Walk on the Schauinsland in the Black Forest (Germany)

My summary

A mountain in the Schwarzwald near Freiburg

The Schauinsland is a Black Forest mountain at 1,284 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest peaks in the massif (the highest point being the Feldberg at 1,493 meters). It lies 10km southeast of Freiburg im Breisgau. It’s very close to the city, making it one of Freiburgers’ favorite mountains, as well as one of their favorite places to hike!

Whether you’re in the mood for a leisurely stroll with the family, or a more challenging hike, Schauinsland is a really nice place that I really enjoyed discovering with my friend Céline from Knack & Rucksack, even if the weather didn’t allow us to appreciate all the beauty of the viewpoints!

Schauinslandbahn, cable car from Horben

It’s possible (and recommended) to reach the Schauinsland by taking the Schauinslandbahn, a gondola lift that went into service in 1930 (and has since been renovated, I assure you!) and is Germany’s longest continuously moving cableway. Here you’ll find all the practical information you need, including timetables and fares.

It’s true that the Schauinslandbahn is quite long (it’s 3.6km long and has a vertical drop of 746 metres), so it takes around twenty minutes to get on or off! It’s a great way to enjoy the scenery. When the weather’s fine, you can apparently see the Rhine valley and the Tuniberg and Kaiserstuhl vineyards. I didn’t see much from my side, but you could tell it was a beautiful place!

Gourmet break in the Schauinsland restaurant

There are several restaurants in Schauinsland, but I tested the one located in the same building as the top station of the cable car, Die Bergstation. The room is already pleasant, especially the one with the fire place and the huge windows, offering certainly a magnificent panorama by good weather (for us it was a foggy day unfortunately!). There is also a beautiful terrace with a panoramic view.

As far as food is concerned, we found some classic German dishes, so I opted for a schnitzel (which was very good) and an apple and walnut tart for a snack after the walk. Yes, we had to warm up 😛

Family outing or more sportive hike

Four hiking trails start from the top station of the Tal cable car, so you can tailor your walk to suit your mood, fitness and the weather. The shortest walk is 2.5km, with 40m of ascent, and the longest is 8.8km, with 770m of ascent. You can find information on the various walks here (with GPX routes).

During your walk, or if you take a short detour depending on the route you choose, don’t miss the Eugen-Keidel Tower (also known as the Schauinsland Tower), located at the top of the mountain and standing 31 metres high. It can be reached from the top station of the gondola via an easy 700-meter path. I regretted not being able to get up there, as it was closed when I went, but given the weather conditions that day I wouldn’t have seen much anyway! When the weather’s fine, I’m sure it’s worth climbing the 85 steps.

If you are luckier than we are with the weather, you will be able to admire the panorama of the Feldberg, the Black Forest and even, on a clear day, the Alps with Mont Blanc!