Two hiking routes show different sides of Gschwend: one begins and ends at the natural swimming lake, while the other starts from Gschwend’s market square. This brings together a route through the Fairy-Tale Forest and a hike to Hagberg Tower. The starting points and destinations give you a specific reference when deciding which hike better suits your plans.
Set off from the natural swimming lake or the market square
Route 4, “Mushroom,” begins and ends at the natural swimming lake near Gschwend. It passes through the Fairy-Tale Forest and by Kreuzstein. The lake is therefore both the starting and ending point, while the Fairy-Tale Forest and Kreuzstein are the notable landmarks along the way. If you are interested in this route, the sequence of starting point, forest section, and return to the lake provides a clear guide for your hiking day.
The “Scenic Road Route F” starts at Gschwend’s market square and leads through forest and meadows to Hagberg Tower. The destination is an Art Nouveau structure dating from 1901. This hike combines the route with a specific architectural destination, with forest and meadows shaping the way there. Starting from the market square sets this route apart from the loop at the natural swimming lake right from the outset.
The two descriptions therefore emphasize different things: on Route 4, the beginning and end are at the lake, and the path passes through the Fairy-Tale Forest and by Kreuzstein. On Route F, the market square and Hagberg Tower are the reference points, with forest and meadows in between. This helps you choose based on your preferred destination and character of the route, without treating the two hikes as the same. As route details may change, check them again before setting off.
More to explore in the wider Ostalbkreis travel destination
In the wider Ostalbkreis travel destination, Rainau has its own focus on Roman heritage. In Rainau, the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, runs through the districts of Buch, Schwabsberg, and Dalkingen for about six kilometers. The most beautiful sections and most significant individual monuments have been preserved in a unique concentration in Limes Park Rainau. A reconstructed watchtower offers panoramic views across the Ostalb region.
The Limes circular hiking trail near Rainau also offers a clearly described hiking option: it is about 11 kilometers long and takes roughly two and a half hours on foot. The route runs from the Limes wall and Limes tower between Buch and Schwabsberg through Mahdholz forest, following the Limes to the southern edge of Schwabsberg. The approximate duration and route length provide a different basis for planning than the two hikes near Gschwend.
Lorch Monastery is another cultural highlight in the wider Ostalbkreis travel destination. It was founded in 1102 by Frederick I, the first Hohenstaufen, and his wife Agnes of Waiblingen as their burial place. The monastery complex includes a medieval church, cloister, and farm buildings. Marsilius Tower offers views of the complex, herb garden, sensory garden, and surrounding area. The permanent exhibition presents 900 years of monastic history, including the richly decorated Lorch choir books.
Thus, the wider Ostalbkreis travel destination offers Roman heritage and monastic history as distinct interests alongside hiking. When choosing accommodation in Gschwend, you can start with the two local routes: their different starting points and the particular character of each hike are what set them apart. The broader examples from the Ostalbkreis add to this perspective without conflating the hikes near Gschwend with those in other places.
Discover more destinations: Kirchheim am Ries, Adelmannsfelden, Waldstetten, Ruppertshofen, Obergröningen, Jagstzell, Unterschneidheim, Heuchlingen
Back to the wider travel guide: Ostalbkreis.
