best hike black forest

Best of the Black Forest

This hiking package is a combination of our 2 most popular trails. You will hike 2 days of the Black Forest Trail. Then we transfer you to the southern part of the Black Forest where you hike 2 days of the St Peter's Way. You will be hiking in 2 different regions of the Black Forest on some of the best trails.

Location

Black Forest

Start / End

freiburg, Offenburg

Activity

hiking

Distance

10 - 18 km daily

Difficulty

moderate

Duration

4 days, 5 days
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Overview

Itinerary

good to know

Reviews

Best of the Black Forest

spring, summer, fall
4 days, 5 days

Our Best of the Black Forest package is a combination of our 2 most popular trails. You will hike 2 days of the Black Forest Trail. Then we transfer you by car to the southern part of the Black Forest where you hike 2 days of the St Peter’s Way. You will be experiencing two different parts of the Black Forest.

  • We Handle All The Details and Logistics
  • Luggage Transfer Included
  • Hotels Included
  • 4 or more days
  • Detailed Route Descriptions & Maps
  • We are a phone call away, just in case

Have a look at the first 2 days of the Black Forest Trail and the last 2 days of the St Peter’s Way to get an idea of our Best of the Black Forest hiking package. A detailed outline and elevation profiles are also listed below.

What we like about this package: The Black Forest has very diverse terrains and most hikes only expose you to one area. This package will immerse you in different terrains, each having their own unique forests, mountains, waterfalls, rivers & valleys. You’ll stay in 2 parts of the Black Forest – the Central part where our Black Forest Trail is located at. And the Southern part, where our St Peter’s Way is located at – you will see a total of 6 different Black Forest towns. We take care of all the details so you can enjoy a stress-free time in nature with lots of local culture in between.

Is it for me?

 

 

 

Itinerary

Arrival Info

  • Arrive in the Black Forest by train (destination train station is Offenburg, from here you switch to a regional train which takes you to the hotel in about 60 minutes). A private car will pick you up from the train station and transfer you to the hotel.
  • If you are arriving in the Black Forest by car, we recommend parking the car at your last hotel in Offenburg area, then taking the train to your first hotel.

We recommend to arrive at lunch time. Early check-in on your arrival day at 12.30 PM possible (your room is available at 3 PM).  On your arrival day a complimentary lunch buffet is included. Therefore you can check in at lunch time, enjoy lunch and the wellness area at the hotel before getting your room at 3 PM.

Accommodation

  • 4 star hotel with standard rooms or  upgraded rooms 

This beautiful 4 star wellness hotel happens to be located in a remote mountain town. There is a complimentary lunch buffet waiting for you on your arrival day. There is also a complimentary coffee/cake buffet in the afternoon.  The hotel has extensive wellness facilities with several pools & saunas. No cell phone reception at the hotel.

Black Forest Trail Hike Germany (2)

Black Forest Trail Day 1

Description of your day

Your hike starts in front of your hotel. From here, you will be hiking down from the top of the mountain into the valley – a bit steep  – but in absolutely beautiful terrain. If you are too tired on your first day, you have the option to skip the remaining hike and head straight to to your hotel. Real hikers continue on of course. You will be rewarded with a beautiful chapel and the best vistas of the day as you descend the hillside into town to your hotel. 

Accommodation

We have several hotels to choose from.  All hotels have restaurants where we recommend eating in the evening.

Our regular hotel is a small family-owned hotel located in a timber-framed building in the heart of the old centre of a medieval Black Forest town. This is a simple hotel with lovely owners. The restaurant is highly rated in the area and the favorite place in town to eat at.

Hotel_Blackforesttrail3

As a backup we work with 2 small friendly hotels both located a 10 minute bus ride away from town centre. Busses run once an hour, sometimes twice an hour.

