Altmühltal Panorama Trail Stage 4: Pappenheim - Solnhofen

This route is the fourth stage of the Altmühltal Panoramic Trail, a long-distance hiking trail through the Altmühltal Nature Park. This particular section begins in the medieval castle town of Pappenheim and ends in Solnhofen. After a partly steep climb through the woods, a narrow ridge path winds its way along the river, offering magnificent views. The route crosses the sunny juniper heaths on the Zimmerner Hang and finally reaches Solnhofen. The town is world-renowned for its fossil finds in the limestone slabs, such as the famous primeval bird Archaeopteryx, which can be admired in the local museum. Accommodation is available in guesthouses and hotels in Pappenheim or Solnhofen; wild camping is prohibited in the nature park. Drinking water is available in the stage towns, but you should carry a supply for the sunny sections across the heaths. Both towns have excellent rail links (towards Nuremberg, Augsburg, Munich); timetables are available at https://www.bahn.de. For the full route and all stages, see https://www.alltrails.com/lists/altmuhltal-panoramaweg – Official AllTrails list.