Germany, Feldberg (Black Forest)
Distance: 11.62 km.
Walking time: 3h.
Elevation gain: 530 m.
Highest point: 1,450 m.
Access: Car.
Parking: at Saba Parkhaus Feldberg - 47.858616, 8.036699
This is possibly the most famous hiking area within Black Forest. We planned this hike for a while in advance, so we got up very excited that morning. The weather app showed 20% of chance for it to rain; however, regardless a very wet experience, we still had a great time! Even though some paths are marked, the hiking signage was not as clear as in Switzerland. There were multiple routes around this area a number of people (including us) who were unsure of which path is theirs. For this reason, we would recommend to bring along a GPS guide.
The path until Seebuck peak (the highest summit in Black Forest) was very busy and the summit was even more crowded. We didn't meet many people between Feldberg and Feldsee lake; but there were more people around the lake.
There are two restaurants/cafes on this route - Zastler Hütte and Baldenweger Hütte. We stopped at Zastler Hütte for lunch, but the staff didn't seem very friendly. We did this hike after the Covid-19 lockdown lifted off, but all outdoor seating was unavailable. This meant that many people (including us) were seating around the restaurant gates on the grass or tree trunks. Balderweger Hütte is only 1 km away and the outdoor seating was available. Both cafes seemed equally busy. Feldberghof village also had many restaurants and bars available.
Following directions for Feldberg, the road ends with a huge, covered parking area, which is impossible to miss. Starting the walk from there, we followed a gravel path and a tarmac road, which later joined together at the top of Sesselbahn Seebuck lift. This is also the highest point of Black Forest, so we enjoyed surrounding views. Here, we spend a lot of time looking at Feldsee lake, which was located just below us. Going back to our route, we followed the path to Feldberg summit. This is where the rain caught us, so we tried to hike at a higher speed trying to escape it. At Feldberg, we took a right turn into a small, singular path. We descended between meadows and trees, experiencing beautiful views. Shortly after our lunch break, we started climbing in elevation again, before descending more towards the lake. There were a few information boards near water edge. The ascent back to Ferdberghof was quite steep and through the forest.
More information about this hike can be found on Outdoor Active website here.
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