Upgraded hotel outside of town

Our upgraded hotel is a superior hotel and located 2 km (1,2 miles) outside of town centre – no bus connection, you will need to walk the distance (or we can arrange for a cab). This upgraded hotel has a sauna, A/C and is newly remodeled. Be aware: choosing this upgraded hotel means you add 2 km (1.2 miles) to your hike hike at the end of day 1 and in the morning of day 2.

Hotel_Blackforesttrail2

optional add-on:

Description of your day

To start today’s hike you will walk to the train station and take a 5 minute train ride to the neighboring town (free travel on trains included). Explore a castle ruin before you hike into the forest. Bonus today: you can enjoy a self-serve fridge at a farmhouse which a farmer has put up for hikers. Enjoy scenic views and a wine bench before climbing up a sightseeing tower. 

Shortcuts

no shortcuts today

Trail Options: Extend your hike

For the very fit we can add a bonus hike to make it 23 km (14 miles) total. Instead of taking the train in the morning you can also hike the distance to the next town – this is a short (6 km), but very steep climb over a mountain.

Accommodation

Our hotel is newly opened and in the heart of the old town. You are in walking distance to everything – perfect location. All rooms are modern and have A/C. The hotel does not have its own restaurant. But there are plenty of places to eat less than a 10 minute walk away. This seems to be the favorite hotel of our guests on the Black Forest Trail!

Backup hotel outside of town

Our backup hotel is outside of town centre in a small suburb. This is a friendly family-run hotel with wellness area and pool offering standard rooms or new upgraded rooms. Staying here adds on another 1.5 km (1 mile) on your second hiking day)

typical black forest hotelcozy hotel black forest

 

 

 

Morning. Check-out time is 11 AM. Our driver will pick you up and transfer you to the Southern Black Forest by car. Enjoy a  driving tour with lots of scenery. The transfer time from the Central Black Forest to the South takes no more than 2 hours.

Interested in a local guide? There is the option to upgrade to a guided half day tour – in that case we will top at several sights (e.g. Triberg waterfalls or large cuckoo clock) and you have a guide on your side you can ask all the questions you want. If you choose a guided tour this will be a rest /touring day adding an additional day to your stay. You will hike again the following day. 

Elevation Profiles

Easy trail:

Challenging trail:

Description of your day

Our driver will take you to the middle of a small Black Forest Town. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant or start hiking right away. Your luggage will be transported to the next hotel.

Accommodation

  • superior hotel with sauna in a mountain town, no /AC

Our family-owned hotel is located in the heart of town.

  1. You are staying in a small mountain town providing a good opportunity to peak inside one of the Black Forest’s oldest churches.

Elevation Profile:

Description of your day

  • Today’s hike is long – but the trail is not strenous and easy to walk on. Since you are located in the mountains you will mostly walk slightly downhill – straight into Freiburg.
  • We keep you on small trails – a very enjoyable hike. Don’t let the long distance scare you!

Accommodation

  • standard hotel inside the old town of Freiburg
  • upgrade to a hotel with A/C

 

 

 

 

 

Departure Info

If you are departing by train it is a short walk to Freiburg’s train station. 

We recommend to exploring Freiburg prior to your departure. No rush – if you want to explore town, then store the luggage at your hotel and pick it up later.

 

Good to Know

  • What's included

Our package includes:

  • 5 nights accommodation in double room with private bathroom
  • breakfast 
  • free transportation on local busses and trains
  • transfer by private car from the Central Black Forest to the Southern Black Forest
  • luggage transfer between all hotels
  • welcome bag with useful items for your tour (water bottle, etc)
  • What's excluded
  • Travel to Offenburg area
  • Travel from Freiburg area
  • Lunches and dinners
  • Travel insurance. Make sure you have travel insurance covering you against illness, injury, loss or damage to property and cancellations.
  • Personal expenses such as drinks, tips, telephone calls, extra transfers (such as by taxi or when not included in public transport pass).
  • Season. This package  is available from May to October.
  • Starting day. Recommended arrival days depend on the length of your hike – weekends are usually not a good time to start.
  • this hike is being offered as a 4 day/5 night package.
  • we recommend a rest day after 2 days making it a 5 day/6 night stay

 

Please inquire 

The hotels we include in this package are all small family-owned hotel. (only in Freiburg will you be staying in a larger hotel). They are not  fancy hotels, but clean and very friendly. Most often you will meet the owners during your stay. 

