The 5 Most Beautiful Hiking Trails at Feldberg

Hiking at Feldberg — where the Black Forest reaches its highest point

At 1,493 meters, Feldberg is the highest peak in the Black Forest and one of the most popular hiking destinations in southern Germany. Here, subalpine landscapes meet dense fir forests, mystical glacial lakes meet sweeping panoramic views stretching to the Alps. Whether you are looking for a gentle family walk or a challenging full-day tour — around Feldberg, everyone finds the right trail.

We present the five most beautiful hikes, with all the key information on distance, difficulty, and highlights along the way.

The Feldberg hiking trails at a glance

All figures come from hochschwarzwald.de (Hochschwarzwald Tourismus GmbH) and the Naturschutzzentrum Südschwarzwald, as of October 2026; where the two sources differ, we give the range.

Route	Length	Duration	Elevation	Difficulty	Start
Feldbergsteig (premium loop)	about 12 km	4.5–5 h	500–570 m	moderate to difficult	Haus der Natur, Feldberg village
To the Feldsee (Seesträßle from the Caritas-Haus)	2.68 km one-way, on foot only	approx. 1.5 h	130 m descent	medium	Caritas-Haus on the B317 or Feldbergbahn valley station
Accessible summit loop (Barrierefreier Gipfelrundweg)	5.78 km	2.5 h	81 m (with Feldbergbahn)	easy	Feldbergbahn valley station at the Seebuck
Wasserfallsteig (point-to-point)	12.4 km	4 h	411 m up / 623 m down	medium	Feldberg Pass, opposite the Hebelhof
Felsenweg hike	approx. 6.5 km	approx. 2 h	—	moderate	Haus der Natur

Parking: for most of the tours, Parkhaus Feldberg (Dr. Pilet-Spur 2, 1,200 spaces) is the central starting point — the Haus der Natur explicitly refers visitors there and has no free parking spaces of its own. Which car parks work for the Feldsee is covered in our Feldberg parking guide.

1. Feldbergsteig — the premium loop through the nature reserve

Distance: about 12 km | Duration: 4.5–5 hours | Elevation: 500–570 m | Difficulty: moderate to difficult

The Feldbergsteig is a certified premium trail and starts in Feldberg village behind the Haus der Natur. The loop leads via the Bismarck-Denkmal and the Feldbergturm up to the Seebuck (1,448 m), across the Grüblesattel to the Feldberg summit (1,493 m) and past the St. Wilhelmer Hütte down into the Zastler Loch, a glacial cirque. Via the Baldenweger Weide and the Rinkenwald you reach the Feldsee; the finish is a short, steep climb through the Feldseewald protected forest back to the starting point.

The highlights at a glance:

• Zastler Loch: a glacial cirque that the trail crosses
• Feldsee: an almost circular cirque lake at 1,108 metres, about 360 metres wide and up to 30 metres deep — swimming is prohibited
• Feldberg nature reserve: since 1937 the oldest and, at 42 km², the largest nature reserve in Baden-Württemberg, with rare plants such as the alpine snowbell
• Huts: St. Wilhelmer Hütte, Zastler Hütte, Naturfreundehaus, Baldenweger Hütte and Raimartihof lie along the loop; their rest days differ — check beforehand

Not suitable for pushchairs, dogs on a lead, no fee — and if you have the time, give the viewpoints more of it than planned.

2. To the Feldsee — the cirque lake you can only reach on foot

Distance: depends on the starting point (Seesträßle from the Caritas-Haus 2.68 km one-way) | Duration: approx. 1.5 hours from the Caritas-Haus | Difficulty: medium

The Feldsee is an almost circular cirque lake at 1,108 metres, about 360 metres wide and up to 30 metres deep, set within steep cirque walls. No road leads there: according to Hochschwarzwald Tourismus, the lake can only be reached on foot, and the recommended starting points are the Feldbergbahn valley station and the Feldberg-Caritas bus stop. The officially listed route from the Caritas-Haus via the Seesträßle to the Raimartihof is 2.68 kilometres long, takes about 1.5 hours with 130 metres of descent and is rated medium — the way back is correspondingly uphill.

