Swimming in the Upper Black Forest: Titisee & Schluchsee

At Schluchsee you swim at the Naturstrandbad in Seebrugg or the aqua fun outdoor pool; at Titisee at the bathing area in Titisee-Neustadt, which is operated without water supervision. Dogs may not bathe in the Titisee; for dogs, the region names the Windgfällweiher. Bathing in the Feldsee is forbidden, for people and dogs alike.

At a glance

Schluchsee: Naturstrandbad Seebrugg and aqua fun outdoor pool, check the season with the operator
Titisee: Bathing area without water supervision, bathing at your own risk
With a dog: Not in the Titisee; for dogs, the region names the Windgfällweiher
Feldsee: Bathing forbidden, for people and dogs
Without a car: Dreiseenbahn Titisee–Seebrugg, with the KONUS guest card

Swimming in the Upper Black Forest: the quick overview

The Hochschwarzwald holiday region names three swimming lakes: the famous Titisee, the large Schluchsee and the natural Windgfällweiher. The Schluchsee is the largest lake in the Black Forest. All three are within easy reach of the Feldberg, and a regional railway even links the Titisee and the Schluchsee.

Not every lake in the region is a bathing lake. The best-known exception is the Feldsee below the Feldberg: bathing is forbidden there, and you will find the reason further down.

This guide covers the official bathing spots at Schluchsee and Titisee, the rules for dogs, the Feldsee bathing ban and how to reach the lakes without a car. We deliberately give no prices, opening times or water temperatures, because they change from season to season. It is best to ask the respective operator for these details directly.

Where to swim at Schluchsee

At Schluchsee the region describes two official bathing facilities: the Naturstrandbad in Seebrugg and the aqua fun outdoor pool in the village of Schluchsee. Both have direct access to the lake.

Naturstrandbad Seebrugg (natural lido)

The Naturstrandbad Schluchsee is in Seebrugg. It is an enclosed area with direct access to the lake and a large sunbathing lawn. Its facilities include a kiosk with a snack bar, showers and toilets, and a children’s playground. Across at the dam there is a boat hire.

Important for dog owners: dogs are not allowed on the sunbathing lawn of the Naturstrandbad.

aqua fun outdoor pool

The aqua fun outdoor pool on Freiburger Straße in Schluchsee is an adventure pool with direct lake access. The region lists a 105-metre slide, a current channel, a heated pool, an adventure playground, a large lawn, beach volleyball and a restaurant. Dogs are not allowed at aqua fun.

Check the operating status and season with the municipality of Schluchsee before your visit. The operator decides when the pool is open, and details like these can change at short notice.

Entry fees vary by facility and season; ask the respective operator. According to the region, guests of hosts that take part in the Hochschwarzwald Card swim free of charge in many outdoor and indoor pools. Black Forest Dream is not one of these hosts. What that means for you is explained in our article Hochschwarzwald Card and KONUS Guest Card Explained.

Titisee: beach and bathing area

If you are looking for a beach at Titisee, you will end up at the Titisee bathing area on Strandbadstraße in Titisee-Neustadt. It offers a sunbathing lawn, beach volleyball courts, a sand area with loungers, a beach bar, toilets and changing facilities, and a children’s paddling pool.

Important for your safety: the Titisee bathing area is operated without water supervision. Bathing in the lake and using the paddling pool and the sunbathing areas is at your own risk. Supervising children is up to their parents.

Dogs are not allowed on the grounds of the bathing area. There is parking opposite the bathing area; it is fee-paying, and the tariff is posted on site.

A quick tip: on sunny summer weekends the Titisee is very popular. If you are looking for peace and quiet, it is best to come during the week or early in the morning.

Water temperature and swimming season

We do not give an official water temperature for the Titisee or the Schluchsee here. The temperature depends on the weather and on how the summer goes, and a figure in a blog article would soon be out of date. Thanks to the altitude, the lakes stay refreshingly cool. If you prefer warmer water, the aqua fun outdoor pool has a heated pool; check its operating status with the municipality of Schluchsee as described above.

Each operator also sets its own swimming season. Check directly with the respective facility before your outing.

We make no statement of our own about water quality. You can find the current status of the official bathing waters in the state’s Badegewässerkarte Baden-Württemberg, the bathing-water map of Baden-Württemberg.

