The forest is the source of water and a symbol of life. The best way to follow the path of water is on one of the five premium hiking trails around Bad Urach: the waterfall trail. The trail leads to the source of the water, the Bad Urach waterfall. It also offers a magnificent view from the slide rock and leads past another impressive natural phenomenon, the Güterstein waterfall.
The Urach waterfall is located in a nature reserve and is a geotope and forest biotope. A special phenomenon that can be observed there is the growth of calcareous tufa (spring tufa): The calcareous water loses lime from the moss cushions, which is deposited and covers them. Over thousands of years, meter-thick deposits have formed in this way. Together with the mosses, the calcareous tufa forms a valuable habitat for insects, which in turn provide food for other animals such as the fire salamander.
The Güterstein waterfall is more hidden and romantic, but no less impressive than the large Urach waterfall. Here, the water falls in many small cascades into a pond, giving the waterfall its own character.
Awarded Germany's most beautiful hiking trail in 2016, the Wasserfallsteig impresses with its contrasts between valley and plateau, forest and meadows, shadow and light as well as proximity and distance. The circular hike leads through the partly primeval forest-like landscape of the Swabian Alb UNESCO biosphere reserve to two impressive waterfalls. On the Alb plateau, there is a view of the Urach Alb and the ruins of Hohenurach Castle. You get an insight into the wildlife of the forest and can visit the fillies of the Marbach stud farm.
The waterfall trail starts at the Maisental P23 hiking parking lot at the foot of the Schlossberg. From there, the trail leads along the Brühlbach stream into the valley of the same name, via which you reach the Urach waterfall. A nature trail with steps leads along the waterfall up to the high meadow, where a rest area with a serviced waterfall hut invites you to take a break. Refreshed, the trail continues up the Ameisenbühl, past the impressive slide rock. Continuing along the plateau, you pass the Rohrauer Hütte and enter the forest. A forest path leads you to the Fohlenhof farm of the Marbach stud farm, where there are barbecue areas for resting. A natural stone path leads through the forest to the former Güterstein Charterhouse, past the Güterstein waterfall to the foot of the slope. From here, follow a path in the direction of Bad Urach back to the parking lot.
Sturdy footwear, hiking poles and sure-footedness are recommended for the Wasserfallsteig and other tours of the Grafensteige. The chalky rock and ground can be very slippery, especially after and during rainfall and in the winter months.
After the strenuous hike, the water can be followed to the Alb Thermen Bad Urach. There, body and soul can relax in six indoor and outdoor pools with 32 to 38 degree warm water or enjoy the soothing warmth in the sauna area. Bad Urach has been known as a geological anomaly for over 150 years. Scientists suspected hyperthermal mineral water at great depths. In 1969, local citizens founded the "Ermstal-Bohrgesellschaft" and in 1970 found hot spring water at a depth of 770 meters, today's thermal water.
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