The best MTB trails around Nienstädt

At this point, the highest point is reached and a reward follows in the form of the view on the ridge trail into the Auetal.

Approximately 15 meters straight west next to the Glassmakers' square

The dinosaur tracks in the Bückeberg sandstone quarries are among the most impressive relics of prehistoric times in Northern Germany. In the sandstone layers of the former Obernkirchen quarry, dinosaur footprints have been preserved, dating back approximately 140 million years, when this area was a flat coastal landscape with lagoons and wet sandy areas. Various dinosaur species roamed these soft soils, leaving their tracks in the sand that hardened over time. Both tracks of herbivorous dinosaurs and the typical three-toed footprints of carnivorous species are visible. The sheer number and density of the preserved tracks hint at just how teeming this landscape must have been in the early Cretaceous period. Today, the tracks lie exposed in the rock, offering a direct glimpse into a long-vanished world where enormous animals roamed what is now the Schaumburg region. Today the quarry is part of a protected natural and recreational area and is integrated into a nature trail that introduces visitors to the origin of the traces, the environment at that time and the geological significance of the Bückeberge.

The Springsteine in the Weserbergland region are a striking rock formation of ancient sandstone and limestone, rising jagged and bizarre from the wooded ridge near Deckbergen. Between narrow crevices, small caves, and steep rock outcrops, an impressive piece of geological history is revealed, providing a habitat for bats, among other creatures. The name "Springsteine" derives from their once prominent location, visible from afar, when they stood like prominent landmarks above the valley. Today, narrow paths wind through them, making the Springsteine a particularly attractive destination for hikers who appreciate geological features, tranquility, and unusual natural formations.

Komoot includes this section in a mountain bike tour. It's barely rideable ;)

The area is freely accessible. At the entrance, further information panels explain which dinosaur species have involuntarily immortalized themselves here and how to identify their respective footprints. You can also learn why this oft-quoted "chicken coop" is so special: It is likely a ford used by many different species to cross a lagoon. The arrangement of the footprints provided new insights into their social behavior. The young animals were apparently protected and moved in the middle of the herd, much like many animal species do today in the African savannah. And allosaurs apparently hunted in groups in their youth – this was also a new discovery. A path made of non-slip stainless steel gratings leads across the small plain littered with footprints (also barrier-free). Here, you can finally get a hands-on look at this wonder. The seabed, rippled by the waves, is visible, and then, scattered across the square, countless, wonderfully clearly recognizable tracks of Iguanodon, Allosaurus, Triceratops, and the rest. There are no barriers; everything is literally history you can touch. Ferns and horsetail appropriately spread in some of the rock crevices. And, free of charge, there's a view from the platform railing into the active quarry, where heavy machinery is working on the trackless sandstone. Source: https://www.family4travel.de/dinospuren-obernkirchen-deutschland/

The fossilized tracks of the dinosaurs are 140 million years old.

The museum has created a rather informative exhibition, the centerpiece of which are working models, such as the one of the Obernkirchen tunnel. Be sure to take a look. The staff there are also happy to share more details about Obernkirchen's history.