Hiking in the Black Forest

The Upper Black Forest has long been known as a hiker's paradise with some of the first official long-distance trails in Germany. The varied route takes you from highlight to highlight of the region. This tour is perfect if you’re looking for a well sign-posted long-distance trail through wild and rugged terrain. Rated moderate, be prepared to work up an appetite from the continuous ups and downs of the trail. You should be sure-footed and have a head for heights, as there are some narrow and steep paths. You’ll quickly see that the Black Forest has so much more to offer than just cuckoo clocks and cake!

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

This tour involves some easy and sometimes more difficult sections, which is why we have classified it as moderate overall. There are narrow paths which are rocky, with exposed tree roots in some parts. There is a lot of undulating terrain which can be tiring and demanding. Some of the paths are precipitous so you should be sure-footed and have a head for heights.  On the other hand, you will encounter many easy sections on wide forest tracks and trails.

You should be in good shape to get the most from this tour. Each day is undulating, with many sections of consistent ascent and descent. Some trails are rocky and narrow, and a sure foot is required.  The stages are between 20-23 km long (max. 25 depending on the accommodation in Bernau). The daily differences in altitude vary between +410/+1070 and -430/-1210 m. Day 6 is the longest stage, with more than 1000 m of altitude difference, and is the most strenuous of the whole trekking tour - there are several possibilities to shorten this stage, and some of the other stages can also be shortened as well.

Stay 7 nights in high-quality, friendly 3* standard hotels and guesthouses in private ensuite rooms. Some examples of accommodations we typically use are listed below. These accommodations are subject to availability; therefore, alternatives of an equal standard may be offered. It is important to us to find exceptional accommodation, with warm hosts and a unique atmosphere, so that you can fully enjoy every moment of your adventure. 

Please be aware that twin & double rooms in Germany (Doppelzimmer in German) are typically 2 single mattresses side by side in one double bed frame with two separate duvet covers and pillows. You can add on extra nights in any of the overnight locations on this tour.

Single Rooms & Solo Walkers

This trip is available to solo walkers and a supplement is payable as some of the costs are not shared. Single rooms are available should some of your party wish to have their own room, and again, a single supplement is payable. 

Meals

7 continental breakfasts are included. This is usually in buffet form and many filling breakfast items are available which are perfect for hikers; e.g. boiled eggs, ham, cheese, fresh bread and muesli. Lunch is not included and can be picked up at local supermarkets or ‘Backerei’ along the way. If you are staying in a remote area, most accommodations will also be able to provide you with a packed lunch for the day, ask upon arrival (payable locally). Dinners are not included, leaving you free to choose from the various options each day. There are restaurant choices at each overnight location, and most hotels will also have an on-site restaurant. In Germany, traditional food is hearty and filling. In the region of the Black Forest, you will likely find the following ubiquitous food  everywhere you go! ‘Käsespätzle’ is a kind of eggy pasta (made from flour, eggs, water and salt) topped with melted cheese and sometimes crispy fried onion– it’s the ultimate comfort food! April to June is asparagus season and you will find this vegetable on just about every menu during this time. It is often served with Kartoffeln (potatoes), Schnitzel and/or a rich cheesy sauce. Schwarzwälder Schinken is the locally produced smoked ham and is matured usually for at least 3 months, leading to its rich and strong flavour. Black Forest gateau (Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte) has to be the food that is most associated with the Black Forest. This delicious moist cake is made up of layers of chocolate sponge, spread with whipped cream and cherries between each layer, topped with even more cream, cherries and chocolate. The recipe varies from café to café ensuring you’ll never get bored of it.

Hike on well-signposted hiking trails and forest paths and partly follow the long-distance trails of the Schluchtensteig, the Westweg, the Mittelweg, the Querweg and the Schwarzwald Albsteig. Together with our maps, route notes and the Macs Adventure Smartphone App, enabling you to follow the route using your phone's GPS, you will have no problems finding the way.

This walk is available to start on any day of the week from May to the end of October. Any period within this time is ideal for walking.

The weather in the Black Forest is changeable. Very hot days are often followed by rain and thunderstorms. Therefore, you should be prepared for all weather eventualities. Check the weather report each day locally before setting off for your hike.

Due to bad weather, flooding risks, fell works and towards the end of the walking season, the narrow paths sometimes become slippery and impassable. It would be best if you informed yourself before departure regarding the current conditions.

By Air: Fly into Basel Euro Airport, Zurich, or Stuttgart, from each Blumberg is reachable via train/bus. Check www.bahn.de for the timetable. 

By Train: Blumberg can be reached by train from the larger cities in Germany. You can find more information and connections on the railway website. Direct trains are not common so you will most likely have to change train or onto a bus. 

By Car: Travelling by car is usually via Freiburg (A5) or Donaueschingen (A81). In Blumberg there are a number of public car parks which you can use free of charge for the duration of your journey. The best place is the large car park at the sports field. We will be happy to arrange a private transfer back to Blumberg at the end of your trip for an additional charge. This usually departs from Schluchsee at 09:30. Please contact us for details.

By train: There are regular trains from Schluchsee station to Freiburg and from there on to all major cities in Germany. Check train and bus timetables at the following website:  www.bahn.de 

By car: Departure by car is usually via Freiburg (A5) or Donaueschingen (A81). To get back to Blumberg, take the train to Titisee at Schluchsee station. From there, continue by train to Hüfingen and take the bus to Blumberg-Zollhaus. The journey takes approx. 3.5 hours. Alternatively, we will be happy to arrange a private return transfer for you. This usually departs from Schluchsee at 09:30. Please contact us for more information.

Your luggage will be transferred from your current accommodation to the next, so you only need to take your daypack on the hike and your luggage will usually be waiting for you on arrival.

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with suppliers and luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person and the weight of your luggage allowed is specific to the destination you will be travelling to. This is why it is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags and/or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.

On this tour there is a limit of 23kg and one bag per person.