* * * Juniper Grove and Rock Face: a hike in the wild beauty of the Lochen Pass * * *

On the weekend, our journey took us to the edge of the Swabian Jura, where it is known to be 'a bit cooler' and the summer heat is more bearable. Our hike started at the hiking parking lot at #Lochenpass, which we reached via the B463 from #Balingen towards Albstadt/Sigmaringen. After taking the exit towards Rottweil/Tieringen/Weilstetten/Lochen and the second exit in the roundabout, we followed the L440 up to the Lochen Pass, the starting point of our tour.

The #Lochen is a prominent mountain in the southwestern Swabian Jura and forms a section of the Albtrauf above the Balingen district of #Weilstetten. The two most well-known peaks here are the #Lochenhörnle, which stands at 956 meters, and the #Lochenstein, which proudly rises 963 meters above sea level. The “Lochen” refers to the steep edge between #Schafberg and Hörnle, and the name of the mountain is feminine.
The ascent was accompanied by the bright white limestone cliffs of the Lochenstein, which visibly rise over the Swabian landscape. From the path, we had fantastic views at times. To the east, we could see Hohenzollern Castle, and in the distance, the peaks of the Alps shimmered. This view is truly unique and showcases the Albtrauf in its most impressive form. Especially at the Split Rock, it becomes evident how the edge of the Albtrauf has broken off repeatedly over the millennia. Here in the rocky area, a pristine natural landscape has been preserved, where rare plants such as the Low Hawkweed, the Rock Starvation Flower, and the Wall Rue find optimal conditions. The Lochen area is not only of great scenic importance, but also geological significance. For over 150 years, dwarf fossils have been found here, originating from the 156 million-year-old “Lochen layers” of the White Jura. On the high plateau of the Hörnle, which impresses with overwhelming open views, stretches the species-rich Hülenbuch meadows. The path to the Lochenstein led us through a varied and charming landscape, although the ascent to the summit is quite steep. Please take the note 'for experienced hikers' seriously! At the top, there are traces of several settlements over time. The Lochenstein near Balingen was a significant settlement site inhabited from around 2000 BC until Roman times. New finds from an excavation recently completed by archaeologists from the University of Tübingen confirm this. They built on excavations that took place nearly 100 years ago, to explore the settlement history of the mountain using modern methods. The steep ascent of the Lochenstein offered a strategically advantageous location that was easy to defend. From here, one could look west over the Black Forest to the Vosges, while to the east and south, the Danube stretched out. Unusually for the Swabian Jura, there is a large summit cross that stands on a foreland rock peak and offers a spectacular view of the Alb foothills. Hikers with less desire to climb can walk through the beautiful #NatureReserve #SchafbergLochenstein, which extends over about 102 hectares and serves to preserve the original cultural landscape. Characteristic of juniper heath areas, it is shaped by grazing with sheep, and even today, shepherds utilize these areas. Furthermore, the area is part of the Upper Danube Nature Park e.V. After this exciting hike, we treated ourselves to a well-deserved break at the barbecue area in Lochengründle. For all those who wish to explore this impressive nature themselves, we recommend good footwear – preferably hiking boots.
#mythoasalb #badenwürttemberg #swabianjura #ländle #imländle #zollernalbkreis #zollernalb #VisitBW #TourismusBW #UrlaubinBW #FerienlandBW #bwjetzt #bwnow #wirsindsüden #germany #theländ #germanytourism