W4: Via the Natursteig

2:20 h 150 hm 158 hm 7.6 km Moderate

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

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This loop trail takes us to the Natursteig, a very well-maintained hiking trail through a shady mixed forest above the Tauber and Schandtauber rivers. 

The route passes mills, abandoned quarries, and plenty of nature. Alternative Route 4a bypasses the Schandtaubertal, thereby shortening the distance by over 2 km.

From the market square, we head south through the Obere and Untere Schmiedgasse to the Plönlein. Continuing through the Siebersturm, we reach the so-called Kappenzipfel. We follow Spitalgasse, past the Spitalkirche Hl. Geist to the imposing Spitalbastei (circa 1535). Our path leads to the right of it, across the covered Wallgrabensteg bridge and up the road leading from the Taubertal valley, where the W4 hiking trail marker begins on the left. Now we follow the signs along the footpath next to the state highway to the Schwimmbadwäldchen (Siechhauswäldchen), where our path branches off to the right onto the Walkmühlensteig and leads down into the Tauber Valley. At the bottom of the valley, we come to the Obere Walkmühle. Here we keep to the left and follow the valley upstream, past the Haltenmühle (17th century), up to the Haltenbrücke, and cross the Tauber. This is where the Tauber’s actual valley gorge (the romantic Tauber Valley) begins, stretching all the way to its confluence with the Main near Wertheim. Immediately after the bridge, the Natursteig trail begins on the right. We follow this very well-maintained hiking trail along the edge of the slope, past several abandoned quarries, through shady mixed forest down to the Hammerschmiede (16th century) in the Schandtauber Valley. Tools were once manufactured here. The trail continues downstream through the deeply incised, romantic side valley. We pass the ruins of the paper mill (see information board) and follow the Schandtauber further until it flows into the Tauber. To the right of the confluence lies the aforementioned Schmelzmühle (information board). We cross to the right bank of the Tauber via the Schmelzmühlensteg. The narrow Medersteige trail takes us past the Gipsmühle and the Wildbad complex, up to the Spitalbastei. Wildbad was already used as a spa town as early as the 14th century because of its mineral spring. From the Spitalbastei, the trail leads us straight ahead, through Spitalgasse and Schmiedgassen, back up to the market square, our starting point.

 

Shortcut 4a: There is an alternative shortcut from the Natursteig to the Schmelzmühle. About 800 m past the Haltenbrücke, at the junction with the W12, follow the Hangweg straight ahead along with the W13. You’ll descend across a hillside meadow into the Tauber Valley to the Schmelzmühle, where you’ll rejoin the W4, which leads us across the Tauber into town.

  • Ascent: 150 hm

  • Descent: 158 hm

  • Length of the tour: 7.6 km

  • Highest point: 426 m

  • Difference: 71 hm

  • Lowest point: 355 m

Difficulty

Moderate

Panoramic view

Moderate

Seasonal suitability

suitable weather dependent not suitable unknown
  • JAN

  • FEB

  • MAR

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  • JUL

  • AUG

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  • DEC

Features trail

Circular route

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Tourinfo PDF
Tourinfo PDF
GPX Track
GPX Track

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