Waterfalls near Bad Urach
Bad Urach is a small village 45 minutes west of Ulm. It is mainly known for its thermal and mineral spa. But they also have two nice waterfalls just outside the town. You have to drive toward Metzingen and then have to leave the B28 to the left. You can use "Vorderes Maisental, 72574 Bad Urach" for the GPS.
As an alternative, you can go there by train. There is a train station where you leave the B28 and you just have to walk up the street to the trailhead.
The size of the parking lot gives you a good indication of how crowded it can get. But if you start early, you will have to share the view mainly with some other photographers. The fee for the parking lot is 5 EUR for the whole day no matter how long you're there.
The Urach Waterfall [↗] is one of the most famous waterfalls in the whole region. The waterfall has two parts: A free fall of 37 meters and a steep slope of another 50 meters. You can reach the base of the waterfall following the signs you can find at the parking lot. The 2 kilometers long way is pretty easy what for sure contributes to its popularity.
You can pass the waterfall and take an easy roundtrip through the valley. But I would recommend using the steps on the right side of the waterfall to reach the top. They follow the steep slope and give you some more options to take pictures. At the bottom of the free fall, the way leaves the waterfall and brings you through the forest to the top.
The view from the top is not really spectacular, but you have a small restaurant up there. The amount of benches under the trees reminds you again how crowded it can get.
At the last swing before you reach the top you'll find a sign to the second waterfall - the Güterstein waterfall [↗].
The well-maintained way is now changing to a track that leads you through the woods. After quite a while you reach a forest road that you have to follow. At a crossing continue uphill to reach the Güterstein waterfall.
The waterfall is split into two parts by an artificial basin. The upper part is right below the way you're using. To reach the bottom of the lower part, you follow a steep path near the fall. This waterfall is not as impressive as the Uracher waterfall, but for my liking, it's the more aesthetic one.
You are now back at the level of the valley. Walking back to the parking lot you are passing by the Marbach Stud Farm. If you are lucky, the horses are on the cradle.
