We’ve already explored many corners of Germany, but until recently, the Black Forest was still a gray spot on our map. It’s been on our minds for a long time, but somehow we never managed to make a trip there. Why? Hmm, probably it was always the long journey from the Baltic Sea to the other end of Germany that kept us from a spontaneous trip. Many of our readers have recommended a trip to the Black Forest, and on one of our next visits home near Stuttgart, we finally wanted to do it.
To celebrate the reopening of hotels in the Black Forest, various guesthouses in Baiersbronn raffled off free overnight stays in their beautiful hotels and guesthouses. From almost 8,000 registrations, 44 lucky winners were drawn, who were then treated to a fantastic weekend in Baiersbronn. Baiersbronn Touristik asked us if we’d like to be part of the fun. And yes, what can we say? We had an incredibly wonderful time in the Black Forest. You can find out all about this trip in today’s post. Enjoy browsing!
- About Baiersbronn
- Our accommodation in Baiersbronn
- Highlights, sights & activities
- Hiking on the Gourmet Trail
- Walk around Lake Mummelsee
- Ellbachseeblick viewing platform
- On the Black Forest High Road
- Hurricane Lother & the Lother Trail
- Forellenhof Buhlbach
- Bike tour to Lake Sankenbach & Waterfall
- Ice cream break at the Seidtenhof
- By e-bike to Huzenbachersee
- More excursion destinations & community tips
- Conclusion on Baiersbronn in the Black Forest
- Getting to Baiersbronn
- By car to Baiersbronn
- By train to Baiersbronn
About Baiersbronn
The municipality of Baiersbronn comprises 9 districts and is located in the Northern Black Forest, just 90 kilometers from Stuttgart. Admittedly, we weren’t familiar with the Baiersbronn region before our trip, so we were all the more excited to see what awaited us there. The municipality is known for its top-class gastronomy and incomparable landscapes with numerous hiking and mountain bike trails. Lush green valleys and mountain slopes, charming little towns, and the Black Forest National Park with its many highlights and attractions await you in this region.
Our accommodation in Baiersbronn
We stayed at the beautiful 4-star Wellness Hotel Tanne, which enjoys a quiet and idyllic location in the Tonbach Valley. We received a very warm and friendly welcome upon arrival. The family-run hotel has been owned by the Möhrle family since 1868 and is run with incredible passion and heart. The hotel offers various room types, all equipped with a TV, hairdryer, safe, telephone, bathrobe, and sauna towels (some also have a balcony/terrace).
Our highlights of the hotel were definitely the incredibly good food, the idyllic location, and the beautiful garden with its treehouse sauna. The wellness area here at Hotel Tanne is generally very spacious and features a swimming pool, saunas, a salt lounge, a sunbathing lawn, a sound water room, and a fitness room. Due to the coronavirus crisis, we were unfortunately unable to use the wellness area, but the entire facility still felt very relaxing. With the outdoor sauna in the form of a treehouse, which sits 10 meters above the Tonbach Valley, hotel director Jörg Mörhle fulfilled a childhood dream. An absolute eye-catcher!
Highlights, Sights & Activities
The entire region surprised us with numerous highlights, sights, and activities. Of course, we didn’t see and experience everything, but the four days were still filled with many great experiences. Baiersbronn awaited us with stunningly beautiful nature for hiking, biking, jogging, or walking. And let’s not forget the feasting! Baiersbronn is a paradise for gourmets, boasting eight Michelin stars, making it the gourmet capital of Germany.
By loading the map, you accept Google’s privacy policy.
Learn more
Load map
Hiking on the Gourmet Trail
On the first day of our trip, we opted for a relaxing hike to get to know the region better. Baiersbronn is nicknamed “hiking heaven” because of its 550-kilometer-long network of hiking trails through the diverse natural landscape and the Black Forest National Park. The region can be explored on various multi-stage and themed trails, as well as adventure, educational, and leisurely trails. We chose the Satteleisteig leisure trail because the Sattelei hiking hut had been recommended to us several times.
We took a relaxing walk around the Rinkenberg with fantastic panoramic views of the Tonbach Valley, Mitteltal, and Baiersbronn. In perfect weather, we hiked along the natural trails and took a short break on the wooden loungers at the Petermännle viewpoint. Did we mention that the weather was completely on our side again? After about 2.5 hours, we reached the Sattelei hiking hut, which was a cozy place to stop for a bite to eat. We ordered regional specialties, such as Maultaschen (ravioli) with potato salad and potato soup. That might not sound particularly special, but the food was truly incredibly delicious!
