Nature Reserve Guide
Steinheimer Becken is a nature reserve distinguished by its unique geological origin as a well-preserved meteorite impact crater, formed approximately 15 million years ago. This event created a distinct circular basin with a prominent central uplift, offering varied elevations and diverse natural features. The landscape within Steinheimer Becken encompasses extensive forests, vibrant flower meadows, heathlands, and the Wental valley with its striking rock formations, providing a varied setting for several sports like hiking, touring cycling, road cycling, jogging, and more.
The Steinheimer Becken offers a wide array of outdoor activities, with more than 100 routes available across several sports like hiking, touring cycling, road cycling, jogging, and more. The region's well-signposted trails are ideal for exploring its unique geology, including shatter cones and the crater's topography, with options ranging from easy walks to more challenging paths. Cyclists can find diverse terrain, from paved roads suitable for road cycling to unpaved sections for touring and gravel biking, including longer routes that connect to other geological highlights. For those interested in specific activities, detailed information can be found in guides such as Hiking in Steinheimer Becken, Cycling in Steinheimer Becken, and Running Trails in Steinheimer Becken. More than 2,000 visitors have shared their experiences in Steinheimer Becken, resulting in an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars for its routes.
178
Routes
4.6
(794)
Average rating
4437
People visited

5.0
(6)
30
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(46)
142
riders
36.9km
02:26
280m
280m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.4
(17)
154
riders
14.4km
00:50
60m
60m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(53)
208
riders
51.8km
03:27
340m
340m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.7
(115)
391
hikers
18.1km
04:57
270m
270m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(127)
421
hikers
24.7km
06:58
520m
520m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.5
(18)
64
hikers
9.78km
02:46
210m
210m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.6
(19)
62
hikers
11.9km
03:18
210m
220m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.3
(9)
157
riders
52.5km
02:18
410m
410m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.9
(11)
133
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

3.0
(1)
50
riders
32.0km
01:24
260m
260m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.8
(6)
49
riders
52.2km
02:13
330m
330m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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4.8
(5)
135
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
34
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

28
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

15
runners
8.72km
00:57
150m
150m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(14)
40
riders
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.0
(4)
16
riders
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(3)
12
riders
22.7km
01:25
210m
210m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
12
riders
33.1km
02:00
310m
320m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.6
(12)
40
riders
47.2km
02:36
470m
470m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
27
riders
45.7km
02:29
370m
370m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
17
riders
36.3km
01:59
310m
310m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
24
riders
19.1km
01:02
130m
130m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Steinheimer Becken is a well-preserved meteorite impact crater, formed approximately 15 million years ago. It features a nearly circular basin about 2.4 miles (3.8 kilometers) in diameter and a central uplift known as the Steinhirt. The region is also known for geological wonders like shatter cones and fossil discoveries.
Steinheimer Becken offers a variety of outdoor activities including Hiking, Touring cycling, Road cycling, Jogging, Mountain biking, and Gravel biking. The area features well-signposted trails suitable for different preferences and fitness levels.
A prominent route is the Meteorkrater-Rundwanderweg, a 12-mile (20 km) circular trail with significant elevation changes. Other popular options include the Gnannental Dam – Steinheim Meteor Crater Rim loop and the Heiderose country inn – Steinheim Sheep Slope loop.
Yes, Steinheimer Becken offers several easy hiking routes. Examples include the Steinheimer Becken Trailhead – Eagle Wood Sculpture loop, which is about 3 miles (4.9 kilometers) long. More options can be found in the Easy hikes in Steinheimer Becken guide.
The region caters to touring and road cyclists with diverse terrain. Notable routes include the Ugentalsträßle – Eselsburger Valley loop for touring and the Ice cream parlor Mahlzeit Gerstetten – Bridge Over the Brenz loop for road cycling. The Cycling in Steinheimer Becken guide provides more details.
Yes, Steinheimer Becken has mountain biking routes. A challenging option is the Wentalweible Rock Formation – Felsenmeer Wental loop, which is about 29 miles (47 kilometers) long. The MTB Trails in Steinheimer Becken guide lists additional routes.
Steinheimer Becken offers well-maintained paths suitable for jogging. The Art Installations in Stubental – Sontheim Meteorite Trail loop is a popular moderate route, approximately 8 miles (13.3 kilometers) long. More options are available in the Running Trails in Steinheimer Becken guide.
The region features extensive forests, flower meadows, and heathlands. A notable attraction is the romantic Wental valley, known for its bizarre Dolomite rock formations referred to as a 'sea of rocks' (Felsenmeer). The crater's central uplift, Steinhirt, also offers panoramic views.
Steinheimer Becken is a popular destination, with more than 100 routes available on Komoot. These routes have been explored by over 2,400 visitors and hold an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Komoot offers several guides for Steinheimer Becken, including Hiking in Steinheimer Becken, Cycling in Steinheimer Becken, and Running Trails in Steinheimer Becken. There are also guides for specific interests like Natural Monuments and Attractions.
For general inquiries, the municipality of Steinheim can be reached at +49 7329 9606-0. The Meteorkratermuseum (Meteor Crater Museum) can be contacted at +49 7329 9606-52 or +49 7329 960658. Additional information is available on the official website, www.steinheim.com.

