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

5 days, 6 days

Best of the Black Forest

spring, summer, fall
5 days, 6 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
  • 5 days
  • Detailed Route Descriptions & Maps
  • We are a phone call away, just in case

Update Dec 7, 2022

All details for our new Best of Black Forest package will be uploaded shortly. Please check back again.

Meanwhile 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)

 

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 7 km – but in absolutely beautiful terrain. If you are too tired already, 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. 

Bonus Hike: Add-on more distance

  • The regular train is 14.4  km in length (9 miles).
  • There is the option to shortcut the trail by 2 km (1.2 miles)

Accommodation

  • Simple family hotel in the town centre of a small town. Standard rooms
  • Superior hotel with premium rooms and wellness area 2 km outside of town centre

We have 2 hotels to choose from.  Both hotels have restaurants where we recommend eating in the evening.

Our standard 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.

Hotel_Blackforesttrail3

Back-up hotel outsisde of town

Our back-up hotel is a superior hotel and located 2 km (1,2 miles) outside of town centre with wellness facilities on site. Good to know: choosing the superior hotel means you add 2 km (1.2 miles) to your hike hike on day 1 and day 2.

Hotel_Blackforesttrail2black forest accommodation

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.

  • Friendly family-run hotel with wellness area offering standard rooms or new upgraded rooms. 

typical black forest hotelcozy hotel black forest

 

 

 

Morning. After breakfast our driver will pick you up and transfer you to the Southern Black Forest by car. Enjoy a driving tour with lots of scenery – you will be passing through the Triberg clock area with an option stop. We will also take you by Lake Titisee – quite a touristy place, but for many considered a must-see when visiting the Southern Black Forest. 

If you are interested in doing some sightseeing this can be a good day for it. Our driver can stop at several sights. Or choose to do a transfer only from hotel A to hotel B.

Up for a short hike?

In that case you have the option to choose between a 5 km or an 8 km hike. Both ending at your next hotel where your luggage is already waiting for you.

Dinner

Your hotel has a restaurant. But there are also other options in town.

Accommodation

  • standard hotel

We work with a friendly family-owned hotel in a small mountain town.

Elevation Profiles

Easy trail:

Challenging trail:

Description of your day

Today you have 2 options to choose from.

  1. Option 1 is an easy and short hike of 9 km. Enjoy a pretty flat walk along the edge of the forest with scenic views throughout the hike. On clear days you can see as far as the Vosges mountains in Alsace
  2. Option 2 takes you on a challenging trail of 14.5 km in length in difficult terrain. You will stop at a waterfall which can only be visited by foot. You can even add-on more km to eat at a farmhouse for lunch. On a rainy day this trail needs to be avoided, it will be too slippery.

Accommodation

  • standard hotel

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

 

 

 

 

 

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

Our package includes:

  • 6 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)
  • 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 mid-May to mid-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 5day/6night package

 

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/rest day with an optional short hike add-on (5 km or 8 km). 

Day 4:

Regular trail:

Longer, more challenging trail:

Day 5:

 

 

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

Average rating:  
 3 reviews
 by Eric on Black Forest Tours

We had a great time walking the St Peter’s Way.
The information you provided by way of maps, booklet and the app were very useful. We used the app throughout and found it very helpful and foolproof especially on the alternative route on day 2.
The walks themselves were picturesque and gave a good impression of the Black Forest and surrounding countryside. We were lucky with the weather in that it wasn’t too hot and we managed to avoid the rain when it came.
The hotels were all of a good standard and we thought the the third was a standout venue. The people at all the hotels were very helpful and accommodating. The food on offer at each of the hotels varied but it was all of a good standard with the breakfast at hotel 1 and hotel 3 being of a high standard. We found each of the villages we stayed in charming in their different ways and had the energy to complete the walking tour of Freiburg using your app.
The baggage transfer went without a hitch.
All the hotels were perfectly situated for the walks. The only problem being that the lift in the hotel in Freiburg was not working but at least our luggage had been taken to our rooms on the second floor.
All in all a very enjoyable trip with great information provided by your company
Thanks Eric

 by Jude on Black Forest Tours

Hi Simone,

​We loved our Black Forest holiday!

​The app was really useful. The printed guide was good for reading up on the hikes before we did them. Also useful for restaurant information etc.

​The luggage transfer went really smoothly. The hotels were great.

​Our favourite hike was the second one - we did the alternative route, which was spectacular.

​I was worried the last day's hike might be a bit dull, but it wasn't at all! The arrival into Freiburg was magnificent! I liked how we were able to get right into the forest on some of the paths.

​Thank you!

 by Becky L on Black Forest Tours

Hello,

My husband and I hiked the St Peter's Way part of the Black Forest, as arranged by Black Forest Tours. What a great way to first encounter the beauty and majesty of this wonderful area! The hotels were at least very nice and some amazing, one with a spa amenity that was very welcome to our tired legs. The folks along the way were friendly and we appreciated the quiet, with only seeing a couple of other hikers on our 3 days.
The suitcase transfer service made it possible to hike with just day packs for our lunches and rain gear. Black Forest Tours made the arrangements and picked the best trails for us to follow, which were easy to find and stay on with their mobil app that does not require cell service, just the standard GPS it seems most phones have these days. They pointed out points of interest, including some we would not have found without their careful guidance.

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