Stage 7: From Dollnstein to Eichstätt - Altmühltal Panorama Trail

The seventh stage of the long-distance hiking trail follows some picturesque bends in the Altmühltal and takes you to further geological highlights. You can admire rugged dry slopes just a few meters from the Dollnstein starting point. From here you hike close to the Altmühl over beautiful river meadows.

The path slowly climbs and takes you along picturesque forest paths through the steep valley slope. In many places there are viewing points where you can enjoy the view of the narrow Altmühltal. Only at Obereichstätt does the signposted path leave the valley and lead you up to an old quarry. Over time, countless groundbreaking fossils have been discovered in this limestone pit. Therefore, after it was closed, it was expanded into a visitor quarry. You can go fossil hunting here on your own – and with borrowed tools. With a little luck, you might find a fossilized ammonite or trilobite that floated through the Jurassic Sea millions of years ago.

After your visit to the quarry, you hike on the Eichstätter Höhenweg with wonderful views to the stage destination Eichstätt. Once here, it's worth taking a stroll through the city and visiting the castle.

The Altmühlbahn regional train runs directly to Dollnstein from Nuremberg, Munich and Ingolstadt. From Eichstätt Stadt train station, the Bavarian regional train takes you to Eichstätt train station, where you can change to the regional train to Dollnstein, Munich, Ingolstadt and Nuremberg.