Karlsruher Grat, Mountain ridge and via ferrata in Ottenhöfen, Germany
The Karlsruher Grat is a rocky ridge in the northern Black Forest that stretches around 400 meters along an elevation of 750 meters, featuring a jagged mountain profile. The crest consists of blocky fractured stone and creates a direct connection to the region's geology.
The rock formed 290 million years ago when magma filled a large ground fissure and slowly cooled. The current name arrived in 1926 after climbers from Karlsruhe regularly visited the place and shaped its identity.
The path includes the Edelfrauengrab cave, which local stories describe as the burial place of a noblewoman that visitors can still reach today.
A circular route of about 12 kilometers starts at Ottenhöfen train station and leads to the ridge area with different difficulty levels available. Good footwear is important, and wet weather can make the rock slippery.
The ridge consists of quartz porphyry, a special rock with visible crystals that looks distinctly different from the surrounding mountains. This makes it a visually striking feature in the landscape.
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