Lion trail "Messelberg tour" - hiking with impressive views

The tour starts at the Messelberg hiking parking lot and leads along the edge of the Trauf towards Rötelstein, a bizarre rock formation with a beautiful view down into the Filstal valley and towards Hohenstein with the Scharfeneck castle ruins in the foreground. Continuing along the ridge, you take the narrow path down into the valley shortly before reaching the Oberweckerstell farmstead. You cross the idyllic Seizenbach stream before passing the Donzdorf shooting club. Fallen trees and diverse ground flora make this section of the trail a special experience for any nature lover.

The hiking trail continues below the edge of the forest towards the hiking parking lot. Again and again, beautiful views of the Alb foreland open up. After the hikers' parking lot, the trail climbs steeply uphill again on narrow paths towards the edge of the eaves. You pass through picturesque and damp beech forests before reaching the Alb plateau. Here you come to a narrow eaves path again, which leads along the edge to the central vantage point of the hike: the White Jurassic rock head of the Messelstein, visible from afar. Here, hikers are at an altitude of 748 meters and can let their gaze wander far into the countryside. The tour ends again at the Messelberg parking lot, which is not far from the Messelstein.

Coming from Stuttgart or Ulm on the B10 to Süßen, from there on the B466 to Donzdorf.

From the A8, take the Mühlhausen im Täle exit, then the B466 to Donzdorf.

Navigation to the starting point with Google Maps

In Süßen there is a connection to the MEX trains of the Filstalbahn on the Stuttgart-Ulm line. From Süßen ZOB take the bus lines 970, 971 or 972 to the bus stop "Donzdorf Stadthalle". From there it is approx. 13 minutes on foot to the Löwenpfad (the start is not at the official starting point of the Löwenpfad, but you get on at a different point).

You can find the circular timetable at www.vvs.de/fahrplan

Ample parking is available at the Messelstein hiking parking lot on the Alb plateau.

Respectful cooperation in the district of Göppingen.

Code of conduct:

Respect trail closures and the quiet zones developed in the leisure trail concept. Leave no traces such as garbage and animal droppings, treat your path with care. Act with foresight and consideration. Adapt your behavior to the situation at hand. Safety first. Respect other users of the forest and meadows. Be considerate of animals and plants. Plan ahead and make the most of daylight. Try to avoid dusk in the morning and evening. Observe the ban on entering agricultural land during the growing season. Stay on the designated paths and avoid the edges of the forest so that wild animals can get used to people better.

More information at ruecksicht-macht-wege-breiter.de

Messelstein

The Messelstein on the edge of the Albtrauf is a bare rock that juts out from the wooded Messelberg and can be seen from afar. From there, you have a magnificent view far beyond the Lauter and Filstal valleys and to the three imperial mountains of Hohenstaufen, Rechberg and Stuifen. On a clear day, the Stuttgart television tower can be seen in the distance. If you walk further south-east towards Messelhof, you can see as far as the Alps in good weather.

Rötelstein

A few hundred meters away from the Messelstein is the Rötelstein. A second wonderful vantage point with a panoramic view of the Filstal valley to Hohenstein, Maierhalde and the ruins of Scharfenberg Castle in Donzdorf. The launch pad of the Staufen hang-gliding and paragliding club is located in the immediate vicinity.