Haugstein - Am Dach des Donausteigs

Haugstein - On the roof of the Donausteig!

Congratulations - at 895 metres above sea level, the Haugstein is the highest peak on the entire Donausteig! It is also the highest point in the Sauwald. Surrounded by rustic mixed mountain forest, its surveying column rises from a collection of mighty boulders - a mystical place.

Such collections of boulders are also known as boulder castles. They are the result of a special weathering process - wool sack weathering! Firstly, chemical weathering begins to break down the rock mass below the surface of the ground. Aggressive solutions create vertical fissures in the rock, starting from the top. Over time, transverse fissures also form, creating compact blocks of rock. As chemical weathering can best attack the edges, these blocks become rounder and rounder - so-called "wool sacks" are formed. If the soil above these wool sacks is carried away by erosion, they come to the surface and amaze us with their imaginative shapes.

Tip: The short detour to the highest summit of the Donausteig is a must for every Donausteig hiker!