Ottersteine, Natural rock formation in Rhön Mountains, Germany.

Ottersteine is a rock formation in the High Rhön, a northern spur of the Dammersfeldkuppe. It rises 15 to 25 m above its surroundings and reaches 821.3 m above sea level. The cliffs consist of flat-lying columns a few decimetres across, oriented in all directions, indicating they formed as the filling of a volcanic vent by a lava lake.

This rock formation came from volcanic activity in ancient geological times when magma rose and cooled in the region. Later, the area became a military training ground, which has shaped access to the site ever since.

The name Ottersteine refers to the basalt cliffs in the Haderwald forest, a name also used for the surrounding woodland. The formation lies in the Hessische Rhön Nature Park and the Rhön Biosphere Reserve, and parts of the Haderwald FFH area and the Hessische Rhön bird protection area cover it. Since 1938 the site has been inside the Wildflecken training ground, so hikers usually see it only from a distance during the Volkswandertage, as last in 2023.

This site lies on an active military training ground and cannot be freely visited, so check local regulations before planning a trip. It's essential to inquire about current access rules if you are interested in seeing the formation.

The basalt columns here lie flat and point in all directions, a sign that they filled a volcanic vent as a lava lake rather than forming a surface flow. The rock also holds large olivine crystals torn from the Earth's mantle, which survived because the magma rose fast.