dossier

The Black Forest

Travel Information

Arrival: Firsthotel in Baerental, You will have to take a bus from Basel airport to Freiburgtrain station (price = approx 10 Euros/US$15). Then there are trains onceper hour from Freiburg-im-Breisgau to Baerental. The hotel is located about1km/0.6mi from the train station. The journey from airport to hoteltakes a little under 2 hours and you should aim to arrive here by earlyevening. The walk from the station is too far if you are carryingbaggage; the hotel management have offered to collect you from Baerentalstation, if you telephone them, preferably from Freiburg, or else on arrival inBaerental.

If you are traveling in a rental car, we recommendyou leave your car at the hotel in Baerental. Baerental is located on the route317 "Basel-Donaueschingen" between Titisee and the lake of Schluchsee(it is 8km away from Titisee). See maps Michelin No. 242 or No. 413[Germany-South]).

End of Tour: After breakfast on Day 7 at Baerental. There are hourly trains toFreiburg via Titisee.

Air Travel:Flights to Basel on scheduled services of Swissair or British Airways amongother carriers.

Season:May to late October (but not starting on Saturdays).

Level of Difficulty

Fitness:This walk is graded 'Moderate' and should present no difficulties for anyone inreasonable physical condition and accustomed to mountain walking on variedgradients and surfaces.

Waymarking:The route is well marked and well defined, mainly following good forestfootpaths.

Day Stages:An average of 17-20 Kms. (10-12mi) with a height gain/loss of between 250 to990 metres. Each walk will last an average of 4 - 6 hours. Your luggage will betransferred from one hotel to the next and this is included in the tour price.

Accommodation & Meals

Is on a half board basis (evening meal andbreakfast), in twin rooms or in a single room (subject to a supplement) withshower and toilet en suite, in comfortable hotels and "Gasthauser"(guesthouses), usually family run and traditional Black Forest buildings, sitedeither on the mountain side or in mountain villages. Some hotels have swimmingpools and a sauna. The food is typical of the Black Forest, and can beaccompanied, if you want, by the famous regional wines of Baden or by thenumerous exceptionally good locally brewed beers.

Lunches:They are not included in the price of the tour. Picnic materials can be boughteasily. We recommend suitable lunch stops along the route in our notes, or ifyou prefer the hotels will provide packed lunches on request. Pay direct to thehotelier, around 7 to 10 Euros (US$10.50-15) per person for a lunch.

Nights 1, 2 & 6: Baerental: The hotel is situated at the edge of the forest.It is a lovely, small, typical hotel where you will enjoy the sauna andswimming pool. We spend our first, second and last night here.

Nights 3 & 4: Wiedener-Eck: We stay two nights at a elegantmountain hotel, which is situated in one of the most scenic areas of the BlackForest on the 1050m Munstertal Schonau Pass. The hotel also has a sauna &swimming pool.

Night 5: Menzenschwand:Your hotel tonight is a delightful Black Forest hotel located in a farmingvillage. The hotel has its own sauna, solarium and terrace.

Escorted Departures

Oct 18

R&D departure - May 3

On Self-Guided Tours we provide you with route notes & maps.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive towards early evening at Baerental. Settle into a typical Black Forest hotel, which at 950m is situated near the edge of the forest.

Day 2: Walk from Baerental to Hebelhof (17km/11mi/5hours, height gain 710m). On the first day's walk in the heart of the Black forest you will pass through Mathilsweiher (1000m) and ascend the peak of Seebuck 1448m. The main feature of this stretch will be to enjoy the wonderful view of Feldsee Lake. From Feldberg you take a short bus ride back to the hotel in Baerental.

Day 3: Morning return by bus to Feldberg and then walk to Wiedenereck, St Wilhelmer Hutte, Stubenwasen, Notschrei. (18 kms /11mi/ 5/6 hours, height gain 510m). The vantage points on this walk are splendid and one can also attempt the ascent of the highest summit of the Black Forest, the Feldberg that towers to 1493m. At the summit one has almost an entire panorama of the mountains and hills of the forest.

Day 4: Circular walk from Wiedenereck via Nonnenmattweiher, with possible swim (22km/14mi /6/7 hours, height gain 750m) .A superb stage which allows us to progress steadily. You can familiarize yourself with the mountain environment and the often flower bedecked wooden houses. The traverse of Neuenweg village is very pretty, a very typical Black Forest setting which leaves you at Lake Nonnenmattweiher, where you can rest or take a dip. There then follows the ascent of Belchen, the third highest peak of the Black Forest at 1414m. Now and again you take small footpaths, otherwise small trails wind up through the rocks to the top, for the view before descending back to Wiedenereck. You can also choose to have a shorter day (14km/9mi/4 hours, height gain 650m).

Day 5: Weidenereck to Menzenschwand, via Knopfles Brunnen, Todnau, Herzogenhorn (19km /12mi/ 6 hours, height gain 990m.) Today there is the ascent of the second highest summit, 1417m, of the area, the Herzogenhorn from where a view of the most picturesque village of the forest: Menzenschwand can be spied. The village is made solely of large wooden houses, one of which will be our residence in the heart of the village this evening.

Day 6: Menzenschwand to Baerental, via Aulemer Kreuz, Rosshutte and Schluchsee. (17km/11mi/ 4-5 hours, height gain 250m) The main point of interest today is the approach to the magnificent Schluchsee Lake; where we can bath before ending in Baerental.

Day 7: End of tour after breakfast.

Main Trip Page