How long is the experience?

The outing typically lasts three to four hours, including the museum tour, hike to the quarry, and supervised fossil search.

Do I need prior experience to participate?

No prior experience is required; a certified guide provides instruction on rock handling, safety and fossil identification.

Can I keep fossils I find?

Rules vary; guides will explain what may be taken and what must remain onsite—always follow local regulations and museum guidance.

Meeting point is Aktiv Mühle at Eßlinger Str. 3, 91807 Solnhofen, Germany—check in there to start the tour.

Is this suitable for children?

Yes; families with children are welcome, but children should be supervised and able to follow safety instructions around quarry edges.

Guides typically supply basic tools and safety equipment, but confirm specifics and any personal gear needs when booking via the referral link.

Solnhofen Fossil Hunt & Team High Ropes at Aktiv Mühle

Adventure Brief

Spend an afternoon at Aktiv Mühle in Solnhofen: a guided museum tour, a hike to the quarry and supervised fossil hunting paired with a team high-ropes experience. Perfect for curious families and amateur naturalists wanting hands-on Jurassic-era exploration.

3–4 hours

moderate

From €28.36

At the edge of Bavaria’s Jura plateau, the small town of Solnhofen offers a rare double bill of hands-on natural history and high-ropes teamwork. Modul Teamhochseilgarten (NUR INTERN) is a guided experience that combines a museum tour, a hike to the historic Solnhofen quarry, and supervised fossil collecting, with a team high-ropes component run from the Aktiv Mühle meeting point at Eßlinger Str. 3, 91807 Solnhofen, Germany. The program is led by a certified guide who blends local geology, field technique and safety instruction into a single afternoon.

The key features here are the Solnhofen Plattenkalk beds: thin, fine-grained limestone slabs that preserved delicate Jurassic organisms in remarkable detail. Visitors will walk the quarry rims and sample the actual broken plates that have yielded fish, cephalopods and the famous Archaeopteryx—an icon in paleontology—while learning how to split slabs and recognize fossil-bearing layers. The quarry itself exposes pale beige and grey limestone faces scored by historical extraction; the texture of the rock and the angular rubble make for tactile fieldwork that feels more like detective work than a garden-variety hike.

The nearby museum included in the tour collects specimens, historical tools, and explanatory exhibits that place the stone in a 150-million-year timeline; the guide’s commentary enriches those displays with the hands-on practice you’ll apply in the quarry. Beyond fossils, the landscape shows karst-influenced features and limestone flora common to southern Germany; keep an eye out for patches of thyme and low juniper tucked into rocky seams.

What makes this offering stand out is the hybrid format: it’s equal parts classroom, trailwork and cooperative challenge. Small-group supervision means novices and families can learn proper techniques for splitting plates and documenting finds, while safety-conscious instruction keeps quarry edges and tools managed. Aktiv Mühle as a meeting point gives the experience a clear local anchor—arrive at Eßlinger Str. 3 to check in, meet the guide, and collect any provided tools or safety equipment.

Practical notes: the outing typically runs three to four hours, so bring sturdy footwear, a sun layer, and a small backpack for water and any finds you’re allowed to keep. This activity is especially compelling for amateur naturalists, families with curious kids, and anyone who wants a tactile link to deep time. For visitors to Bavaria looking for a hands-on fossil experience coupled with outdoor skills and team-based challenge, Solnhofen’s Modul Teamhochseilgarten delivers a concentrated, memorable afternoon.

Guides emphasize responsible collecting: document each find, refill loose spoil, and follow local rules on removals. The work is hands-on but not technical; most guests manage with instruction, and working a quarry face with a group turns every discovery into a shared thrill. Book via the referral link to check dates and availability online.

About AKTIV MÜHLE

AKTIV MÜHLE is an outdoor adventure and canoe outfitter based in Solnhofen, Bayern. The company specializes in guided and self-guided canoe trips on the Altmühl River, island camping on Altmühlinsel, and adventure programs for families, school groups, and corporate teams. AKTIV MÜHLE runs day tours, multi-day island-camp stays, raft-building teamevents for school classes, and guided NaTour routes that pass the distinctive "Twelve Apostles" rock formations.

On-site services include canoe and equipment access from multiple launch points, supervised boat chutes, organized transfers between paddling sections, and a family-friendly island campsite with fire pits and a covered grill. The business offers specific programs for school trips—multi-day packages with raft building, wild-water kayaking components, and high ropes activities—designed for groups from grade 7 and above, and a separate three-day canoe-and-camp option for grade 8.

AKTIV MÜHLE's program list also includes half-day and full-day paddles such as Pappenheim to Solnhofen, Solnhofen to Dollnstein, and guided 13 km NaTour excursions. Additional services include a Bavarian breakfast option served before canoe trips.

Safety and local knowledge are central: experienced guides lead NaTour and group events, while family activities emphasize shallow, scenic stretches of the Altmühl suitable for swimmers and young children. Located in a protected natural area near Solnhofen, AKTIV MÜHLE combines paddling, camping, and outdoor education to create hands-on, trustworthy river experiences for visitors to Bayern.

Booking and inquiries are handled through the business's reservation channels, with clear information about equipment, transfers, and age recommendations to help with planning. Advance booking is recommended during summer.