Hiking around the High Black Forest

Level 2/5

Easy to moderate. From 5 to 6 hours of hiking and/or 300 to 700m of positive elevation gain and 300 to 650m of negative elevation gain per day, no technical difficulty, easy to moderate trails and paths. The stay is an itinerant hiking tour, with accommodation changes at each stage. Although the terrain is very easy here, the daily stages are of considerable distance.

Accommodation

Hotel, Gasthof, in rooms for 2 with bathroom. Excellent comfort (equivalent 2 and 3*), warm hospitality. This is probably one of our most comfortable itinerant hiking tours. Simpler comfort at Gasthof on day 3 in Muggenbrunn.

For 2, rooms there is rarely the same distinction as ours between the double (large bed for 2) and the twin (2 separate beds): most often the bed consists of two 90 cm mattresses put together but equipped with individual sheets and duvets.

Hotel or Gasthof? Germans and Austrians themselves often find it difficult to explain the difference to you… A Gasthof is generally run by a family and has existed for several generations; it will often be more characteristic. A hotel is generally a more impersonal and more recent establishment… which doesn’t prevent Gasthofs from regularly getting impressive ‘makeovers’! But this difference is mainly valid in large cities (you will have chain hotels, never chain Gasthofs).

Dining

Breakfast served by our hosts.

Dinner included on Day 4 in Bernau on programme 6 days, 5 nights

Dinner included on Day 5 in Bernau on programme 7 days, 6 nights.

Lunch is at your own expense. Along the way, you will often find small inns. You can also order a packed lunch for the next midday the evening before, to be paid directly to the hotel. Please note: Our German neighbours often dine early. Be sure to respect dining hours.

Dogs

Upon request, we can also welcome your dog. The supplement depends on each hotel and will be paid on-site.

Only carry a small bag with your daily items and your picnic. You will find the rest of your belongings at the next accommodation.

This is a self-guided trip. There is no accompanying guide. A complete travel package per room will be provided, including, among other things, the guidebook with maps, the list of accommodations as well as exchange vouchers. Depending on the case, you will receive your package before departure, or you will find it at your first accommodation. Your ‘technical’ travel documentation (exchange vouchers, tickets, etc.) awaits you at your hotel.

Registration available from 1 person(s).

Day 1 in Hinterzarten in the afternoon

Day 6 or 7 depending on the programme, in Hinterzarten late afternoon

Departure dates at your convenience, based on availability, from 15 May to 15 October (last departure).

By Train

Hinterzarten Station

Train from Paris Est – Karlsruhe – Freiburg – Hinterzarten (approximately 5 hours) or Paris Lyon – Basel – Freiburg – Hinterzarten: consult the railway website.

Check schedules and fares for German railways (available in English and French: www.int.bahn.de/fr)

Check schedules and fares for Swiss railways on CFF.

By Car

Hinterzarten is about thirty kilometres from Freiburg am Breisgau and about a hundred kilometres from Basel.

Check your route on ViaMichelin.

Parking

You can leave your vehicle in Hinterzarten for the week (station car park; approximately 10 € per week, to be verified on-site).

A number of our trips offer the opportunity to swim, during a stage or at the end of the day. It would be a shame not to take advantage of it! We emphasize, however, that you are the sole judges of whether a swim is appropriate; these swims are therefore undertaken at your own responsibility and risk.

Member of Agir pour un Tourisme Responsable (ATR)

Since 2012, Grand Angle is a member of ATR, the reference association for more responsible tourism. We design our trips – on foot, by bike, on snow – to invite everyone to discover the world differently: with curiosity, respect and benevolence.

Present on the board of directors since 2018, we actively contribute to evolving sector practices towards greater meaning. Concretely, we ensure:

• Transparency in our practices and pricing
• Respect for our partners and local populations
• Preservation of the environment on each of our trips

We also share the values of the traveller’s ethical charter, which encourages everyone to adopt simple gestures to protect the places visited and promote beautiful encounters.

Travelife Partner

Since 2025, Grand Angle is recognized as a Travelife Partner, an international label that certifies our responsible practices in terms of environment, ethics and sustainable management, both within our company and with our partners and in the organization of our trips.

This label, the second level of a demanding international certification, attests to our concrete actions in favour of responsible tourism. We are actively pursuing our progress towards the higher level, Travelife Certified, in accordance with our sustainable development policy

In this section you will find links to products from our partner Alpinstore, a French e-commerce site, specialist in outdoor equipment, based in Annecy.

To carry your belongings

• A comfortable backpack of 30 to 50 L with hip belt to carry your personal belongings and lunch during the day
• A follow-up bag: a backpack, a travel bag in good condition, or a suitcase that is not too bulky. One bag per person; limited to 20kg

Discover in our Magazine how to pack your hiking backpack properly.

For hiking

For maximum comfort, favour a “multi-layer” clothing system: warm underwear (tights + top) type “carline” or “capilene” (hollow fibres that wick away perspiration) + sweatshirt or fleece jacket + mountain jacket and overpants with waterproof and breathable membrane (type “gore tex” or equivalent) for bad weather. Generally and outside warm climates and countries, avoid cotton which retains moisture close to the body (and dries with difficulty) in favour of suitable synthetic materials.