At the lake: swimming is prohibited in the nature reserve, for dogs too, and you must not leave the marked paths. The Raimartihof, an inn not far from the lake on the Westweg, is the place to stop for refreshment. Where to park for it is covered in our Feldberg parking guide.

3. Barrierefreier Feldberg-Gipfelrundweg — by Feldbergbahn to the summit

Distance: 5.78 km | Duration: 2.5 hours | Elevation: 81 m up, 253 m down | Difficulty: easy

The accessible summit loop is the easiest of the five tours and the only one on this list designated as accessible. The Feldbergbahn, with its accessible 8-person cabins, handles the first climb up to the top station at the Seebuck next to the Bismarck-Denkmal. From there the paved Franz-Klarmeyer-Weg (1.8 km) leads to the Feldberg summit; the return follows the Westweg past the Feldbergturm. The surface is about 23 percent asphalt and 77 percent fine gravel, and the trail is suitable for pushchairs.

The Feldbergturm has a lift to the viewing platform at a height of 45 metres on the 11th floor; on a clear day, according to Hochschwarzwald Tourismus, the view reaches from the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau to the Zugspitze, the Mont Blanc massif and the Vosges. Toilets are available at Parkhaus Feldberg, at the Haus der Natur and at the Feldbergbahn valley station. The operator publishes the current Feldbergbahn fares.

4. Wasserfallsteig — from the Feldberg Pass to the Todtnauer Wasserfall

Distance: 12.4 km (point-to-point) | Duration: 4 hours | Elevation: 411 m up, 623 m down | Difficulty: medium

The Wasserfallsteig is the second premium trail at Feldberg and not a loop: it starts at the Feldberg Pass opposite the Hebelhof and ends in Todtnauberg. Along the way it passes three waterfalls, including the Fahl waterfall (50 m) and the Todtnauer Wasserfall, which drops 97 metres in two stages over granite — Baden-Württemberg’s highest natural waterfall — as well as the Wolfsschlucht gorge. Children are welcome if they are sure-footed; the trail is not suitable for pushchairs. Only the access to the Todtnauer Wasserfall from Aftersteg (Wasserfallportal) is barrier-free.

Return: according to Hochschwarzwald Tourismus, you take the bus from Todtnauberg to Todtnau and from there back to the Feldberg Pass; line 7300 connects Titisee, Feldberg and Todtnau year-round. Check the current timetable before the hike. Parking at the start: the public car park at the Caritas-Haus on the B317.

5. Felsenweg hike — the alpine-feeling path above the Feldsee

Distance: approx. 6.5 km | Duration: approx. 2 hours | Difficulty: moderate

The Naturschutzzentrum Südschwarzwald describes the Felsenweg hike as a loop from the Haus der Natur: up to the Bismarck-Denkmal on the Seebuck (1,448 m) — take the Feldbergbahn for this stretch if you like — on to the Grüble signpost and along the Emil-Thoma-Weg on a boardwalk across the high pastures, past the former source area of the Ur-Donau. Through the Feldseewald you reach the Felsenweg signpost; the Felsenweg itself is a wild, romantic path with an almost alpine feel and views down to the Feldsee and the Raimartihof, before the route returns to the Haus der Natur.

Sturdy shoes and sure-footedness are needed, there is nowhere to stop for refreshment along the way, and the trail is not barrier-free. With a bit of luck, the three-toed woodpecker shows itself in the protected forest.

Tips for hiking at Feldberg

Best time of year

The hiking season at Feldberg runs from May to October. June and September offer the best conditions: pleasant temperatures, fewer visitors than during the school holidays, and stable weather. In high summer, it can get surprisingly warm on the exposed summit trails — bring plenty of water.

