The Black Forest (Schwarzwald): hiking and cycling in southern Germany

The Black Forest, Schwarzwald in German, is a natural tourist site, a densely forested mountain massif, located in the south-west of Germany in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg.

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With a huge wooded area stretching more than 150 km from the Dreiländereck, the geographical point where Germany, Switzerland and France meet, to the north, this natural site has a maximum height of 1,493 m above sea level at the summit of the Feldberg.

Sports such as hiking, with well-marked trails such as the interesting Black Forest High Route from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt, mountain biking, paragliding, horseback riding, swimming in the numerous natural lakes or skiing in the winter resorts attract numerous visitors every year.

Practical guide

When to go?

Spring and autumn are the best times of the year to visit the Black Forest. But the cool forest clearings and high hills make the hike bearable in the summer. Some routes are even accessible in winter and allow you to walk through the winter wonderland.

How to get there

To get to these natural landscapes in the heart of Continental Europe, the best option is to fly to one of the nearest airports, which are Constance, Karlsruhe, Basel, Stuttgart, Zurich or Frankfurt.

Cities & Services

Freiburg im Breisgau Waldkirch, Hinterzarten, Baden Baden, Baiersbronn, Titisee, Bad Wildbad, Nagold, Calw, Breisach am Rhein

Difficulty

The Black Forest is a mid-altitude mountain range with the highest peaks at around 1500m. The trails are well marked and maintained, so the terrain is not particularly difficult in most parts. Good physical condition and the ability to cope with sometimes steep ascents is required. Normal walking equipment is sufficient

Not to be missed

Feldberg, the highest peak of the Black Forest, Wutachschlucht, Germany's largest gorge, the source of the Danube, the Black Forest National Park, Kaiserstuhl, the heights of Baden-Baden (Panorama Trail), stretches of the Westweg (14-day classic hiking route), Titisee and Schluchsee, Zweribach Falls, Münstertal, Kinzigtal, Schauinsland (Freiburg), Belchen Long-distance routes - Schluchtenstein Zweitälersteig, Seens.

What to see and do in the Black Forest in Germany

We are going on a magical and unique journey. We are going to the German Black Forest. For those of you who have never heard of it, it is a mountain massif The area is densely forested and is located in the southwest of Germany. In this area, as you can imagine, there are no large cities or urban centres. But we will visit small villages with a special charm. Let's take a look at some of them.
The two most important cities are Baden-Baden and Freiburg, and in between we will stop for some sightseeing.

Freiburg It is noted for its cobbled streets, its relaxation, and above all for its quality of life. The Cathedral It is definitely a must-see place.

Baden-Baden is famous for its spas and their casinos and among them is one of the most beautiful in the world.

One of the best known villages in the Black Forest is Triberg. The highlights of the village are its waterfallsThe highest in Germany and undoubtedly the most famous in the world. cuckoo clocks.

The centre of Gengenbach It is without doubt one of the most beautiful villages in Germany. Houses with wooden framesThe central square and the Selva Negra (Black Forest) make this town one of the most attractive places to visit.

Excursions in the Black Forest

Freiburg or FreiburgThe Black Forest is one of the visits contemplated in practically all the routes through the Black Forest and it can be a good start of the trip. It belongs to Switzerland and has an important gothic cathedral such as St. Nicholas, a medieval old town and numerous fountains and bridges that cross the Sarine river.

To the east of Freiburg lie the Triberg waterfallsGermany's highest waterfall at 163 metres. Seven waterfalls that can be admired from a path that ascends from the base of the waterfall, which takes about 30 minutes. The area is also known for its cuckoo clocks, and it is here that one of the largest cuckoo clocks in the world can be seen. Relatively close by, in Furtwangen and Donaueschingen, about 20 km away, you can see the source of the Danube River.

Further south, among the places of interest that should not be missed are the lakes of the Black Forest, such as the TisiseeThe Schluchsee, which originates from the glaciers of the Feldberg mountain range, and the Schluchsee, a tourist attraction that has become the centre for bathing and water sports in the Black Forest.

In the north of the Black Forest, the well-known Termanl Palace Bad Wildbad, with its well-kept facilities in the spa park along the river Enz and the town Baden Baden, the big town of the Black Forest, with places to visit such as the Kurhaus cultural centre, the Neues Schloss, the ruins of the Roman baths and the Friedrichsbad spa, are well known.

The routes

The walking and cycling routes are evenly distributed over the three areas and comprise both long-distance routes and day hikes, although each stage of each long-distance hike can also be done as a day trip. The chosen routes include the main destinations of the Black Forest, such as Feldberg, Belchen Schauinsland, Hornisgrinde and Mummelsee, as well as Allerheiligen Abbey and the waterfalls and source of the Danube, to name but a few.

Excursions

Southern Black Forest

• Feldbergsteig - Highest peak in the Black Forest
• Belchen - Sacred mountain of the Celts
• At the top of Münstertal
• Route around Schönberg
• In the heart of Margrave Land - Wiiwegli and Bettlerpfad

• Schluchtensteig (120 km) (Stage 1. Stühlingen to Blumberg, Stage 2. Blumberg to Schattenmühle, Stage 3 Schattenmühle to Aha, Stage 4 Aha to St Blasien, Stage 5. St Blasien to Todtmoos, Stage 6 Todtmoos to Wehr). Certified quality trails: Schluchtensteig , gorge trail, which crosses the Wutachschlucht, one of the last wild river systems in Germany.

Central Black Forest

• Route Kaiserstuhl rim
• Edelfrauengrab and Karlsruher Grat
• Above Renchtal
• The sources of the Danube
• Zweribachfalls and Vosges Hermitage

• Zweitälersteig (108 km) (Stage 1 Waldkirch to Kandel (or St Peter), Stage 2 Kandel to Simonswald, Stage 3 Simonswald to Oberprechtal, Stage 4 Oberprechtal to Höhenhäuser, Stage 5 Höhenhäuser to Waldkirch). A very diverse circular route through some of the most beautiful and contrasting parts of the Central Black Forest.

Northern Black Forest

• Romantic tour over Baden-Baden
• The idyll of Sasbachwalden
• Upland moors (Hornisgrinde)
• Kaltenbronn Moor
• Großes Loch and Teufelsmühle

• Seensteig (71 km) (Stage 1 Baiersbronn to Mitteltal, Stage 2 Mitteltal to Schliffkopf, Stage 3 Schliffkopf to Mummelsee, Stage 4 Mummelsee to Schönmünzach). Seensteig partially follows the central ridge of the Black Forest mountain range, offering unparalleled views along the route.

By bike

Cycling routes are mostly easy, and make use of the extensive and well-maintained system of cycle paths that criss-cross the region.

Southern Black Forest

• Südschwarzwald cycle path (248 km) (Stage 1 Hinterzarten to Bonndorf, Stage 2 Bonndorf to Waldshut, Stage 3 Waldshut to Rheinfelden, Stage 4A Rheinfelden to Steinenstadt via Basle, Stage 4B Rheinfelden to Steinenstadt via Kandern, Stage 5 Steinenstadt to Hinterzarten). Southern Black Forest Cycle Tour Route 

Central Black Forest

• Kaiserstuhl Radweg
• Kinzigtal Radweg - Alpirsbach to Offenburg

Northern Black Forest

• Enztal Radweg - Gompelscheuer to Pforzheim
• Nagold Radweg - Nagold to Pforzheim