Hiking around Wenslingen

According to the forecast it's supposed to be rather cool and cloudy most/all of the day, so we abandon the idea of climbing and opt for a hike in Jura. We don't really have much of a plan for this aside from a start point and visiting a waterfall... the rest we'll make up as we go along.

We start in Sommerau (well, really outside of Sommerau since the bus which is replacing the train doesn't go all the way into town) and then head up the valley along a nice forest road which eventually hits the stream, and then turns into a trail. Nice walking through the Stierengraben takes us to the waterfall at the end of the valley (dramatic amphitheater, not much water though). Then up and out of the gorge and through the fields to Rünenberg. Through town here, past at a farmhouse where they have are selling freshly pressed apple juice (of course we dump out both Nalgenes and fill them with that), then further across the fields before heading down into the next narrow valley. Past the shooting range (active today) and then up and along the other side of the valley. Cool cliffs at the top of this, and a pretty sizable cave (the Bruderloch, possibly worth going back to visit with headlamps and helmets), then a bit more through the forest before finding a nice bench for a food break.

waterfall at the end of the Stierengraben

On through Wenslingen, through the fields with nice views, another food break on a bench in a stand of old oaks, then onwards to the forest. Here the trail takes us down into the next valley, through Rothenfluh, along the valley through Ormalingen,  and then finally into Gelterkinden where we get the train back to Basel.

across the fields near Rünenberg

As always, it's fun to do a nice Jura hike. :-) This would be a good area for sunny days in the spring: lots of nice open rolling terrain to enjoy the sun.

above Bettstigi...so green

Track:

Stats: 19.6km, 470m up, 500m down, 4:30 total time.