Equipment

Sturdy hiking boots are a must, even on the easier trails. The weather at Feldberg can change quickly — a rain jacket and an extra warm layer belong in your backpack at all times. For the Feldbergsteig and the Wasserfallsteig with its 623 metres of descent, hiking poles are additionally recommended; the Felsenweg calls for sure-footedness.

Stopping for food

On Feldberg, there are several staffed huts and inns:

• St. Wilhelmer Hütte, Zastler Hütte, Baldenweger Hütte, Naturfreundehaus — the huts on the Feldbergsteig; rest days differ, check beforehand
• Raimartihof — inn at the Feldsee, reachable on foot only
• Todtnauer Hütte — on the hut circuit from the Seebuck
• Hebelhof at the Feldberg Pass — the Wasserfallsteig starts opposite

Planning a hiking holiday at Feldberg

Feldberg is the perfect base for a hiking holiday in the Black Forest — whether for a day trip or an entire week of summits, lakes, and forest trails.

Our Black Forest Dream holiday apartments at Feldberg offer the ideal retreat after a day in the mountains: flexible arrival thanks to self check-in, free parking right at the building, and everything you need to kick off your hiking boots and enjoy the evening. Dogs are very welcome with us, by the way — after all, they love hiking most of all.

Frequently asked questions about hiking at Feldberg

Which hiking trail at Feldberg is the easiest?

The accessible Feldberg summit loop (Barrierefreier Feldberg-Gipfelrundweg): 5.78 kilometres, about 2.5 hours, rated easy by hochschwarzwald.de, with only 81 metres of ascent because the Feldbergbahn takes care of the first climb. The trail is suitable for pushchairs and leads along the paved Franz-Klarmeyer-Weg to the summit. For families with younger children, the 1.8-kilometre Wichtelpfad is the shorter alternative; it is, however, not suitable for pushchairs.

How much time should I allow for the Feldbergsteig?

Depending on the source, 4.5 to 5 hours of walking time for the loop of roughly 12 kilometres with 500 to 570 metres of ascent, plus breaks at the viewpoints and huts. Hochschwarzwald Tourismus rates the trail as difficult, the Naturschutzzentrum Südschwarzwald as moderate, requiring a basic level of fitness. Sturdy footwear is a must, hiking poles make sense, the trail is not suitable for pushchairs, and dogs must be kept on a lead.

Is there an accessible hiking trail at Feldberg?

Yes, the Barrierefreier Feldberg-Gipfelrundweg (accessible summit loop): 5.78 kilometres in about 2.5 hours, roughly 23 percent asphalt and 77 percent fine gravel, with a ride in the accessible cabins of the Feldbergbahn up to the top station at the Seebuck. From there the paved Franz-Klarmeyer-Weg leads to the summit, and the return follows the Westweg past the Feldbergturm, whose viewing platform at a height of 45 metres can be reached by lift. Toilets are available at Parkhaus Feldberg, at the Haus der Natur (accessible) and at the Feldbergbahn valley station.

How do I get back to the start from the Wasserfallsteig?

The Wasserfallsteig is a point-to-point hike: 12.4 kilometres from the Feldberg Pass, opposite the Hebelhof, to Todtnauberg, with 411 metres of ascent and 623 metres of descent. According to Hochschwarzwald Tourismus, you take the bus from Todtnauberg to Todtnau and from there back to the Feldberg Pass; line 7300 connects Titisee, Feldberg and Todtnau year-round. Check the current timetable before the hike.

What equipment do I need for hiking at Feldberg?

Sturdy hiking boots on every trail here, including the easy ones, plus a rain jacket and a warmer layer in the backpack at all times — the weather at this altitude changes faster than the forecast in the valley suggests. Hiking poles are worth carrying on the Feldbergsteig and on the Wasserfallsteig with its 623 metres of descent; according to the Naturschutzzentrum, the Felsenweg calls for sturdy shoes and sure-footedness. In high summer, bring more water than you think: the summit trails are exposed.

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