Hiking and Cycling in the Black Forest

Walks, treks and cycle rides in southern Germany

By Kat Morgenstern

ISBN

9781786310217

Availability

Published

19 Feb 2019

Reprinted

27 Sept 2023

Edition

Second

Pages

320

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.80cm

Weight

370g

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Guidebook describing day walks, multi-stage treks and 5 cycle routes covering the north, central and southern regions of Germany's Black Forest. From easy routes for families to multi-day journeys, the walks and rides explore the many forests, villages, castles and hills near Strasbourg, Baden-Baden, Freiburg and Basle.

Seasons

spring and autumn are the best times of the year to visit the Black Forest. But the cool forest glades and lofty hills make summer walking bearable. Some routes are even accessible in winter and make for magical winter wonderland walking

Centres

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

Difficulty

The Black Forest is a medium-height mountain range with the highest peaks around 1500m. Trails are well marked and maintained, so the terrain is not especially difficult in most parts. Good physical condition and ability to cope with sometimes steep ascends is required. Normal walking equipment will suffice

Must See

Feldberg, the highest peak of the Black Forest, Wutachschlucht, the biggest gorge in Germany, the source of the Danube, Black Forest National Park, Kaiserstuhl, the heights of Baden-Baden (Panorama Trail), sections of the Westweg, Titisee and Schluchsee, Zweribach Waterfall, Münstertal, Kinzigtal, Schauinsland (Freiburg), Belchen Long distance routes - Schluchtensteig Zweitälersteig, Seensteig, Südschwarzwald Radweg (Southern Black Forest Bicycle Route)

ISBN

9781786310217

Availability

Published

19 Feb 2019

Reprinted

27 Sept 2023

Edition

Second

Pages

320

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.80cm

Weight

370g

Overview

15 day walks, 3 multi-stage treks and 5 cycle routes are described covering the north, central and southern areas of Germany's Black Forest. The walks and cycle routes are evenly distributed across all three areas and comprise both long distance routes and day walks, although each stage of every long distance walk can also be done as individual day tour.

The chosen routes include the main Black Forest destinations, such as Feldberg, Belchen Schauinsland, Hornisgrinde and Mummelsee, as well as Allerheiligen Abbey and waterfalls and the source of the Danube, to name but a few. Two of the three long distance routes are certified quality trails: Schluchtensteig (120km), which means gorge trail traverses the Wutachschlucht, one of the last untamed river systems in Germany, and Zweitälersteig (108km) a highly diverse circular route which leads through some of the most beautiful and contrasting parts of the Central Black Forest. Seensteig (71km) partially follows the central ridge of the Black Forest mountain range, offering unsurpassed views along the way.

The cycle routes (4 day rides, and the 242km Southern Black Forest Cycle Route) are mostly easy and scenic, and utilise the extensive and well-maintained bicycle trail system that criss-crosses the entire region. The walks and rides are described in detail and basic maps are provided for orientation.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Overview map

Map key

Introduction

Geology

History

Plants and wildlife

Getting there

Getting around

Accommodation

Food and drink

When to go

What to take

Dangers and annoyances

Navigation and signage

Cycling

Maps

Etiquette

Using this guide

Southern Black Forest

The walks

Walk 1 Feldbergsteig – Black Forest’s highest peak

Walk 2 Belchen – Sacred mountain of the Celts

Walk 3 High above Münstertal

Walk 4 Panorama trail around Schönberg

Walk 5 In the heart of Margrave’s Land – Wiiwegli and Bettlerpfad

Walk 6 Schluchtensteig

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

The ride

Ride 1 Southern Black Forest Cycle Trail

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

Central Black Forest

The walks

Walk 7 Kaiserstuhl rim route

Walk 8 Edelfrauengrab and Karlsruher Grat

Walk 9 Above Renchtal

Walk 10 To the source of the Danube

Walk 11 Zweribachfalls and Vosges chapel

Walk 12 Zweitälersteig

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

The rides

Ride 2 Kaiserstuhl Radweg

Ride 3 Kinzigtal Radweg – Alpirsbach to Offenburg

Northern Black Forest

The walks

Walk 13 Romantic circuit above Baden-Baden

Walk 14 Sasbachwalden idyll

Walk 15 Upland moors (Hornisgrinde)

