.74 km ↗387 m ↘340 m
    The second part of the Juniper Trail also has its own special highlights. From Hohenburg, the trail leads along the slope of the Lauterach Valley through forests and juniper heaths across the sparsely populated landscape. At Ransbach, the idyllic trail switches to the other bank of the Lauterach, then leads over the ridge to Kastl. The area between Hohenburg and Kastl in the Hirschwald Nature Park has a special feature. Directly on the cycle path that flanks the Lauterach lies the Hohenfels military training area, at the top of which the ruins of the former castle complex are visible.
    View the route
  3. E
    Wacholderwanderweg Lauterachtal - Etappe 3 (Rundweg in Kastl)

    Lauterachtal Juniper Trail – Stage 3 (circular route in Kastl)

    ↔5.46 km ↗107 m ↘104 m
    The third stage of the Juniper Trail summarises all the scenic highlights on a short circular route. Magnificent beech forests above Kastl, dry grasslands and, of course, the beautiful juniper heaths. It leads across the historic market square in Kastl with the old town hall, past the monastery church and up into the Hochholz, where the trail follows a forest nature trail for a while.
    View the route

Notes

The hike mainly follows natural paths through the forest or dry grassland with juniper bushes along the mountainside. Therefore, it can get a little muddy in rain and snow. Steep passages over a few rocks are rather the exception and do not require any safety measures. In the villages along the Lauterach, you will also pass a few paved roads.

Equipment

  • The tour is feasible in dry weather with comfortable shoes, but ankle-high hiking boots and special hiking socks are recommended due to the length of the route and the occasional rough terrain.
  • There are no places to stop for refreshments on either stage except at the start and finish. It is therefore strongly recommended that you take food with you.
  • Large parts of the hike lead across juniper heaths with no significant shade on the south side of the Lauterach Valley. You should therefore take sufficient quantities of drinks with you. In hot weather, drinks are really important to prevent dehydration. (Recommendation: at least three litres, preferably more in hot weather).
  • Dogs must be kept on a leash (especially on sections of the route with traffic and in the nature reserves of the Hirschwald Nature Park).
  • Due to the narrow, natural path, the route is not suitable for pushchairs or buggies.

You can find more information and pictures at: https://mit-mama-nach.de/wacholderwander...

Worth a visit

Accommodation
In Hohenburg and Kastl

Sights along the route
Schmidmühlen

  • Upper Castle (old town hall at the starting point, local history museum)
  • Lower Castle (Hammer Castle, Hammerstr. 30)
  • Tile maker's castle (Kreuzbergstr. 4)
  • Market square with old half-timbered houses and St. Ägidien Church
  • Sculpture trail along the Lauterach

Hohenburg

  • Overnight
  • Old town hall (market square)
  • St. Jakob Market Church (St. James' Way Church)
  • Hohenburg castle ruins (on the military training area)
  • Hohenburg bat house (check opening hours)

Kastl market

  • Kastl monastery castle with monastery church
  • Old Town Hall (market square)
  • Kastl Local History Museum (Hohenburger Str. 44)

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

Other walks in the area

Walking Juniper hiking trail in the Lauterach Valley – stage 1

Visorando member
Wacholderwanderweg Lauterachtal - Etappe 1
↔15.64 km ↗+260 m ↘-235 m ◔5h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Schmidmühlen (Upper Palatinate)
The first stage of the Juniper Trail starts in Schmidtmühlen, an idyllic market town in the Lauterach Valley. In addition to three castles, the market square with its pretty half-timbered houses is particularly worth a visit. From here, the trail climbs up into the forest and finally, halfway up the slope high above the Lauterach Valley, you can hike through the juniper heaths.

Walking Lauterachtal Juniper Trail – Stage 2

Visorando member
Wacholderwanderweg Lauterachtal - Etappe 2
↔15.74 km ↗+387 m ↘-340 m ◔5h 35 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Hohenburg (Upper Palatinate)
The second part of the Juniper Trail also has its own special highlights. From Hohenburg, the trail leads along the slope of the Lauterach Valley through forests and juniper heaths across the sparsely populated landscape. At Ransbach, the idyllic trail switches to the other bank of the Lauterach, then leads over the ridge to Kastl. The area between Hohenburg and Kastl in the Hirschwald Nature Park has a special feature. Directly on the cycle path that flanks the Lauterach lies the Hohenfels military training area, at the top of which the ruins of the former castle complex are visible.

Walking Lauterachtal Juniper Trail – Stage 3 (circular route in Kastl)

Visorando member
Wacholderwanderweg Lauterachtal - Etappe 3 (Rundweg in Kastl)
↔5.46 km ↗+107 m ↘-104 m ◔1h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Kastl (Upper Palatinate)
The third stage of the Juniper Trail summarises all the scenic highlights on a short circular route. Magnificent beech forests above Kastl, dry grasslands and, of course, the beautiful juniper heaths. It leads across the historic market square in Kastl with the old town hall, past the monastery church and up into the Hochholz, where the trail follows a forest nature trail for a while.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.