Kaiserstuhl–Rhine Black Forest Trail

The Kaiserstuhl–Rhine Black Forest Trail (German: Schwarzwald-Querweg Schwarzwald–Kaiserstuhl–Rhein) is an east–west hiking trail of several days' duration through the Black Forest in Germany from Donaueschingen to Breisach. The 109-kilometre-long hiking trail is managed and maintained by the Black Forest Club.

Kaiserstuhl–Rhine Black Forest Trail
Length109 km
LocationGermany,
Baden-Württemberg,
Black Forest,
Kaiserstuhl
TrailheadsDonaueschingen; Breisach
UseFernwanderweg
Highest pointSouthern Staatsberg/Winkel (1,045 m (3,428 ft 5+12 in) DE)
Lowest pointBreisach (189 m (620 ft 1 in) DE)
Difficultyeasy
Seasonspring to autumn
Waymarkred diamond on a yellow background
centert
Maintained byBlack Forest Club

Short description

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The Black Forest–Kaiserstuhl–Rhine Trail begins in Donaueschingen. It then runs through the valley of the River Breg up to the watershed between the Danube and the Rhine. Leading through the valleys of Simonswälder Tal and the River Elz, the route reaches the Rhine Plain and the Kaiserstuhl. It ends in Breisach on the Rhine. The entire route is signed and waymarked, with the intention that no maps or route instructions are needed.

Day tours/stages

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First Stage: Donaueschingen – Vöhrenbach

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Overview

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  • Distance: 25,5 km
  • Duration: c. 6.5 hours
Place/Attraction Route
(km)
Height
(m above NHN)
Further information
Donaueschingen 0.0 675
Aufen 3.5 690 Quarter of Donaueschingen
Neue Fron 2,0 765
Eichbuck Hut 0,5 763 Barbecue area
Wolterdingen 1,5 717
Tannheim 5.5 750 Village in the borough of Villingen-Schwenningen
Spitalhöfe 3.5 820
Herzogenweiler 1.5 870 Village in the borough of Villingen-Schwenningen
Schuhbartle 2.0 930 forest car park
Schlossermatte 1.0 898
Saint Michael's Chapel 3.5 862
Vöhrenbach 1.5 797

Route description

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Die Brigach in Donaueschingen

From the start point at Donaueschingen railway station the route runs past the Kreiswehrersatzamt and then left initially along the Brigach, which it crosses on a wooden bridge by Saint Mary's Church. Following the edge of the wood, the walk reaches the village of Aufen and then Wolterdingen. In Wolterdingen the route turns right at the church and leaves the village along Emil-Hauger-Straße. After the end of the village it goes past the Upper Pond (‘’Oberen Weiher’’) to the right of the path, and then runs for about a kilometre parallel to the Landesstraße on a tarmac track to Tannheim. Passing through Tannheim the route passes a sawmill with a prominent chimney heading for Spitalhöfen, and then heads through the forest to Herzogenweiler. The route only grazes Herzogenweiler and leaves it along Jägerhausallee. At the end of the road the trail turns right. It then goes straight before turning right by a transmission tower on Linienweg, continuing to the forest car park of Schuhbartle. There it crosses the Kreisstraße 5734. The trail then goes along Alte Herzogenweiler Straße on the tarmac of the Kreisstraße, veers right off the metalled track and continues straight on along the road on a grass path to the Schlossermatte. On a bend it goes right, initially steeply uphill and then level over the Ochsenberg and descends again to Saint Michael’s Chapel, next to which there is a barbecue area. The route finally runs along a road to Vöhrenbach, to the end of this stage.

Second Stage: Vöhrenbach – Obersimonswald Engel

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Overview

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  • Distance: 22.5 km
  • Duration: c. 5 hours
Place/Attraction Route
(km)
Height
(m above NHN)
Further information
Vöhrenbach 0.0 0.797
Schönenbach 4.5 0.828 Village in the borough of Furtwangen
Furtwangen 3.5 0.870 Crosses the Mittelweg
Beim Staatsberghof 2.5 0.990 Crosses the Westweg
Südlicher Staatsberg / Winkel 1.0 1.045
Gütenbach 3.0 0.827
Teichschlucht 1.0 0.705 Crosses the Zweitälersteig
Wildgutach / Pfaffenmühle 1.0 0.612 Village in the borough of Simonswald
Vitenhof 1.0 0.548 Footbridge over the Wildgutach
Luxenhof 0.5 0.585
Haldenschwarzhof 1.0 0.600 Crosses the Zweitälersteig
Obersimonswald Engel 3.5 0.450 Village in the borough of Simonswald
Crosses the Zweitälersteig
Gasthof Engel and bus stop

Route description

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Teichschlucht

Third Stage: Obersimonswald Engel – Denzlingen

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Overview

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  • Distance: 23.5 km
  • Duration: c. 6 hours
Place/Attraction Route
(km)
Height
(m above NHN)
Further information
Obersimonswald Engel 0.0 450 Gasthof Engel
Häuslerain 1.5 414
Ibendörfle 3.0 388
Ochsenbrücke (bridge) 1,5 361
Café Märchengarten 1.5 328
Niederbruck / Altsimonswald 0.5 325
Am Ottensteg / Bleibach 3.0 299 Village in the borough of Gutach
Gutach 1.5 299
Kollnau 1.0 281 Village in the borough of Waldkirch
Waldkirch 2.0 260 Crosses the Kandelhöhenweg
Crosses the Zweitälersteig
Mauracher Hof 6.0 245
Chapel of St. Severin 0.5 278 ruins
Denzlingen 1.5 234

Fourth Stage: Denzlingen – Oberrotweil

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Overview

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  • Distance: 27.5 km
  • Duration: c. 6.5 hours
Place/Attraction Route
(km)
Height
(m above NHN)
Further information
Denzlingen 00.0 234
Nimburg 10.5 187 Village in the borough of Teningen
Eichstetten 03.5 189
Saint Catharine 06.5 492 Chapel
Auf dem Eck 03.0 400 hiking car park
Mondhalde 01.5 370
Oberrotweil 02.5 240 Village in the borough of Vogtsburg im Kaiserstuhl

Fifth Stage: Oberrotweil – Breisach

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Overview

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  • Distance: 10 km
  • Duration: c. 2.5 hours
Place/Attraction Route
(km)
Height
(m above NHN)
Further information
Oberrotweil 0.0 240 Village in the borough of Vogtsburg
Achkarren 3.0 228 Village in the borough of Vogtsburg
Breisach 7.0 189
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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, ...)