Westerheim: Hiking, Winter and Culture

Westerheim offers several concrete starting points for planning a stay: marked hiking routes, seasonal winter activities, and cultural and leisure destinations. Trail lengths, seasonal availability and the different locations can help you identify what interests you. The destination is located in the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve, which covers around 85,300 hectares.

Hiking trails of varying lengths

Six main hiking routes in Westerheim are consistently marked. Route W2 is about 10.5 kilometers long; the Sommerbobbahn parking lot is a recommended starting point. Route W4 is just over 7 kilometers long, with the Alb-Halle as a recommended starting point. These details offer an initial guide when comparing hiking routes by length.

The Kapellenwanderweg, about 8 kilometers long, crosses Westerheim and continues to Egelsee. The Loretto Chapel, built in 1705, lies along the route. At any of three rest stops along hiking route W4, you can play downloadable fairy tales. The routes therefore differ not only in length but also in their individual points of interest.

Landscape and views

Locals consider Sellenberg Westerheim’s local mountain, and it offers a lovely view of the surrounding area. It is also the community’s green lung and festival venue. The community has installed a Viscope telescope at the Westenberg viewpoint. The two locations offer different highlights: Sellenberg combines a viewpoint with a community function, while Westenberg has the telescope.

The Schertelshöhle cave is nearby, but outside Westerheim. This show cave is 212 meters long and has two passages with stalactite and sinter formations. Its cave passages and formations add a distinct destination to the area’s landscape and viewpoint attractions.

Winter activities depend on snow and weather

Westerheim has more than 30 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski trails, with skating options in various lengths and difficulty levels. Four drag lifts are also part of the winter offering. The trails and lifts are dependent on the season and weather; snow conditions can vary. Check conditions for your dates before making specific winter plans.

Snowshoeing is possible when snow conditions are suitable. Other snow-dependent activities mentioned include skijoring and kite skiing: in skijoring, a horse pulls a person across the snow; in kite skiing, a paraglider pulls the skier. These activities therefore differ both in what you do and in how you are pulled.

Church, indoor pool and leisure

St. Stephanus Church is used for religious services and also serves as a venue for concerts, weddings and exhibitions. Tours are possible; check dates and arrangements in advance. Event dates depend on the individual concerts, weddings and exhibitions.

Alb-Bad is an indoor pool with a large swimming pool and a separate splash pool for toddlers. As operating details can change, it is a good idea to check them before your visit. Adventure Golf adds an outdoor attraction to the leisure options. This means that, alongside hiking and winter activities, an indoor pool and an outdoor leisure activity offer different options for planning your stay.

Cycling from Westerheim

The 49.3-kilometer “Mountain and Valley Stage for Sporty Cyclists” tour starting in Westerheim is described for cyclists. You can consider the tour as a separate cycling option alongside the hiking trails: the hiking routes mentioned range from just over 7 to about 10.5 kilometers, and the Kapellenwanderweg is about 8 kilometers long, while the cycling tour is listed at 49.3 kilometers. These figures refer to route length in each case.

Discover more destinations: Rammingen, Dietenheim, Blaustein, Munderkingen, Dornstadt, Berghülen, Öpfingen, Holzkirch.

Back to the overarching travel guide: Alb-Donau district.