Black Forest: Exploring Walkable Trails

Bubbling streams, mysterious moors, and untouched forests: In the northern Black Forest, perfectly marked hiking routes offer variety and new insights into the climate, flora, and fauna.

Since the beginning of the year, the northern Black Forest has been officially designated as a 'Quality Region Wanderable Germany.' More than enough reason to embark on an adventure hiking in the region between Calw and Nagold - there are 50,000 hectares of forest in Germany's largest nature park, Black Forest Mitte/Nord. Here, spruces, firs, pines, and beeches predominantly grow.

A great starting point is the small Enzklösterle near Bad Wildbad. The area is also home to deer and capercaillie. The idyllic resort lies nestled between dense fir forests in the Enz Valley. Guided hikes are recommended throughout the region - though the routes are perfectly marked, the mostly local professional hiking partners have much more to share than can be guessed from the trail.

With Beate Klittich, embark on a wilderness tour through the Bärlochkar primeval forest, a 100-hectare forest reserve. The forest is left to its own devices, free to develop. The vegetation is very dense, with life developing even in the tiniest spaces.

Here, bizarre tree forms stretch to the sky, lichens hang from branches, ferns spread, and the air smells of fresh moss. Trees alone do not make a forest; birds, insects, rocks, and climate are all crucial parts of the entire ecosystem: they contribute to the fascinating developments in the Bärlochkar forest reserve. 'And humans just observe,' says Klittich.

In Enzklösterle, blueberries are iconic. Angelika Schmahl recently took over the Blueberry House in town and offers everything related to the tasty shrub fruit - chutneys, schnapps, ice cream, and freshly baked cakes. Every early summer, pickers contact her to gather the fruits by the bucket in the forest - hikers are welcome to snack along the way.

The northern Black Forest is magical and unique, at times dark, at times light, full of surprises. For a great view, visit the Kaltenbronn high moor. There is a small, lovingly designed museum with information about the moors and even a small ski lift.

Renate Fischer is the deputy head of the Information Center and is passionately involved in the Kaltenbronn high moor. It is located in the middle of a vast forest area in a primeval landscape. The high moor, located over 900 meters high, has been under nature conservation for more than 60 years.

Approximately 95 percent of all moors are not intact, making rewetting essential, the expert explains. 'The development of the high moor can be traced back about 10,000 years, and the lakes are known as high moor bog holes,' Fischer adds. The Wildsee is the largest high moor bog hole in Germany.

When some fog rolls in, the atmosphere is perfect for ghost stories. Renate Fischer knows more than one. The story of the 'Death House' at the foot of Kaltenbronn is the eeriest - the murder of a large family at the end of the war remains unsolved to this day.

Especially children are likely to enjoy the winding paths in no man's land. Fischer encourages feeling the firs and spruce trees, shaking a wooden bridge, and placing a stethoscope on trees - experiencing nature with all senses.

She follows the trail of the capercaillie, with a wolf and notably the lynx Toni also roaming the region. To help re-establish the lynx population, the female lynx Finja was released into the wild at the beginning of December. Soon it will become clear whether the initiative was successful.

During the tour, which also follows the river, Grambert shares the story of the Lehmann family, who let wealth, timber trade, and vanity go to their heads but nonetheless played a key role in the vegetation around the hiking trail.

The many impressions, elevation changes, and kilometers make one weary. Luckily, numerous accommodations offer delicious regional cuisine, wine tastings, and almost always an unobstructed view of the northern Black Forest after a long day.

Arrival: Train connections to Bad Wildbad or Bad Herrenalb in the region Northern Black Forest run via Karlsruhe and Pforzheim. From there, continue on S-Bahn lines.

Accommodation:

Enztal Hotel in Enzklösterle, Freudenstädter Straße 67, double rooms from about 130 euros per night, large wellness area, traditional fine cuisine.

Hotel Lamm, Bad Herrenalb-Rotensol, double rooms from about 90 euros per night, fine cuisine, wine tasting in the cellar.

Dining:

Café Heidelbeerhaus, Wildbadstraße 1, Enzklösterle, open: Tuesday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 12 PM and 2 to 6 PM, Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM.

Gasthaus Eyachmühle, Eyachmühle 14, Dobel, open: Wednesday to Sunday from 11:30 AM to 8:30 PM.

Attractions: Kaltenbronn Information Center: Kaltenbronner Straße 600, 76593 Gernsbach. The moor and climate exhibition is complemented by the theme of water: 'Water Transition' (until July 31) and 'Thirsty Goods' (August 1 to November 5). Open: Wednesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM (April to November).

The trip was supported by the Northern Black Forest Tourism GmbH. Selection and direction of content are decided solely by the editorial team.

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