• Mountain hiking boots that support the ankle with a good grip sole, featuring a heel counter and good waterproofing
• Comfortable hiking socks (3 pairs minimum)
• A fleece jacket
• Comfortable trousers for hiking (quick-drying technical fabric)
• Comfortable technical shorts
• T-shirts or technical underwear (quick-drying fabric)
• A long-sleeved shirt
• Hiking poles (telescopic), very important for facilitating the hike. Discover all the benefits of hiking poles in our dedicated article or how to choose your hiking poles

Note: synthetic technical clothing is very effective. New merino wool clothing has also appeared; they are very effective and pleasant to wear, and have the advantage of not developing perspiration odours!

For midday lunch

• Your cooking kit: bowl, container or plastic plate, cutlery (spoon, fork, knife)
• 1 or 2 water bottles (total of 1,5 L minimum) – mandatory; a thermos water bottle for winter

Against sun and rain

• Sunscreen (high protection)
• Sunglasses
• Hat, cap or sun hat
• A rain cape or a waterproof jacket such as softshell or Gore-Tex and possibly waterproof trousers

After the hike

• A pair of jogging-style trainers for the evening
• Change of clothing and personal items
• Toiletry bag and towel (mini)
• Swimming costume and towel for fitness facilities (if specified) or bathing
• A small first-aid kit: personal medication, surgical masks, hand sanitiser, plasters, sterile pads and bandages, gauze, disinfectant, arnica granules and aspirin etc. (please note this is not an exhaustive list and should be adapted to your own medical needs).

Find these tips in our article #what to take on a hiking trip.

This list is provided for guidance and should be adapted depending on the trip and the season you are travelling.

Country: Germany Capital: Berlin

Travellers, including minors, must be in possession of a national identity card or passport (EU nationals).

Obtain a European health insurance card by requesting it from your health insurance provider at least 15 days before departure. Health conditions are similar to those in France.

German National Tourism Office in Paris 21 Rue Leblanc – 75015 Paris Tel. 0140200188
www.germany.travel/fr/index.html

In general, it is said that the climate in Germany is identical to that of France. The climate is temperate, typical of central Europe. However, the east-west and north-south distances, as well as the many different landscapes, lead to significant regional climatic variations.

South-western Germany, with its greatest distance from the sea, has a temperate continental climate. Here, it is mild all year round but mountain regions are well-snowed. The highest annual average temperatures in Germany are measured in this region.

The Euro

Exchange and payment
The best solution is to withdraw cash at ATMs with an international payment card as needed. ATMs can be found almost everywhere. For Swiss and Canadian visitors, exchange offices are available at airports, border crossings and train stations in major cities. For euro withdrawals at ATMs, generally no commission if your account is in the eurozone; check with your bank if this is not the case.

Same time as in France

Telephone code to call France if you are abroad: 0033

Telephone code to call Germany: 0049

The official language is German.

Each region has its own dialect with its own characteristics. In total, there are approximately 20 different ones. Even some cities have their own dialect, such as Berlin or Cologne. But do not worry, you will be able to make yourself understood by everyone.

So that you are not lost during your trip and can also speak with Germans you meet, we have compiled some important terms for your trip to Germany:

Hello Guten Tag

Hi Hallo

Thank you Danke

Please Bitte

Yes Ja

No Nein

How are you? Wie geht es Ihnen / dir? I’m doing fine Mir geht es gut.

Cuisine

In Germany, traditional casual cuisine (or popular cuisine) is widely spread. Here, people love eating dishes that their grandparents already prepared.

You can discover great regional diversity there. German recipes vary from north to south, from east to west. In almost all regions, there are typically German recipes that mark the identity of these regions.

In the Black Forest, taste the “Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte” (commonly called “Black Forest cake” in our regions), a large cake made with cherries, sponge cake, chocolate and lots of whipped cream. It’s a real high-calorie treat, but you will love it!

Some famous festivals

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Carnival_

Carnival, also called “fasching”, is for Germans a true fifth season. It starts on 11 November and ends around March. Carnival in Germany is particularly celebrated in the Rhineland, in Mainz, in Düsseldorf and in Cologne. People wear colorful and creative costumes and celebrate with music. The highlight of carnival is the weekend before Ash Wednesday: from Thursday to Tuesday, the street carnival takes place, during which decorated floats accompanied by music and dancing parade through the streets.

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Oktoberfest_

Oktoberfest, the beer festival, is the most famous German celebration and the largest fair in the world. It takes place every year for more than 200 years from September to October during 16 to 18 days in Munich. Germans also call it the “Wiesn”. During Oktoberfest, beer flows freely, but it is also a huge fair with many attractions. Many Germans follow the traditional dress code: men wear leather shorts and a shirt, and women wear a “dirndl” (a Bavarian dress).

History

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The Berlin Wall

German history is characterized by the division between East and West Germany. The wall was built in 1961 to stop the flow of refugees from the East. On 9 November 1989, , the most hated structure in Germany fell. At that time, East Germany was on the verge of collapse, it was in economic and political bankruptcy. The national border was opened and the unification of the two German states was undertaken. Today, you can still see some remnants of the wall, especially in Berlin.