Hike between forests and meadows – Rottweil–Lahr Black Forest Trail

From deep emerald fir trees to soft lime green and the vibrant shades of fresh meadows – a rich colour palette of greens makes the Rottweil–Lahr Black Forest Trail a wonderful experience. You hike over the rolling hills of the Black Forest in Germany, through picturesque villages to impressive vantage points. Founded in 1935, this long-distance hiking trail is maintained by the Black Forest Association and is waymarked with a red-blue rhombus on a yellow background.

This Collection divides the trail’s 95 kilometres (59 mi) into four stages. Thanks to the variety of accommodation en route, you can easily divide your hike into more days. There are no special requirements for the long daily stages, just bring along enough stamina.

On the first day, the cross-country trail leads you from the town of Lahr through the beautiful Schuttertal municipality. You leave the river and climb up to the heights of the Middle Black Forest. As you hike, chapels and rest areas invite you to take a breather before you reach Höhenhäuser, the day’s end point.

At 27 kilometres (16.7 mi), the second stage is the longest of this adventure. High above the Elz Valley, the trail leads through dark forests and across bright green meadows overlooking magnificent views of the deep Gutach Valley. You spend the second night in the valley town of Hornberg.

On the third day of your long-distance hike, you leave the valley and walk up to the scenic eastern slopes of the Black Forest. Cosy places to stop for refreshments and many cultural highlights, such as the Waldau Castle ruins, make the route to Königsfeld particularly varied. Colourful fields, green forests and clear streams accompany you on the last stage into the picturesque Neckar Valley to the town of Rottweil and its station, where the cross-country trail officially ends.

In Lahr, the trail starts at the Schlüssel bus station. The town also has a train station so you can easily arrive by public transport. Hornberg, the second stage town, also has a train station, so you can flexibly plan your hike if you don’t want to walk the trail all in one go. You can journey home from Rottweil, your destination, by train too.

This hike is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the colourful world of the Black Forest and recharge your batteries. The well-maintained paths and trails, as well as the excellent refreshment stops and overnight accommodation make it a perfect long-distance hiking trail, even for beginners.