Today we’re taking you to the beautiful Southern Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg. Have you ever been to Germany’s largest contiguous low mountain range? Not yet? Well then it’s about time! Here in the southwest of our country, numerous great highlights and sights await you in the Black Forest. During our last trip, we visited the south of the Black Forest and visited various places, experienced exciting adventures, and met very interesting people.
For us, the Black Forest generally offers the perfect mix of nature, culture, regionality, action, and 100% vacation feeling. In the following article, we would like to introduce you to 7 great highlights for your vacation in the Southern Black Forest and show you which places and activities are really worth it. Enjoy browsing!
- Southern Black Forest – Our top highlights
- 1. Hike through the Wutach Gorge
- 2. Visit to the Rothaus State Brewery in Baden
- 3. SUP & Kayak on Lake Schluchsee
- 4. Black Forest Camp – Overnight in a Tipi
- 5. Farm Holiday in the Southern Black Forest
- 6. Overnight in a Camping Barrel on the Farm
- 7. The Rose Village of Nöggenschwiel in the Southern Black Forest
- Our Conclusion on the Southern Black Forest
Southern Black Forest – Our Top Highlights
The Black Forest has a lot to offer across approximately 6,000 km², no matter which region you are in. Last year, we traveled in the northern Black Forest and took a closer look at the area around Baiersbronn. This trip was all about hiking, biking, feasting, and enjoying.
This summer we went to the Southern Black Forest, which we believe is much more traditional, authentic, and down-to-earth. Here, the clocks tick quite differently; things move at a much more leisurely pace. As the saying goes, “Good things take time.” We’ve marked our top highlights and other sights on the map below.
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1. Hike through the Wutach Gorge
At the beginning of our trip to the Southern Black Forest, we went on a hike through the Wutach Gorge. This gorge is often called “Germany’s largest canyon” because it drops as much as 170 meters in some places. A truly spectacular backdrop awaited us here, with rushing waterfalls, rugged valleys, pristine forests, adventurous wild rivers, imposing rock faces, and numerous wooden bridges. The 33-kilometer-long Wutach Gorge is located between Titisee-Neustadt, Lake Schluchsee, Bonndorf, Wutach, and Döggingen.
Popular hike through the gorge
There are many ways to hike through the Wutach Gorge. The most popular, however, is the tour from the Wutachmühle to the Schattenmühle (around 13 km | 5-6 hours). It’s best to park your car at the Schattenmühle and then take the hiking bus (runs from April 17, 2025 – October 10, 2025) to the Wutachmühle. You can then start your hike there. If you don’t have quite as much time, you can also get on in Boll and hike to the Schattenmühle (4 km | 2 hours). Get an overview map of the gorge from your accommodation; there you’ll see all the access points and hiking options.
The paths are very well signposted, so it’s virtually impossible to get lost in the gorge. You’ll also repeatedly pass small hiking huts, where you can find safe shelter, especially in the rain. Although the gorge is accessible year-round, you should refrain from hiking in winter, during heavy rain, or during thunderstorms. It can be extremely dangerous on the very slippery and steep paths. Wear sturdy shoes! You’ll find refreshment stops at the Wutachmühle and the Schattenmühle. You can find 20 great hiking routes here.
Our tip: Access via the Lotenbachklamm
We highly recommend the Lotenbachklamm. This approximately 1.5 km long branch is an absolute highlight of the region for us and awaited us with spectacular surroundings. Time and again, we had the feeling of being in the middle of a Hollywood set. We hiked past waterfalls, crossed adventurous wooden walkways and bridges, marveled at the impressive rock faces, and took countless photos of the very mystical scenery. This area is definitely a paradise for photographers.
The entrance is located on the B315 between Gündelwangen and Bonndorf (incidentally, a great starting point for the Wutach Gorge). There, you’ll find a hiking parking lot where you can park your car for free and start hiking. At the end of the gorge, you’ll reach the Schattenmühle (Shadow Mill), where you can stop for a break. Now you can decide whether to take the 12 km to the Wutachmühle (Wutach Mill), hike back to your car, or head in the other direction to the Räuberschlöße (Robber Castles) viewpoint.
2. Visit to the Badische Staatsbrauerei Rothaus
If you’re traveling in the southern Black Forest, we recommend a detour to the Badische Staatsbrauerei Rothaus (founded in 1791). It’s the highest brewery in Germany, at almost 1,000 meters above sea level, and features an inn and beer garden, a shop, an interactive exhibition, a museum, and overnight accommodations. For children, there’s also an adventure playground with a climbing wall, obstacle course, and a water play area.
