Walking in the Black Forest

Trip Type:

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.

Grade & Terrain

This tour involves some easy and sometimes more difficult sections, which is why we have classified it as moderate overall. There are narrow paths which are rocky, with exposed tree roots in some parts. There is a lot of undulating terrain which can be tiring and demanding. Some of the paths are precipitous so you should be sure-footed and have a head for heights.  On the other hand, you will encounter many easy sections on wide forest tracks and trails.

Navigation

Hike on well-signposted hiking trails and forest paths and partly follow the long-distance trails of the Schluchtensteig, the Westweg, the Mittelweg, the Querweg and the Schwarzwald Albsteig. Together with our maps, route notes and the Macs Adventure Smartphone App, enabling you to follow the route using your phone's GPS, you will have no problems finding the way.

Experience & Fitness

You should be in good shape to get the most from this tour. Each day is undulating, with many sections of consistent ascent and descent. Some trails are rocky and narrow, and a sure foot is required.  The stages are between 20-23 km long (max. 25 depending on the accommodation in Bernau). The daily differences in altitude vary between +410/+1070 and -430/-1210 m. Day 6 is the longest stage, with more than 1000 m of altitude difference, and is the most strenuous of the whole trekking tour - there are several possibilities to shorten this stage, and some of the other stages can also be shortened as well.

• 7 nights in comfortable 3* hotels and guesthouses
• Breakfasts
• Daily door-to-door baggage transfer
• Route notes, maps, GPX tracks, access to our navigation app and info pack
• 24/7 telephone support from our German and UK office

• Flights and travel to Blumberg and from Schluchsee
• Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
• Travel Insurance
• Personal expenses such as drinks, phone calls, extra transfers, tips, etc
• Any items not specifically mentioned in the program

• Additional nights during the holiday

When To Go

This walk is available to start on any day of the week from May to the end of October. Any period within this time is ideal for walking.

Weather and Climate

The weather in the Black Forest is changeable. Very hot days are often followed by rain and thunderstorms. Therefore, you should be prepared for all weather eventualities. Check the weather report each day locally before setting off for your hike.

Due to bad weather, flooding risks, fell works and towards the end of the walking season, the narrow paths sometimes become slippery and impassable. It would be best if you informed yourself before departure regarding the current conditions.

Getting to the Start

By Air: Fly into Basel Euro Airport (3.5h), Zurich (2.5h), or Stuttgart (3h), from each Blumberg s easily reachable via train. Check www.bahn.de for the timetable. 

By Train: Blumberg can be reached by train from the larger cities in Germany. You can find more information and connections on the railway website. From Zurich it is 2.30 h, from Basel it is 3.30h or 3h from Stuttgart.

By Car: Travelling by car is usually via Freiburg (A5) or Donaueschingen (A81). In Blumberg there are a number of public car parks which you can use free of charge for the duration of your journey. The best place is the large car park at the sports field. We will be happy to arrange a private transfer back to Blumberg at the end of your trip for an additional charge. This usually departs from Schluchsee at 09:30. Please contact us for details.

Getting from the End

By train: There are regular trains from Schluchsee station to Freiburg and from there on to all major cities in Germany. Check train and bus timetables at the following website:  www.bahn.de 

By car: Departure by car is usually via Freiburg (A5) or Donaueschingen (A81). To get back to Blumberg, take the train to Titisee at Schluchsee station. From there, continue by train to Hüfingen and take the bus to Blumberg-Zollhaus. The journey takes approx. 3.5 hours. Alternatively, we will be happy to arrange a private return transfer for you. This usually departs from Schluchsee at 09:30. Please contact us for more information.

Baggage Transfer

Your luggage will be transferred from your current accommodation to the next, so you only need to take your daypack on the hike and your luggage will usually be waiting for you on arrival.

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with suppliers and luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person and the weight of your luggage allowed is specific to the destination you will be travelling to. This is why it is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags and/or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.

On this tour there is a limit of 23kg and one bag per person.