After refreshments, our hike continued along the Gourmet Trail and led us to the Rinkenturm Tower, from where we enjoyed a fantastic view of the Murg Valley. From there, the trail led us back to the starting point, the “Sommerseite parking lot.” In total, we were out for about 4.5 hours and ended up recording almost 12 kilometers on our fitness watch (which we highly recommend | ☞ Xiaomi Mi Band 4*). This hike doesn’t require any particular fitness, even if it does get a bit steep in some sections. A total of 200 meters of elevation gain is achieved to reach the viewpoint at Petermännle. The other gourmet trails are also said to be very beautiful: Sankenbachsteig, Tonbachsteig, and Panoramasteig.
Walk around Lake Mummelsee
After the hike, we still had a bit of time and drove to Lake Mummelsee. Many of our readers recommended visiting this lake. No sooner said than done! This cirque lake (it was formed after the last Ice Age around 10,000 years ago) is located directly on the Black Forest High Road and is therefore very easy to reach. We parked our car for free in front of the farm shop and strolled directly toward the lake. The lake is idyllically nestled among spruce-rich coniferous forests and the raised bog. An 800-meter-long circular path led us around it.
The Hotel Mummelsee* is located directly on the lake and features an outdoor terrace, beer garden, and restaurant. The farm shop in the parking lot sells typical souvenirs and regional delicacies. On our walk around the lake, we discovered a bronze statue of a mermaid in the water, certainly a beautiful photo opportunity in the early morning when the mist still hovers over the water’s surface. From Mummelsee, you can also hike to the highest mountain in the Northern Black Forest – the Hornisgrinde – (approx. 2.5 hours).
Ellbachseeblick Observation Platform
After a delicious breakfast at the Wellness Hotel Tanne the next morning, we start the second day of our trip with a detour to the Ellbachseeblick Observation Platform. This spot is located on the edge of the Black Forest National Park, just 10 minutes from Kniebis. From the parking lot, it’s only a 10-minute walk to the 33-meter-long platform. From there, we were treated to a spectacular view of the small Ellbachsee and the distant mountain ranges.
Various hiking trails pass by the platform, such as the Heimtpfad Kniebis, the Seensteig Stage 1, or the 2-Lakes Tour. You can also descend the cirque wall and hike to the Ellbachsee, although sturdy shoes and surefootedness are required. We enjoyed the view and took some really beautiful photos. Afterwards, we strolled back to the car and continued our exploration. On our next visit, we would definitely like to go hiking in this region.
On the Black Forest High Road
So we got back in the car and continued on the Black Forest High Road (B500). This runs approximately 60 kilometers from Freudenstadt to Baden-Baden and offers repeated, beautiful views of the lush green valleys, the Rhine Valley, and even the Vosges Mountains. We traveled this panoramic road in perfect weather and enjoyed it to the fullest. You can see a beautiful video of it in our “Black Forest” story highlights on Instagram.
Hurricane Lother & the Lother Trail
Our next stop was directly on the Black Forest High Road, at the Lother Trail. On December 26, 1999, Hurricane Lothar raged across Western and Central Europe. With wind speeds of up to 200 km/h, it tore a wide swath through the forest in the Northern Black Forest. It was decided to leave the approximately 10-hectare devastated area to itself so that natural regeneration could be observed. Without any human intervention, nature has recovered here and created a new forest of its own accord.
In 2003, an 800-meter-long educational and adventure trail was created there, which leads over stairs, bridges, and walkways across the area destroyed by the hurricane. There’s also a viewing platform on site, from which you can see as far as Strasbourg and the Vosges Mountains. You should plan approximately 45-60 minutes for this circular walk. Admission to this adventure trail is completely free, and it’s open 24/7. We also found a short video of Hurricane Lothar from 1999, often called the “storm of the century” – watch it here.
Forellenhof Buhlbach
After our detour to the Lotharpfad, our tour continued to the often-recommended Forellenhof Buhlbach. This trout farm, with a long tradition of fish farming, is located in a stunningly beautiful location in the heart of Buhlbach. The former “fisherman’s lodge” has been transformed into a beautiful Black Forest house with a sun terrace, a small shop, and cozy guest rooms. On the property, you can explore the 13 breeding ponds stocked with salmon trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, and even char.
At the Forellenhof Buhlbach, we first took a coffee and cake break and ordered homemade cheese and apple pie. From the sun terrace, we fully enjoyed the view of the green valley with its meadows and forest. If you like fish, you should definitely try one or two of the specialties here. Anke and Thorsten from the blog “Moose around the world” recommend the dishes “Forelle Blau” (Blue Trout) and “Trout Stew.” Their blog also has great tips about this region, so be sure to check it out.
