Hike & Bike: Black Forest Trail

Great package for people who are looking for longer day hikes plus additional days of bicycling the Black Forest. You have a chance to hike 2 days of our Black Forest Trail - a selection of the best trails the Central Black Forest has to offer. We add-on a guided tour by car to some of the must-see touristy sights in the area. On your last day(s) we equip you with an e-bike to discover the Black Forest by bicycle.

Location

Black Forest

Start / End

Offenburg

Activity

hiking, bicycling

Distance

15-19 km hiking, 35-50 km bicycling

Difficulty

moderate

Duration

4 days, (add on more days)

Hike & Bike: Black Forest Trail

Bicycle Tours

spring, summer, fall

4 days, (add on more days)

Great package for people who are looking for longer day hikes plus additional days of bicycling the Black Forest. You have a chance to hike 2 days of our Black Forest Trail – a selection of the best trails the Central Black Forest has to offer. We add-on a guided tour by car to some of the must-see touristy sights in the area. On your last day(s) we equip you with an e-bike to discover the Black Forest by bicycle.

We Handle All The Detail
Luggage Transfer Included
E-bike & Helmet included
Hotels included, Upgrades possible

2 days of hiking, 1 day of sightseeing, 1 day of bicycling – add-on more days
Detailed Route Descriptions & Maps
We are only a phone call away

Lonely Planet’s calls our Black Forest Trail one of ’52 Best Weekends Away’:

2 days of hiking: Explore German Culture, Nature & Towns

Our hotels are located in small Black Forest towns. Therefore this is a great tour if you are looking for the best balance of quiet time in nature, while also having time to explore beautiful medieval towns in the evening. The Black Forest Trail takes you off-the-beaten-path where you might hike for some time without encountering other people. Find a detailed description of our Black Forest Trail here.

Good to know: If the Black Forest Trail is too challenging or long for your taste, we also offer a shorter version of our hikes – the Black Forest Trail/Laidback Version.

1 Day for sightseeing

On day 3 of your stay our driver guide will meet you at your hotel to take you on a guided tour of the Black Forest region. You will cross over into the Southern Black Forest, passing through the clock area and visiting famous sights like Lake Titisee. This tour is customized for your group – it can be a relaxed tour with stops at a beergarden or an active tour with visits to a hanging bridge or a luge.

Upon arrival at your next hotel you will receive your rental bike. You can go for a test ride in the afternoon. Or enjoy town where we invite you to a wine tasting and sampling of some local foods (all included)

1 or more days of bicycling the Black Forest

On your last day we provide you with several bicycle routes to choose from. Our e-bikes will provide you the necessary support – if needed. Pedal to Freiburg to enjoy the sunniest city in Germany and go for a walking tour with our local guide. Explore the wine region and sample some of the local wines. Or head up into the Black Forest mountains to eat at a local cabin. We suggest to add-on another day or 2 to really experience the region by bicycle – one of the most popular ways to get around in the Black Forest.

Is it for me?

Great tour for active people looking for longer day hikes.

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

Wellness hotel. Option to upgrade your rooms to larger and newly remodeled rooms.

This beautiful wellness hotel happens to be located in a remote mountain town. There is a complimentary lunch buffet waiting for you on your arrival day between 12.30 – 1.30 PM. 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 (but there is wi-fi)

Good to know. You are staying in a very remote area of the Black Forest. There are no stores or restaurants nearby. The only restaurant in town is the restaurant at your hotel. We recommend to enjoy their 5 course dinner for hotel guests. You can also choose to eat from the regular menu and order a la carte.

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 tiredon your first day, you have the option to skip the remaining hike and head straight to to your hotel or enjoy an afternoon in town. This is also a good opportunity to grab lunch in town before continuing on your hike. 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 (restaurant is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, other options in town)

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.

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.

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: Bonus 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!

Description of your day

Today is considered a rest day. Our driver guide will pick you up in the morning to take you on a scenic 5- 6 hour drive. Choose from several stops before arriving at your next hotel.

You will have plenty of time in the afternoon to explore town. Or go on a first test ride with your rental bike which is waiting for you at the hotel.

We will also treat you to taste some local wine and food. We want you to experience this region like a local and therefore food is important:)

Accommodation

standard hotel in the heart of a Black Forest town. We place you right in the centre of town. No A/C.

Several bicycle routes to choose from. Either head to Freiburg to explore the sunniest city in Germany. Or explore a bit more of the Black Forest mountains. Another route takes you to the Rhine river – on the way you can stop at one of the many wineries for a tasting.

Accommodation

same hotel as last night.

From your hotel it is a short walk to the train station where you can easily get to Freiburg. Most travellers prefer to be transferred to Freiburg train station by private car – which we can easily arrange for you.

We recommend exploring Freiburg prior to your departure (why not add-on another night?). No rush – if you want to explore town, then store the luggage at the train station and pick it up later.

Good to Know

Accommodation in double room with private bathroom
Breakfast
Free public transportation pass while staying in the Black Forest
Detailed route descriptions & maps, tour route available in our own hiking app also
Luggage transfer between hotels. Your luggage transfer is organized by us, Black Forest Tours.
e-bike rental and helmet
Welcome Bag with useful items for your tour

Travel to and from startf the Black Forest (arrival in Offenburg, departure from Freiburg)
Lunches and dinners need to be purchased separately
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 pblic transport pass).

Season. This package is available from end of April to mid-October.
Starting day. Our hotels are often not available on the weekends. When booking the tour please indicate all possible starting dates. The more flexible you are, the easier it is to find a date which works for you.

