The Hotzenwald Trail (German: Hotzenwald-Querweg) is a two-day, 46-kilometre-long hiking trail through the Southern Black Forest in Germany that runs from Schopfheim to Waldshut. The term Hotzenwald for the region through which the trail passes is derived from Joseph Victor von Scheffel's novel Der Trompeter von Säckingen ("The Trumpeter of Säckingen"). The hiking trail is sponsored and managed by the Black Forest Club. Its waymark is a white and black diamond on a yellow background.

Hotzenwald Trail
Herrischried, at the halfway point
Length46 km
LocationGermany,
Baden-Württemberg,
Southern Black Forest
TrailheadsSchopfheim; Waldshut
Usehiking trail
Elevation change711 m
Highest pointÖdlandkapelle (1,026 m)
Lowest pointWaldshut (315 m)
Difficultyeasy
Seasonspring to autumn
Waymarkwhite and black diamond on a yellow background
SightsGugel Tower
Maintained byBlack Forest Club

Short description

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The Hotzenwald Trail runs from Schopfheim in the Wiese valley over the Dinkelberg and through the Wehra valley, past the Wehra Reservoir to Herrischried. On the second day the walk goes from there through the Murg and Alb valleys to Waldshut. On the mountains and hills between the valleys there are extensive views of the High Rhine, the Swiss Jura and the Alps to the south as well as the mountains of the High Black Forest to the north.

Day tours/stages

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First stage: Schopfheim – Herrischried

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  • Distance: 23 kilometres
  • Journey time: c. 6 hours
Place/Attraction Route
(km)
Height
(m above NHN)
Further information
Schopfheim railway station 0,0 0.373
Eichen 1.5 0.390 Ortsteil von Schopfheim
Eichener See 2.0 0.490 The lake is a doline which only fills up in rainy years; otherwise it appears just as a grassy hollow.
Hasel 4.5 0.401 Crosses the Westweg
Wehra Reservoir 3.0 0.420
Hornberg 7.0 0.968 Gasthaus
Ödlandkapelle 2,0 1.026
Herrischried 3.0 0.874

Second stage: Herrischried – Waldshut

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  • Distance: 23 kilometres
  • Journey time: c. 6 hours
Place/Attraction Route
(km)
Height
(m above NHN)
Further information
Herrischried 0,0 874
Giersbach 1.5 860
Gugelturm 1.0 997 Viewing tower
BBQ hut
Engelschwand 0.5 912 In the municipality of Görwihl
Görwihl 7.5 671 Gasthaus
Alb Gorge 1.5 507
Unteralpfen 4.0 608 In the municipality of Albbruck
Eschbach 4.0 463 In the municipality of Waldshut-Tiengen
Waldshut 3.,0 315 Crosses the Mittelweg
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  • Black Forest hiking service: web facility of the Black Forest Club for visualising the Black Forest trails on Google Maps with various overlays (trail network, waymarks, accommodation, ...)