  • Double Rooms. If you are booking a double room there is one double bed with 2 individual mattresses (not 2 twin beds). If you require separate beds we recommend booking 2 separate rooms. In rare cases twin beds are available, please inquire.
  • Single Rooms. If you are traveling by yourself we charge a single room supplement. You will either be provided with a single room. Or with a double room for single use – based on availability.
  • Upgrades.  Upgrades are not possible with this package
  • Bathrooms. All rooms have private en-suite bathrooms.
  • Air-Conditioning. Summers can be very warm. Most hotels in Germany do not have air-conditioning. Sometimes hotels can provide a fan for your room. Usually the hotel owners will tell you to sleep with the window open during the night – this is very common in Germany.
  • Elevators. Please note that our hotels most often do not have elevators – you will have to walk a flight of stairs to get to your room. 
  • Breakfast included.
  • Lunch.Purchae a lunch package at the hotel, or grab a sandwich on your way out of town at the local bakery (we recommend where)
  • Dinner. All hotels have a restaurant on site also (not all are open every day). Most often there are other restaurants within walking distance of your hotel.
  • sturdy walking boots and socks
  • swim suits (some hotels have a pool)
  • warm and waterproof clothes
  • a day pack
  • water bottle
  • insect repellent (ticks!)
  • sun glasses, sun hat, sun block
  • first-aid kit

You will receive detailed route notes and maps from us upon check-in at your first hotel. 

Starting 2022 you have a choice between touring with a paper map & route description. Or using our app to navigate during the day (mobile device required, no data plan needed)

Our Route Description is highly detailed and customized, and we update it each season – not what you find online from other sources.

Have a look at the elevation profile images for each day – there is quite a bit of elevation to cover. There are some significant ascents and descents. Sometimes you have the option to shorten the route.

 

 

  • Mobile Phone Coverage. Please note that the Black Forest is a mountainous area. Often there is no mobile phone coverage when touring the Black Forest. 
  • Wi-Fi in hotels. All of our hotels have wi-fi but sometimes it can be spotty in your room – depending on the location of your room.
  • If you require constant online access we do NOT recommend touring the Black Forest. Consider staying in a large town like Baden-Baden or Freiburg instead.

Day 1:

Day 2:

optional add-on:

Day 3: 

This is a transfer day from the Central Black Forest to the Southern Black Forest by private car. You have the option to make it a rest day or continue hiking after your transfer. 

Regular trail:

Longer, more challenging trail:

Day 4:

 

 

See what some of our customers say who have done this tour before:

Black Forest Tours
Average rating:  
 1 reviews
 by AdrianeJW

Our family's touring and hiking experience with Black Forest Tours was exceptional. Simone worked very closely, patiently and creatively with us to design the tour that would best meet our wishes and abilities. The towns we visited were special and stunning, each in their own way. The food was exceptional and accommodations were very, very good. The hiking, well this was spectacular. We had so many truly magical moments during these days that we still feel connected to and will certainly never forget. We absolutely loved the self-guided option, and with Simone's detailed and thorough printed guide as our primary support, and the GPS as our back up in any questionable moments, we had a thoroughly enjoyable, quiet and serene few days, just as we most like to hike. Our transfer day with Simone added delightful local insights and opportunities that we deeply appreciated. And having our luggage delivered daily to our next hotel was seamless and allowed us to have a one-directional route that we truly couldn't have enjoyed more. We often reflect on how much we would love to come back to the Black Forest and do a tour such as this all over again. Simone is exceptional at what she does, thank you for this magical experience for our family.

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