Our regular Hike & Bike: Black Forest Trail is 4 days/5 nights in length.

More time? We recommend to add-on at least one more day to have more time to experience the region on bicycle or on foot.

Please contact us with your desire length and we can email you an exact quote

Hotel Location

All our hotels are small family-owned hotels. They are not fancy hotels, but clean and friendly. Most often you will meet the owners during your stay. 3 out of 5 hotels are in the middle of a cute Black Forest town. 1 hotel is in a small mountain village. And one hotel is in a tiny farming village. We have several back-up hotels (in case your standard hotels are booked).Find out more about each hotel under the itinerary details

Hotel Category

Most our hotels are small family-run hotels.
For a small upgrade fee we can sometimes offer an upgrade

Hotel Rooms

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.
Bathrooms. All rooms have private en-suite bathrooms.
No 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. Only 1 of our regular hotels on the Black Forest Trail. One other hotel can be upgraded to a room with A/C making it 2 hotels total with A/C on the hike.
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.
Spotty Wi-Fi. All hotel are wi-fi. But it can be spotty in 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 but one have a restaurant on site also (not all are open every day). If there is no restaurant on site there are restaurants within walking distance of your hotel.

comfortable walking boots and socks
hiking poles if you prefer the challenging trail on day 2
warm and waterproof clothes
a day pack is useful
rain gear
sun glasses, sun hat, sun block

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

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)

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:

Where you will be touring

map black forest trail_marked

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

Black Forest Tours

Average rating:

71 reviews

Brett K

May 4, 2024

by Brett K on Black Forest Tours

Ever since I saw pictures of the Black Forest in high school German class, I wanted to hike the trails in the mountains. The scenery and thought of visiting the villages between. No car, no train just a backpack, some hiking shoes, and a destination. However, I also
wanted to rest every night in a comfortable hotel.

Luckily, The Black Forest Tours offered a 5-day hiking only excursion that was exactly what I was looking for. Not only do they handle the accommodations they give you very detailed printed instructions and GPS helper app to make sure you stay on trail. In addition to the hotels they set up luggage delivery service so you can have your comforts at every stop without lugging it on the trails. You will be staying in small villages along the Black Forest hiking trails and if you’re in determined no trains/busses required!

It is hard to qualify hiking difficulty generally, but these are not easy trails. The full hikes will be pulling up to 20KM (12 mi) per day! The good news is that the trails will hit up various points of interest along the way to make it more rewarding and giving you some resting spots. You’re traversing a lot of elevation changes. If the weather doesn’t cooperate or if you’re not feeling it the tours also give various opt-out points where you can take a train or shortcut trail more directly to your hotel.

Even with some colder weather (which was no one’s fault) I did the full hike and it was one of the best experiences of my life and highly recommend using The Black Forest Tours to plan your hiking trip in the area.

rosaleen50

Oct 17, 2023

by rosaleen50 on Black Forest Tours

Three experienced and older hikers (aged from 69 to 82) walked The Black Forest Trail arranged by Black Forest Tours. From the moment we stepped from walking through grassy meadows into the deep, dark forest it was simply wonderful. Our hike was self-guided and we were provided with excellent trip notes and maps. While there were some challenging sections due to elevation changes, all the days were between 15 and 20 kms, allowing for time to explore the villages where we were staying along the way. There were options to shortcut and optional extra walks. We did all extra walks as we did not want to miss the scenery and the surprises such as a farmer's schnapps cupboard! For the first 2 days we did not see another person on the hike. We crisscrossed a number of famous hikes, such as Jakobusweg (St James Way) and the Westweg and got to experience the Black Forest in perfect harmony with the tress, the hills, the small chapels and the little farmers' cupboards with schnapps or water that could be bought on an honesty system. Our accommodation was excellent in each village. We added a rest day in the middle of our hike and also an extra day at the start. These were great for exploring the areas, trying local food and getting over long flights (from Australia). The walk was exceptionally well-organised. We travelled to the Black Forest area by train from Frankfurt. The whole trip was a perfect mixture of train travel (getting on small and smaller trains), hiking, exploring fairytale villages and enjoying food and drink with friends in wonderful settings!

mark f

Oct 11, 2023

by mark f on Black Forest Tours

I had an amazing hiking trip with Black Forest Tours. Simone was brilliant to work with and created a wonderful route for us. She certainly cared and helped ensure that we had a brilliant holiday.

The routes were lovely and spectacular, we were given all the information we needed for a successful hike and all logistics were catered for. Fully recommend booking a holiday with Black Forest Tours.

Mark

Oct 1, 2023

by Mark on Black Forest Tours

I had an amazing hiking trip with Black Forest Tours. Simone was brilliant to work with and created a wonderful route for us. She certainly cared and helped ensure that we had a brilliant holiday.

The routes were lovely and spectacular, we were given all the information we needed for a successful hike and all logistics were catered for. Fully recommend booking a holiday with Black Forest Tours.

Diane L

Sep 22, 2023

by Diane L on Black Forest Tours

Simone at Black Forest Tours put together an amazing walking holiday for us. From our first contact requesting information on the tours, Simone was so helpful. Her knowledge of the area and attention to detail was truly an asset.

The hotels, luggage transfers and travel options went all as planned. We initially were a bit "nervous" not knowing any German, but that was never an issue. The very detailed walking notes with pictures were perfect. We got turned around a few times but were always able to get back on track by reviewing the notes or using the GPS APP.

If your looking for a stress free, beautiful walking holiday I highly recommend booking with Simone and Black Forest Tours.

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