Franconian Mountain Trail Stage 19: Waischenfeld - Pegnitz

This route is stage 19 of the Fränkischer Gebirgsweg, a long-distance trail in Bavaria; this specific segment starts in Waischenfeld and ends in Pegnitz. The path leads from the castle town of Waischenfeld through the heart of the Franconian Switzerland (Fränkische Schweiz), climbing from the Wiesent Valley toward the plateau of the Veldenstein Forest. The itinerary passes the impressive Sophienhöhle (Sophia Cave), one of the most beautiful dripstone caves in southern Germany, and the historic Rabenstein Castle before traversing the scenic karst landscapes and quiet forest tracks toward the town of Pegnitz, located at the source of the river Pegnitz. Overnight stays are available in hotels, traditional guesthouses, and specialized hikers' accommodations in Waischenfeld or Pegnitz, as wild camping is strictly prohibited throughout the Franconian Switzerland-Veldenstein Forest Nature Park. Water is reliably available in the towns at each end, but a sufficient supply should be carried for the stretches through the limestone valleys and high forests. Both trailheads are connected to the regional transport network, with a train station located in Pegnitz (main line Nuremberg-Bayreuth); schedules are available at vgn.de. The Fränkischer Gebirgsweg is a 428 km (266 miles) premium trail running from Untereichenstein to Hersbruck, typically completed in 21 to 22 stages.