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Black Forest hiking trails are number 1

Every year the readers of the hiking magazine (-> www.wandermagazin.de) vote for “Germany's most beautiful hiking trails”. The result of the 2020 election was published on August 27th - and the Black Forest took first place in both categories!

The Belchensteig won the title in the day tours category, while the Baden-Baden panorama trail received the most votes in the multi-day tours category.

The Belchensteig leads almost 15 km as a circular route through the southern Black Forest and of course to the summit of the Belchen Mountain. This is 1414 meters above sea level. the third highest mountain in the Black Forest, and offers wonderful views in all directions from its treeless summit. The starting point is the Wiedener Eck (municipality of Wieden), but of course you can join the tour at any point. In addition, you can include the Belchenbahn (cable car) in the hike, depending on which direction you go as an aid to ascent or descent.

The Belchenhaus near the summit of Belchen Mountain

The Baden-Baden Panoramaweg leads around 45 km around Baden-Baden and into the Black Forest. Here, too, you can include a mountain railway in the tour and take the railway of the same name to Baden-Baden's local mountain, Merkur. The Panoramaweg is a circular route and can be divided into any number of stages. There are several entry and exit points that can be easily reached by car or public transport.

View from the "Alte Schloss" to Baden-Baden

The two excellent hiking trails are undoubtedly highlights - but of course there are many, many more, each with their own charm, varying degrees of difficulty and length. You can find out more about the long-distance hiking trails here at www.black-forest-travel.com in the hiking section.

Lookout tower near Haslach in the Black Forest

Back in November 2014, the observation tower was opened on the Urenkopf at Haslach , central Black Forest . The days with beautiful views held this winter , however limited, over the Easter weekend, was worth the climb to the tower at 34m height allows of its platform a really nice all-round view of the Kinzig Valley and the central Black Forest .

The tower is accessible only on foot . Next Directions possibility is the trail parking lot at the memorial Vulkan. Shortly after Haslach direction mill creek ( Freiburg), the parking lot is well signposted. Walk from there it is 1 km to the tower , but with a sharp rise . Of course, the tower is also from all other directions within walking distance, or can be integrated into a hike in the area.


Visible from afar is the new lookout on the Urenkopf


The lookout tower


View on Hofstetten


View on Haslach


View on Fischerbach, Brandenkopf Mountain in the background


View direction Hausach

Hiking in the Black Forest

View on Ibach in the Southern Black ForestOn www.black-forest-travel.com, in the section "Hiking in th Black Forest" you can find plenty of information about the long-distance hiking trails in the Black Forest.

The most famous hiking trail in the Black Forest ist the West Trail (Westweg). The Westweg leads on 285 km from Pforzheim to Basel. The Westweg can be completed in 12-13 days in sections of 15-25 km. Certainly it can be joined and left anywhere on the route.

The Middle Route (Mittelweg) and the East trail (Ostweg) also lead from north to south through the Black Forest.

The Gorge Trail leads through the most beautiful valleys and gorges in the Southern Black Forest. The Ortenau Wine Trail and the Markgräfler Wine Trail go through the vineyards on the western slopes of the Black Forest.

Hiking is definitely the best option, to discover and enjoy the Black Forest - and, of course, good for health and fitness!

Foto: Magnificent view on Ibach in the Southern Black Forest