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We love the Black Forest. The German state of Baden-Württemburg is easily one of our favorite places to hike and the Black Forest is a big reason for that. Most people know the Black Forest from German fairy tales or the Grimm Brothers’ classics, but after repeated trips to the region, we have fallen in love with it for so many different reasons. First and foremost, the dense lush forests
In this travel guide, we tell you everything you need to know on how to have the perfect short trip to Germany’s legendary Black Forest.
Black Forest Travel Tips in this Article
- Arrival Day
- Stop by the Ruhestein National Park Center
- Check in at Wellness Hotel Tanne
- Day 1: Hiking in Baiersbronn
- Choose your Hike
- Lunch at the Sattelei Hiker’s Hut
- Recharge for Day 2
- Day 2: Hiking in Kniebis
- Hike the Kniebis Heimatpfad
- Interactive Maps of Germany
Arrival Day:
Ruhestein National Park Center
The perfect Black Forest experience starts before you even reach your final destination. We highly recommend visiting the Ruhestein National Park Center first. In our opinions, this is the perfect introduction to the adventures that await and is a great way to help you appreciate everything that the Black Forest means to our planet, the locals and the wildlife that call it home. We especially enjoyed the canopy walk and the room of reflection, as they really help you feel immersed in the forest itself.
Wellness Hotel Tanne
With a short turnaround and a full itinerary, the last thing you want to worry about is where you’re going to eat when you’re done exploring. If you’re like us, you just want to get back to your hotel and put up your feet. Fortunately for you, you’re checking in at the Wellness Hotel Tanne, where all your meals are included and you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to relaxation options. We loved how the rooms feel like an extension of the forest, with unique decor and balconies that open up to views of the very forests we’d be exploring. Enjoy your welcome drink and your first top-tier meal before beginning your hiking adventures the next morning.
Day 1: Hiking in Baiersbronn
After a fabulous breakfast at the hotel, day 1 is all about hiking. There are a number of great local hikes to choose from, but for this trip, we recommend going with the Sankenbachsee Trail or the Satteleisteig, depending on your fitness and preferences.
Sankenbachsee Trail (Family Friendly)
The Sankenbachsee Trail is a family and stroller friendly trail with slight elevation gain that takes you to a deer enclosure, the Sankenbachsee lake and two waterfalls. It’s worth noting that, at the time of writing, the path to the waterfalls is closed due to a mud slide. If the path is open when you go and if you do have a stroller with you, then you would likely need to leave it on the main path as you carry your little one on the short detour to the waterfalls.
If you’re feeling sporty, you can take a longer detour to reach the waterfalls from the top. There are signs posted, showing the way.
That being said, the trail is still worth doing, even without the waterfalls, as it is everything you would expect from a day in the Black Forest–pine trees brushing the sky, scattered beams of light penetrating the canopy and highlighting the thriving undergrowth and a calm lake feeding the creek that runs along the trail.
Satteleisteig
If you’re in the mood for something a little more challenging, then we recommend the Satteleisteig trail. This 11 km trail leads you along the forest edge before sending you right into the thick of things, bringing you up the mountain and through the forest for some excellent views of the valleys below. Historical stops like the Rinkenturm tower or the Petermaennle viewpoint give you more insight in the region’s history.
We did this trail before we had a little one with us, but older children should be able to handle it, if they’re already used to longer hikes.
Sattelei Hiker’s Hut
If you choose the longer, more difficult hike, then you will inevitably cross paths with the Sattelei Hiker’s Hut. Otherwise, you can take the car to one of two nearby parking lots and walk 500 to 1000 meters up to the hut for a delicious lunch on the beautiful outdoor patio. Here you have a nice selection of warm local favorites and tasty cakes. We’ve been here twice now and will certainly stop in again, whenever we’re back in the area.
Recharge for Day 2
After a day of hiking, there’s no better way to recharge for day 2 than with wellness time at Hotel Tanne. Take advantage of the treehouse sauna, enjoy the pool or book a massage before indulging in a wonderful dinner and a truly glorious dessert bar.
Day 2: Hiking in Kniebis
Kniebiser Heimatpfad Trail
Back in 2008, this trail was in the running for Germany’s most beautiful hiking trail and after hiking the Kniebiser Heimatpfad trail ourselves, it is easy to see why. Walking through the pristine forest landscape surrounded by the sounds of chirping birds and the rejuvenating smell of fresh pine is an experience eclipsed only by the breathtaking views from the Hornisgrinde and Elbachsee viewpoints.
The name itself is fitting, as various stations along the trail pay homage to the region’s ancestry. The station describing the history of common last names from the Black Forest provided a special surprise for me, Ryne, as I spotted one of my family’s names on the board. My late grandmother used to tell me about our ancestors from southwestern Germany, so this was a really special find that truly tied the trip together for me.
The trail is about 10 km long, but offers plenty of options for shortening the tour if you have little ones with you as we did. Otherwise, you can look forward to only slight elevation changes and cap off the loop trail with lunch at the Kniebishütte.
The Black Forest is truly a nature lover’s dream and we could easily spend weeks there hiking all of the trails, eating delicious food and relaxing at the countless waterfalls. If you want to extend this trip by a few hours, then we recommend driving the entirety of the Schwarzwalder Hochstrasse–a road that takes you along the peaks of the forest mountain range with multiple stops for viewpoints and hikes. You can also take some time to stop at the Mummelsee lake at the highest point of the entire road.
Our Interactive Maps of Germany
We're really excited to showcase the new and improved version of our most popular map: The Ultimate Germany Travel Map. Discover all of Germany's best hikes, locations and so much more on the user-friendly Rexby app and benefit from a lifetime of updates! Use the map offline, create your own itineraries or use our recommended routes.
More Interactive Travel Maps
Our Ultimate Germany Travel Map combines all of the places included in our hiking map and our places map. If that's too much for you and you only need one or the other, then these are the right maps for you.
About the Authors
Ryne and Denise Cook: We’ve lived in Germany for quite a while now (Denise her whole life) and absolutely love the stunning landscapes, castles, cute towns and amazing hikes in Germany! The Black Forest has plenty to offer in all of those categories.
