© Centurion, Geiger · Daniel Geiger
Nature Park Gravel Crossing from North to South – Baden-Württemberg
Bike Touring Collection by Baden-Württemberg
11
days
4-7 h
/ day
432 mi
51,050 ft
50,575 ft
Discover a gravel paradise – gravel from north to south through Baden-Württemberg, a state in south-west Germany that borders both France and Switzerland. Covering around 690 kilometres (430 miles) of distance and 15,000 metres (49,000 feet) of ascent, you’llcross four nature parks while riding between the historic cities of Mannheim and Basel. These are the Neckartal-Odenwald Nature Park, the Stromberg-Heuchelberg Nature Park, the Black Forest Central/North Nature Park and the Black Forest South Nature Park. On the way, you’ll pass through the forest and meadow landscape of the southern Odenwald, the wine landscapes of Heilbronnerland and Kraichgau, and the densely-forested low mountain ridges of the Black Forest.
Grandiose landscapes, delightfully rolling gravel roads, rustic paths and entertaining descents alternating with crisp mountain climbs await you on your route. You’ll ride through picturesque vineyards and pass many cultural highlights. In addition, glittering lakes and rushing rivers invite you to take relaxing breaks.
In this Collection, we present the route divided into eleven stages, each between 50 kilometres (31 miles) and 90 kilometres (56 miles). The length of each stage can be deceiving, as there is up to 2,000 metres (6,500 feet) of difference in ascent per day. Good fitness is essential as you will need to carry all your luggage on your bike. You can choose to spend the night in a tent at the trekking sites and campsites along the route, or in one or two spa hotels. A night under the stars might also be a tempting prospect… You’ll find rustic and hearty refreshment stops along the entire route but remember to always carry enough water with you.
It’s worth noting that although we have optimised the route planning for a gravel bike, you can also ride this Tour with a hybrid bike (with mountain-compatible gears), a mountain bike or an e-bike. Charging for e-bikes is available along the route.
The start and end points of the stages are always located near to a railway station or bus stop and are therefore easily accessible by public transport. From your destination in Basel, you can take the train straight back to your starting point or enjoy the vibrant city for a few more days.
In the course of this Collection, we would also like to recommend our "Be Consciously Wild" initiative:
We thank visitors for:
- Staying on the paths.
- Avoiding twilight and night-time.
- Paying attention to protected areas.
Be inspired by, and aware of, wildlife.
On The Map
Do it yourself
Ready to get going? Create and customize your own version of this adventure using the full Tour below as a template.
Last updated: July 13, 2023
Plan your own version of this adventure in the multi-day planner based on the stages suggested in this Collection.
Tours & Highlights
- 05:3941.1 mi7.3 mph4,850 ft4,750 ftExpertExpert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
Get out of the big city of Mannheim and into the gravel fun in the Odenwald. On the first stage through the front Odenwald you can expect wonderful gravel roads, challenging trail sections and deeply cut and culturally landscaped valleys and heights with wonderful views.
You start in Mannheim at the…
- 06:4551.2 mi7.6 mph4,150 ft4,075 ftExpertExpert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
Today's stage goes through forests, small towns and over the heights of the small Odenwald to the Neckar valley. The last few kilometers you roll relaxed on the lovely Neckar to Heilbronn.
Behind Neckargemünd, the route leads you up and down through shady forests and meadow orchards in the small Odenwald…
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- 05:2139.8 mi7.4 mph2,850 ft2,575 ftExpertExpert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
The third stage takes you deep into the Stromberg-Heuchelberg Nature Park. You cross the land of 1000 hills on varied paths and enjoy the fantastic panoramas from the many vantage points. You will experience an intensive mixture of picturesque vineyards, cozy villages and cultural highlights.
The tour…
- 05:1433.9 mi6.5 mph3,525 ft2,925 ftExpertExpert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
On the fourth stage you get your first impressions of the Black Forest. Refreshing forests and rushing rivers line your way and the first 1,000 meters of altitude in a day will make your calves burn.
Nevertheless, your day starts leisurely on the cycle path along the Enz. The Gasometer in Pforzheim is…
- 07:2642.3 mi5.7 mph5,400 ft4,975 ftExpertExpert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
On the fifth stage, around 1,600 meters of altitude are ahead of you, which will lead you on the finest gravel paths through the deep northern Black Forest and the unique high moor landscape of the Kaltenbronn. You will be rewarded for the decent climbs with fantastic views and a varied landscape.
Get…
- 06:1636.8 mi5.9 mph4,825 ft5,675 ftExpertExpert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This stage also continues with plenty of altitude gain. Your tour takes you past cirque lakes, through the deep Black Forest and down into the picturesque Kinzig Valley, home of the Black Forest Bollenhut.
From Baiersbronn, the route first takes you past the Sankenbachsee and the Sankenbach waterfalls…
- 06:4936.4 mi5.3 mph6,625 ft5,375 ftExpertExpert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
In short, today's stage with almost 2,000 meters in altitude to the clock city of Triberg is exhausting. You leave the Black Forest Middle/North Nature Park a little after Hornberg and continue through the fourth nature park, the Southern Black Forest Nature Park.
The route begins with an ascent from…
- 05:1033.9 mi6.6 mph4,900 ft5,675 ftExpertExpert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
From today you are out and about in the Southern Black Forest Nature Park. Today's stage leads you to springs and over steep climbs and through deep valleys through the typical Black Forest landscape to today's stage destination in Buchenbach in the beautiful Dreisamtal.
Right at the beginning of the…
- 04:4631.0 mi6.5 mph4,850 ft3,100 ftExpertExpert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
On this stage you climb Baden-Württemberg's highest mountain, the Feldberg with its 1,493 meters and admire the glittering lakes in the valleys. The many meters of altitude are rewarded with magnificent views!
Right at the beginning of the tour, the first sweaty climb to Breitnau awaits you, where you…
- 05:3130.1 mi5.5 mph5,325 ft5,875 ftExpertExpert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Today's stage takes you over the Hasenhorn, the Blößling and the Hochkopf to Todtmoos. Numerous climbs on varied gravel and forest paths with beautiful viewpoints await you on the route.
Today it starts right at the beginning with a first climb. You cycle past the Lailehöhe and the Hasbacherhöhe to the…
- 07:1955.8 mi7.6 mph3,775 ft5,575 ftExpertExpert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
Today the final stage of the Gravel Crossings Nature Park awaits you. The fascinating landscape of the wild high and low moors of the Hotzenwald accompanies you to the Swiss border in Bad Säckingen. Then you continue cycling on the southern Black Forest cycle path to Basel.
You leave the village and…
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Collection Stats
- Tours11
- Distance432 mi
- Duration66:17 h
- Elevation51,050 ft50,575 ft
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