Bike tour to Sankenbachsee & Waterfall
After our little road trip in the morning, we headed out on our mountain bikes. For the second part of the day, we had chosen a cool route to Lake Sankenbach and its waterfall. We cycled for about 40 minutes to Lake Sankenbach, passing Baiersbronn and a game reserve with red and fallow deer. Sankenbachsee is a great place for a stroll and picnic; even swimming is permitted here.
We parked the bikes and hiked for about 10 minutes up to the Sankenbach Waterfall, which is truly very special. The waterfall is about 40 meters high and can be controlled by manually opening a wooden lock. This means you leave the lock closed for a while so the water can collect. Then you open the lock and let the water through, cascading down two steps. A great experience for all ages. We recommend surefootedness, sturdy footwear, and a head for heights for the ascent.
Ice cream break at the Seidtenhof
Of course, a treat or two is a must every now and then, and so we made a stop at the Seidtenhof, which had also been recommended to us several times by our community and by Baiersbronn Touristik. We absolutely had to try the famous spruce tip ice cream here. Since it wasn’t available that day, we opted for a small portion of vanilla, which was also delicious.
The rustic farm with cows, calves, horses, geese, goats, cats, and rabbits also offers typical regional dishes. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the beautiful farm with its courtyard parlor, courtyard garden, and shop was closed, but you could still help yourself to ice cream from a freezer and drop your money into a small box. A truly charming idea, which we were happy to support.
With E-Bikes to Huzenbachersee
The third and final day in Baiersbronn was once again filled with many adventures. Together with hotel director Jörg Möhrle, we went on a really cool tour with the cool fully-suspension bikes (e-bikes). He showed us his favorite spots, led us through the Black Forest countryside to the “Huzenbacher Seeblick” viewpoint and other great spots, which we’ll just keep to ourselves for now. We went over hill and dale; riding these e-bikes was really fun. By the way, you can rent these bikes from the hotel for a fee.
In total, there are 11 different mountain bike tours in the Baiersbronn region (more details here) and up to 33% single trails. These routes are between 13 and 81 kilometers long and lead through the stunningly beautiful nature of the region and the national park. Whether you’re looking for a leisurely ride or plenty of action, you’re sure to find the right route for you here. With the Baiersbronn mountain bike map, you’re well prepared for your trip to the Black Forest. It lists all 11 routes and a 450 km network of trails. Download it here. After almost 4 hours and almost 30 kilometers on the clock, we returned to the Wellness Hotel Tanne. At this point, we’d like to once again extend our heartfelt thanks to Jörg Möhrle for this fantastic tour.
More Destinations & Community Tips
We will definitely come back again, because there’s so much more to discover around Baiersbronn. The list is long, thanks in part to the many tips from our community. If you have any other tips for the Northern Black Forest, please let us know so we can add them to the following list.
- Black Forest Treetop Walk
- Action & Adrenaline at Europa-Park
- Hike to Hornisgrinde & Schliffkopf
- Excursion to the All Saints Waterfalls
- Visit to the Schwarzenbach Dam
- Explore Strasbourg
- Marvel at Gengenbach’s historic old town
- Trekking & Camping in the Black Forest (more info here).
- And much, much more!
Conclusion on Baiersbronn in the Black Forest
Conclusion? Where should we even begin? You can certainly tell from this report that we really enjoyed our time in Baiersbronn. We particularly liked the mix of nature, cuisine, action, and relaxation. In our opinion, Baiersbronn skillfully combines precisely these themes. Whether you’re looking for a wellness vacation or an active holiday, we highly recommend this region. We will definitely return and explore more hiking trails, mountain bike tours, and the region’s highlights.
Getting to Baiersbronn
By car to Baiersbronn
To be as flexible as possible on site, we drove from the Baltic Sea to the Black Forest. It was certainly a small trip around the world, but the journey wasn’t as strenuous as expected. After a good 10 hours, we arrived at our hotel. Another positive was that the roads heading south were really relaxed, whereas the roads towards the Baltic and North Seas were congested.
We generally recommend traveling by car. There are various motorway connections; follow the signs to Freudenstadt. The drive there itself is truly wonderful, as the roads eventually run through beautiful green forests. We drove from Rostock via Berlin, Leipzig, Nuremberg, and Stuttgart. If you don’t have your own car, you can also rent a car*.
By train to Baiersbronn
How about a relaxing journey by train? There are numerous connections via Stuttgart and Karlsruhe to Baiersbronn. From Berlin, it’s only 7 hours to the Black Forest by ICE, and from Düsseldorf, it’s only 4 hours. In the region itself, there are, among others, the municipal buses 24a and 24b, as well as the hut buses 25a, 25b, and 25c. This makes it easy to explore the area even without a car. Learn more here: Route networks and travel times.