Swimming with a dog

Many guests travel with a dog, and on hot days your four-legged friend wants to get into the water too. At Titisee and Schluchsee there are clear rules for this:

Titisee: bathing is forbidden for dogs in the Titisee itself. Dogs are not allowed on the grounds of the Titisee bathing area either.
Schluchsee: dogs are not allowed on the sunbathing lawn of the Naturstrandbad Seebrugg or in the aqua fun outdoor pool.
Windgfällweiher: for dogs, the region names the Windgfällweiher between Feldberg and Schluchsee; according to the region, dogs may bathe there. In the lido area at the Windgfällweiher, the operator’s own rules may apply, so follow the signs on site.
Feldsee: bathing is forbidden here for dogs as well.

On the way, a leash obligation applies in nature reserves. You will find more tips for holidays with your dog in Black Forest with a Dog.

Feldsee: swimming prohibited

The Feldsee below the Feldberg is not a bathing lake. Bathing there is forbidden for people and dogs, because a plant under nature protection grows in the Feldsee: the Stachelsporiges Brachsenkraut. Please respect the ban, even on hot days. For a swim, the Titisee, the Schluchsee and the Windgfällweiher are the right places.

From Feldberg to Titisee and Schluchsee

The Dreiseenbahn runs between Titisee and Schluchsee as a regional railway line from Titisee to Seebrugg. It links the two lakes directly. Its stops include Titisee, Feldberg-Bärental, Schluchsee and Seebrugg. So from the Feldberg you reach both lakes without a car.

Handy for a swimming day at Schluchsee: the Naturstrandbad and the end point of the line are both in Seebrugg.

The journey is covered by the KONUS guest card. It is valid on buses and regional trains in 2nd class; mountain railways are excluded. Black Forest Dream guests receive the KONUS guest card on arrival. Current timetables are on bahn.de.

By car, both lakes are just a few minutes from the Feldberg. At Titisee, the car park opposite the bathing area is fee-paying.

Frequently asked questions about swimming at Titisee and Schluchsee

Where can you swim at Schluchsee?

Schluchsee has two official facilities: the Naturstrandbad in Seebrugg, an enclosed area with lake access and a large sunbathing lawn, and the aqua fun outdoor pool in Schluchsee, an adventure pool with a heated pool and direct lake access. Check the operating status and season of aqua fun with the municipality of Schluchsee before you go. Entry fees vary by facility, so ask the operator.

Where can you swim at Titisee?

At Titisee you swim at the Titisee bathing area in Titisee-Neustadt. It has a sunbathing lawn, a sand area with loungers and a children’s paddling pool. The bathing area is operated without water supervision, bathing is at your own risk, and supervising children is up to their parents.

Can dogs swim in the Titisee or the Schluchsee?

Bathing is forbidden for dogs in the Titisee itself, and dogs are not allowed on the grounds of the Titisee bathing area. At Schluchsee, dogs are allowed neither on the sunbathing lawn of the Naturstrandbad nor in the aqua fun outdoor pool. For dogs, the region names the Windgfällweiher between Feldberg and Schluchsee; in the lido area there, follow the signs on site.

Is swimming allowed in the Feldsee?

No. In the Feldsee below the Feldberg, bathing is forbidden for people and dogs because a protected plant, the Stachelsporiges Brachsenkraut, grows there. For a swim, head to the Titisee, the Schluchsee or the Windgfällweiher instead.

How do you get from Feldberg to Titisee and Schluchsee without a car?

Take the Dreiseenbahn, the regional railway line between Titisee and Seebrugg. Its stops include Feldberg-Bärental, Schluchsee and Seebrugg. The KONUS guest card is valid on buses and regional trains in 2nd class, but not on mountain railways. Black Forest Dream guests receive it on arrival. Current timetables are on bahn.de.

How warm is the water in the Titisee and the Schluchsee?

We do not give an official reading here, because the water temperature changes with the weather. Thanks to the altitude, the lakes stay refreshingly cool; if you prefer warmer water, the aqua fun outdoor pool has a heated pool. For water quality, the state’s Badegewässerkarte Baden-Württemberg is the place to check.

Stay with us

In our holiday apartments you stay centrally in the Upper Black Forest, just a few minutes from Titisee and Schluchsee — with self check-in, a fully equipped kitchen and room for the whole family. Dogs are welcome. Booked directly, you pay around 7% less than on Booking.com.