Walk 16 Kaltenbronn Moor

Walk 17 Großes Loch and Teufelsmühle

Walk 18 Seensteig

Stage 1 Baiersbronn to Mitteltal

Stage 2 Mitteltal to Schliffkopf

Stage 3 Schliffkopf to Mummelsee

Stage 4 Mummelsee to Schönmünzach

The rides

Ride 4 Enztal Radweg – Gompelscheuer to Pforzheim

Ride 5 Nagold Radweg – Nagold to Pforzheim

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Glossary of useful terms

Appendix C Further information

Maps

Maps

Many companies publish good maps of the region. Kompass maps are recommended. The latest trend is laminated maps that do not tear or disintegrate in bad weather. However, the Schwarzwaldverein maps are based on LGL (Ordnance Survey equivalent) data and are very good and less expensive. A very helpful feature of the Schwarzwaldverein/LGL maps is the fact that newer editions actually mark the names and positions of signposts (little yellow flags), making it easy to identify your location on a map. Many tourist offices publish their own maps, which are also based on the LGL data and show the location markers. These are not as sturdy, but should survive a few weeks of use. They are cheaper than other maps and in some cases cover the entire length of a particular route (such as Zweitälersteig), where otherwise several maps would be needed. They also provide useful information about other recommended routes, or accommodation and restaurants along the way.

LGL maps show walking and cycling routes in different colours, with their symbols if they are long-distance trails.

Updates

June 2023

Seasonal trail closures on the Seensteig

Stage 2 Lotharpfad is closed when winter conditions make it unsafe to walk it (snow and ice)

Stage 3 Just after Schliffkopf, at Hübscher Platz, Seensteig normally wanders off down the hill to Melkenhütte and on to Ruhestein. This section is seasonally closed, as is the section between Darmstädterhütte and Seibelseckle. For the first section follow Westweg signs 8red marker) for the second section, an alternative route is posted at Darmstädterhütte.

Stage 4 The section across Hornisgrinde is open as a snowshoe trail, but between Dreifürstenstein and Hinterer Brand is closed from 15 November to 15 May. An alternative route is posted.

Stage 5 I did not cover this stage in my book, but for anyone who wants to just continue walking the complete round, this section is closed until 15 March

June 2023

Trail closures in the National Park (northern Black Forest)

Some trails in the Black Forest National Park (northern Black Forest) are seasonally closed to protect the wildlife during mating season. The trails that are affected are all closed from 15 November and, depending on location and habitat, reopen on 15 March, 15 May or even as late as 15 June.

The National Park Service provides further information, for both short-term temporary closure www.nationalpark-schwarzwald.de/de/erleben/unterwegs-im-park/wegesperrungen

and for seasonal closures: www.nationalpark-schwarzwald.de/fileadmin/Mediendatenbank_Nationalpark/06_Karten_und_Broschueren/Karten/NLP_Starterkarte_Winter-Edition.jpg

The National Park Service provides further information, for both short-term temporary closure www.nationalpark-schwarzwald.de/de/erleben/unterwegs-im-park/wegesperrungen

and for seasonal closures: www.nationalpark-schwarzwald.de/fileadmin/Mediendatenbank_Nationalpark/06_Karten_und_Broschueren/Karten/NLP_Starterkarte_Winter-Edition.jpg

June 2023

Disruptions to the train service

A major infrastructure project is disrupting train services on the Rheintalbahn.

The Deutsche Bahn is currently in the midst of a massive construction project on the Rheintalbahn, which serves towns and cites along the Rhein such as Karlsruhe, Raststatt, Offenburg, Freiburg, Basel and all point between. The major north/south-bound traffic artery across Europe is being enlarged to accommodate more freight trains and relieving congestion on the motorways.

The construction phase will take until 2041 to complete and will involve tearing down and rebuilding not just tracks and tunnels, but also platforms, bridges, slip roads and station buildings, all along the railway line. This means that regular train services on this route are occasionally disrupted.

To minimise the impact on commuters, the most disruptive works are often scheduled on weekends, during holiday periods or at night. Normally, affected services are covered by a replacement bus service, but during Covid, this was not always reliable due to staff shortages.

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Kat Morgenstern

As a herbalist and ethnobotanist Kat spends a lot of time walking and exploring, while smelling the herbs and flowers along the way. After spending many years living, studying and working abroad, Kat has found a special place in her heart for the Black Forest region in the southwestern corner of Germany. As a writer and nature mentor she never tires of sharing her knowledge and passion for this delightful and fascinating corner of our beautiful planet.

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