Loop Trail 2

BÄRENLOCH-SCHLAUFE

Loop Trail 2

BÄRENLOCH-SCHLAUFE

Loop Trail 2

BÄRENLOCH-SCHLAUFE

marker of the Bärenloch-loopLoop trail 2: Bärenloch-Schlaufe

Short, but pretty "mountain tour" between Bärenloch and Vils valley

  • 10,7 km
  • 2,7 hrs.
  • Traidendorf, junction Hage Straße – Angerstraße or Church at Rohrbach, Hohenfelser Straße
  • Traidendorf, junction Hage Straße – Angerstraße or Church at Rohrbach, Hohenfelser Straße
  • Ascent gradient: 227,5 m
    Descent gradient: 227,5 m

The Bärenloch loop has a moderate length, but remarkable ascents, and it is a marvellous circular hiking trail between the Vils valley and the high Jura plains. This hiking tour takes about two hours and offers lots of changing sights, beautiful views and a variety of places for rest – an adventure in the vicinity of the picturesque town of Kallmünz.

The trip starts at Traidendorf with its charming manor house, belonging to a former hammer mill. In the west of the small village a natural hollow trail leads up into the woods which border on the Vils valley.

After 20 minutes, which can be quite strenuous in summer, you are already walking 100 meters above the level of the Vils valley. On the plains, the Bärenloch loop branches off to the south and, keeping the same elevation, leads to a clearing which offers a gorgeous sight of the castle ruins of Kallmünz. There, you can take a rest.

Next, the trail leads softly downhill through the diversified woody landscape of the Jura plains. You pass the hamlet of Murrenberg, after which the trail branches off to the south in the direction of Dinau. Shortly before you reach the small village (no inn any longer!), the trail makes a hairpin bend, steering to the north in the direction of the hidden Bärenhöhle ("bear's den"), an interesting karst cave on the slope of the Murrenberg. For about one and a half kilometers you walk softly downhill through the quiet Mühltal, until the route branches off to the right and leads up to the Kapellenberg. On the top of the hill you turn right and at last you reach the pilgrimage church "Maria Hilf" with its beautiful cloisters and cemetery. Two benches offer a resting place, as you have a marvellous view wide into the Vils valley from here. Located in this valley is the town of Rohrbach, with its so-called "Dreifaltigkeitskirche" (Church of the Holy Trinity), a fortified church with a wooden facetted ceiling and an elaborate pulpit. Equally worth seeing is the hammer manor of Rohrbach, itself dating back to the year 1586. In Rohrbach at the Vils bridge, the Bärenloch loop trail meets the main route of the Jurasteig, and you follow the Jurasteig now for almost two kilometers in the Vils valley back to Traidendorf.