We were able to experience real brewing art firsthand and watch how the beer is made. Even if you’re not a big beer fan, you’ll learn a lot about the history of the brewery and the entire production process during a guided tour. You’ll also get a glimpse into the bottling plants and the lager cellar, among other things. At the end of the tour, there is of course a fresh Tannenzäpfle at the bar. Click here for the tours.
On the so-called ZÄPFLE Weg, a On an informative exploration trail, you’ll also learn all about the production of the beers. This tour takes you past a total of nine stations and three pavilions and addresses topics such as “Raw Materials from the Region,” “Environment and Sustainability,” and “How Quality Is Created.” You can also look through the windows into the bottling plant and marvel at the approximately 60,000 bottles that whizz down the conveyor belts here every hour.
After the tour, we browsed the ZÄPFLE Market. Here you can buy beer, whiskey, clothing, souvenirs, postcards, and all kinds of Rothaus merchandise. At the stylish ZÄPFLE Bar you can sample the various beers. Of course, we bought a few bottles to take home. The food at the Brauereigasthof is also highly recommended. Here our palates were pampered in the evening with fresh and regional dishes.
Staying overnight at the Brauereigasthof Rothaus
After the tour and all the impressions on the grounds, we were allowed to enjoy our really nice room in the Brewery Inn. There are 17 rooms in total, decorated with high-quality natural materials and a very contemporary design. Our room was very spacious and featured a comfortable double bed, two large armchairs with footstools, a TV, a desk, a wardrobe, a minibar, a telephone, a bathroom with a separate toilet and shower, and a spacious balcony with a table and chairs. Book your room here*.
3. SUP & Kayak on Lake Schluchsee
Did you know that Lake Schluchsee is the largest lake in the Black Forest? We weren’t aware of this before our trip, and we were all the more excited about the time spent at and on the lake. Schluchsee is a true paradise for water sports enthusiasts and awaits you with a variety of opportunities to be active on and around the lake. On a hike along the Lakeside Trail or the popular Jägersteig Trail (a premium hiking trail with fantastic views), you can admire the lake from a variety of perspectives. A walk to the 36.5-meter-high Riesenbühlturm (Riesenbühl Tower), from which you have a fantastic view of the lake and the city, is also highly recommended. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time for a bike tour, but you can find information about it here: Bike routes around Schluchsee.
After a few gray and cold rainy days, we finally got lucky with the weather and were able to explore the area from the water under blue skies and sunshine. We rented a SUP and a sea kayak from RaffTaff at Schluchsee (€15 per hour each). We paddled across the lake for a while and enjoyed the beautiful weather and the views to the fullest. Paddling must be especially beautiful in the evening, when the sun has set and dusk begins. After our paddling tour, we made ourselves comfortable at the cool rental station and enjoyed some delicious ice cream.
4. Black Forest Camp – Overnight in a Tipi
The owner of RaffTaff not only runs the rental station, but also the really cool Black Forest Camp, which is just a few meters from the lake. In the heart of the Black Forest, you’ll find tipis of various sizes, adventurous tree tents, and a converted gondola with a double bed, as well as campervan and tent pitches. This camp deliberately avoids any frills; the focus is primarily on peace, nature, and relaxation.
We stayed in the cool Tipi Annele, which is equipped with two single beds, a kitchenette, seating, a fire bowl, and other gadgets. So, if you don’t necessarily want to lug all your camping gear from home, you’ll find everything you need for camping (or should I say “glamping”?) here. You should bring your own sleeping bag and towel, though. Our hammock* fit perfectly between the trees. Click here for the Black Forest Camp.
After our day at the lake, we made ourselves comfortable in the camp. Although it rained almost the entire evening, we still took the opportunity to have a romantic campfire. We bought some treats for our BBQ at the nearby supermarket, got a box of wood (€10) from the camp reception, and collected dry undergrowth, which burned excellently. We rounded off the day in the beautiful Southern Black Forest with a cold beer, relaxing campfire music, and fresh stick bread.
5. Farm Holiday in the Southern Black Forest
Visit to the Brugger Family from Nestorhof
In the Black Forest, there are still some villages where you truly feel as if time has stood still. Here, you can still hear the clucking of chickens, the grunting of pigs, and the neighing of horses. We were able to meet the Brugger family from Nestorhof and take a look at their beautiful and, above all, very rustic farm. The farm’s history dates back to 1680. Amazing, isn’t it?
