An introduction to The Westweg in Germany's Black Forest

By Kat Morgenstern

The Westweg is one of Germany's oldest and greatest long distance treks, set up by the ambitious Schwarzwaldverein, or Black Forest Association. While the Westweg does not compete for thrill and adventure with more alpine routes, its quieter, bucolic charms are seductive to those who are romantics at heart. Here is everything you need to know about this ideal first time trek.

The Westweg

Through Germany's Black Forest

£16.95

Guidebook to the Westweg (Westway), a 285km walk across Germany's Black Forest from Pforzheim to Basel. This classic route, which includes Feldberg, Black Forest's highest peak, takes 13 to 14 days, each day stage ranging from 15 to 28km. Two variants are described, both well way-marked and suitable for those new to long distance walking.

More information

Celebrating 125 years of the Westweg!

The oldest long-distance trail in Germany is celebrating its 125th birthday this year. Founded in 1854, the ‘Schwarzwaldverein’ (Black Forest Association) made it their task to promote and preserve the region’s cultural and natural heritage and to promote its appreciation by making it more accessible to tourists. Their first project was to establish a long-distance walking trail right across the entire length of the Black Forest that was to incorporate as many of the region’s highlights as possible. 125 years later the Westweg is still a much-loved trail. Why not celebrate the occasion by walking the Westweg?

Where is the Westweg?

The Westweg, or Westway, runs from Pforzheim to Basel through the Black Forest of southwest Germany. This scenic trek passes through the Schwarzwald National Park, the source of the Danube and Feldburg, the highest peak in the Black Forest. There is also a choice of a western route or an eastern route once you get to Lake Titisee.

How long is the route?

The route, which can be divided comfortably into 13 or 14 day-sections, comprises a total of for 285km from Pforzheim to Basel.

Is The Westweg difficult?

This Westweg includes about 8000m cumulative altitude metres – and sometimes a thousand of those have to be overcome in a single day. For seasoned alpine trekkers or hill walkers, that might not sound like much, but the average walker should not underestimate the challenge. However, this being the Black Forest rather than a remote mountain wilderness, it is almost always possible to shorten any part of the route by taking public transport, or by breaking one section into two.

Which direction should you walk?

Although the route is marked in both directions, almost everybody walks it from north to south – and with good reason. While the mountains are the same, the views are not. Walking from north to south, the anticipation grows as one approaches the higher hills ahead, and majestic Alpine peaks tower on the distant horizon.

When should you go?

The best time to trek the Westweg is between April and October. It is likely that much of the route would be passable in March or November but the choice of hotels and restaurants along the route would be very limited during the off-season. The weather and daylight are also more forgiving in the spring and summer months.

Hiking The Westweg Through Germanys Black Forest

The best time to trek the Westweg is between April and October

The Westweg in Germany's Black Forest

Where should you stay?

There are a good number of places to stay along the route and hotels that are further away from the Westweg itself may offer shuttle services. However, this is a busy area, and pre-booking is strongly advisable. Basic shelter huts can be used if you are 'in need' but these are similar to bothies and should not be relied upon.

What about luggage-transfers?

For those who do not relish being weighed down by a heavy pack – fret not! Walking-without-luggage packages or luggage forwarding services are available for almost all sections of this route.

Getting to the start

The Black Forest is very accessible and well served by a number of regional airports. If you are planning to start the Westweg in the north (recommended), the most useful airports to fly into are Stuttgart, Baden-Baden, or even Strasbourg, just over the border in France. If none of these are convenient, the next best international hub is Frankfurt. When you have completed the walk, rather than returning to the arrival airport, it would make more sense to fly out of Basel’s Euroairport or even Geneva or Zurich.

What is the highlight of the route?

The 360° views around Schliffkopf are fabulous and, because it is a strictly protected area, you may spot wood grouse, grass snakes and European adders if you can draw your eyes away from the horizon.

Oh, and the cake.

Apart from the ever-changing blend of forest, farmland and pretty villages, the Black Forest is an incredibly welcoming destination for trekkers. The Black Forest Association aimed to provide tourists with a trek through as many of the regions highlights as possible - great news for us. There are around 23,000km of well maintained paths, a very efficient public transport system and ideally placed benches huts and inns. All in all it makes an excellent infrastructure for Westweg trekkers.

Alternative route options

In Titisee the trail splits and you have to decide whether to continue along the western edge of the massif, taking in some of the highest peaks – Feldberg, Belchen and Hochblauen – before descending through the rolling vineyards and orchards of Markgräflerland, or whether to take a more easterly route, via Herzogenhorn and Blößling to Todtmoos and the open farmland of Dinkelberg, to reach Basel.

Both routes are quite beautiful, and each has its own highlights, but the western route is arguably the more interesting – and thus the more popular and busier of the two. The eastern branch is quieter, less dramatic (but not necessarily ‘easier’ in terms of altitude metres) and has more contact with towns and traffic along the way.