The Black Forest and the Swabian Alb are the two defining mountain ranges in Baden-Württemberg and are among the most popular medium-sized ranges in Germany. They are both a hiker’s and a cyclist’s paradise and offer a huge variety of Tours through deep gorges and wild valleys, and also to grand peaks with panoramic views.

Saskia, a Black Forest expert from Freiburg, has explored the pure variety found on the trails in four hikes – two in her homeland and two hikes in the neighbouring Swabian Alb. This is what she experienced:

“I know parts of the Black Forest like the back of my hand, but I’ve never explored the Swabian Alb before, despite the fact the ranges are only about an hour apart. Somehow, I always had the idea that the Swabian Alb was just the little sister of the Black Forest, which is why it never attracted me previously.

Now I know that was a mistake. I took a closer look at the Swabian Alb on my Tours and compared it with a few hikes in the Black Forest. In both regions, I chose one route that promised wide views and vistas, and a second that offered gorges, valleys and rivers.

Both the Black Forest and the Swabian Alb offer panoramic mountains and wild, forested valleys. And they both do this very well! The two hikes in the Black Forest offer spectacular views from unusual perspectives (such as the suspension bridge!), as well as great waterfalls and cool gorges on hot summer days.

The two hikes and the bike tour on the Swabian Alb offer great mountains at sunset, steeply sloping cliffs, views of the Danube and serene deciduous forests where you hardly meet a soul.”