We were able to look over the shoulder of the farm owner Herbert as he goes about his daily work and witness how he smokes ham in the traditional way. The farm also distills schnapps, bakes bread, and produces various other types of sausage. The “Hotzenwald coziness and hospitality” is truly very special. If you’re ever in the area, be sure to stop by the family farm.
Detour to the Eichrüttehof Organic Farm
We then continued on to the Eichrüttehof Organic Farm in Görwihl, which is also located in the Hotzenwald Forest. Here, too, we were able to observe the Gerspacher family at work producing meat. The farm primarily produces pasture-fed beef, as well as bacon, bread, and honey of the highest organic quality.
In addition to the cattle, there are also a donkey and a sheep, which are quite curious and friendly. In the traditional and rustic snack bar, you can order a variety of dishes, simply sip a coffee, and, if the weather’s nice, make yourself comfortable on the terrace. The idyllic Höllbach Waterfall is located very close by.
6. Overnight stay in a camping barrel on the farm
Our journey then took us to the Gerspach organic farm in the southern Black Forest. Here we were immediately greeted by a very cuddly cat, two goats, some pigs, cows, and sweet rabbits. The farm has four holiday apartments and four cozy wooden barrels that can accommodate up to four people. Right next to the breakfast room are two bathrooms with toilets and showers.
We spent the night in one of these barrels and enjoyed a very relaxing and restful day on the farm. The barrels have a large, very comfortable bed in the rear, storage space for luggage, power outlets, lighting, heating, benches, and a fold-out table in the front. Each barrel also has its own terrace with a table, chairs, and a parasol.
After we moved into our barrel and visited all the animals, we drove to dinner in our rental car* at the quaint and rustic Landgasthof Kranz. We ordered hearty home-cooked meals and ended the evening there in a relaxed atmosphere. The night in the camping barrel was very restful, partly due to the extremely comfortable bed. We were also able to leave the small window open overnight, which ensured a very pleasant atmosphere in the barrel. In the morning, a table already set with all kinds of delicacies awaited us in the “Gaißensprung” (breakfast room). We highly recommend a stay at this farm; it was truly very relaxing. Click here to go to the farm.
7. The Rose Village of Nöggenschwiel in the Southern Black Forest
On our last day in the Southern Black Forest, we drove to the small, very charming village of Nöggenschwiel, which is only a few kilometers from the Swiss border. Andreas Leber and Bastian Schulz (very laid-back and cool guys, by the way) were already waiting for us at the tourist information office. They guided us through the village for a few hours and had plenty of interesting information for us. The two volunteers work on the board of the Rosendorf Nöggenschwiel e. V. tourist association and are responsible for the expansion and maintenance of the rose village. They have really cool ideas and approaches for the future and would like to inspire even more vacationers to visit the rose village.
The rose village of Nöggenschwiel is the highest rose village in the Black Forest (720 m) and awaited us with over 16,500 rosebushes of various varieties. Luckily, we were there at the right time, as everything was in bloom (best time to visit: late May/early June). Roses are ubiquitous in this village, and even the street lamps are decorated with them. Particularly noteworthy are the Rose Assortment Garden with around 190 varieties and the Rose Fragrance Garden with around 150 different rose species. Take a closer look at the names of the roses; you’ll find Heidi Klum, Astrid Lindgren, Cleopatra, the Chippendales, Westerland, and many more.
More than just marketing
We strolled through the streets of the village with Andreas and Bastian, talking about the residents (around 600), the history of the village and visions for the future. From the very beginning, we got along really well, so we talked about completely different topics and had a great time together. We quickly noticed that they are both passionate about their work. It’s not just about marketing a village. It’s much more about community spirit, preserving traditions, developing the village further, and adopting new, modern approaches.
Afterwards, we went together to the charming Gret-Stube, where we ordered delicious coffee and cake. Here we rounded off our afternoon in Nöggenschwiel in a relaxed atmosphere. This lovingly converted farmhouse from 1865 invites you to enjoy, browse, and stay overnight. Our tip: Afterward, take a stroll along the Karl Tröndle Trail to the watering hole and relax there, or browse the shops on the church square. Nöggenschwiel is definitely worth a visit!
Our conclusion about the Southern Black Forest
We had a fantastic time in the Southern Black Forest and highly recommend a vacation in this region. There’s so much to discover and experience; be sure to take a few days. Enjoy the stunningly beautiful and adventurous nature, visit the many great regional establishments, feast on Black Forest specialties, and get to know the hospitable residents. We really enjoyed the authentic and down-to-earth Southern Black Forest!