Our Favorite Day in the Black Forest

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Some days just come together perfectly and this one in the southern Black Forest is something Aaron and I still talk about! If you’re building a Germany itinerary and wondering whether the Black Forest deserves a spot, this day is exactly why the answer is yes.

We share where we went hiking, found breathtaking views, rode the best alpine coaster ever, and the  hidden gems we discovered along the way. Listen to the podcast or read the article below for all of the details.

This article is also available as the Germany Travel Planning podcast episode 3. Use the player below to listen or continue reading the article below. See episode transcript on Apple podcasts.

Our Perfect Black Forest Day Trip

We were based just east of Triberg for nearly two weeks researching the Black Forest, which is how we ended up in the Todtnau area in the south, about an hour’s drive from Triberg.

The scenic drive alone was awesome – winding country roads, forested mountain switchbacks, farmland, and tiny villages. It was such a beautiful way to start our day.

Stop 1: A Local Black Forest Shop Worth Stopping at (Bernau)

Our first stop was a fantastic shop in Bernau packed with locally made Black Forest products including beer, wine, cheese, clothing, books, souvenirs, kitchen goods, and more. We spent way more time there than planned because there were so many local items to browse.

There’s also a restaurant upstairs and a café, so it’s a great place to grab coffee and cake or a full meal. Perfect for picking up gifts that actually mean something. Bernau is tiny so you can’t miss this shop.

Stop 2: Hiking Feldberg the Highest Point in the Black Forest

Feldberg isn’t a dramatic rocky peak. It’s a wide, grassy mountaintop that’s a ski hub in winter and a hiking paradise in summer. At the base of Feldberg there’s parking garage (where we parked), a hotel, restaurants, shops, and a nature museum worth a visit.

We hiked up instead of taking the gondola and it took about 45 minutes in regular sneakers (no poles or anything else needed). The views of flower-covered fields and forested ridges are stunning. At the top, a flat trail continues to a lookout tower with an elevator (costs a few euros) and more panoramic views. Wooden lounger chairs are set up so you can just lie back and soak it all in.

We walked down a different trail, which was a wide gravel path with views of a small lake you can hike to in about an hour. One for the next visit list!

🇩🇪 Insider Insights:

• Regular walking shoes are fine (no heavy boots or poles required).
• There’s a gondola available if you’d rather skip the hike.
• Restaurants, shops, and a nature museum are located at the base of Feldberg.

Stop 3: The Hasenhorn Rodelbahn Alpine Coaster

This is the stop we were looking forward to the most! The Hasenhorn Rodelbahn in Todtnau takes you up the mountain by chairlift and back down on a long, winding alpine coaster track with twists, turns, and a corkscrew section. It is so much fun!

Each rider gets their own car with a hand brake, so you control your speed. Aaron went fast…I braked through the curves but enjoyed a thrilling ride. Next time I’m going straight down without touching the brakes.

The chairlift ride up takes about 10 minutes and has incredible valley views. At the top there’s a little hut with snacks, beer, coffee, and cake. It’s worth taking your time to just enjoy the view. For anyone who doesn’t want to take the alpine coaster down the mountain, you can simply take the chair lift back down.

🇩🇪 Insider Insights:

• Expect to pay €12+ per person for chairlift up + coaster down.
• You’ll find free parking nearby with a short walk to the chair lift.
• We visited mid-afternoon in summer and had almost no wait to get on the chair lift.
• It’s a treat for all ages — kids and adults alike will love it,

Stop 4: Todtnauer Wasserfall and the Black Forest Line Suspension Bridge

About 10 minutes drive from Todtnau is the Todtnauer Wasserfall – one of the tallest waterfalls in Germany. We parked in a small lot along the road (Google Maps navigates it easily) and then walked about 15 minutes through the forest to reach the falls.

The waterfall is huge and gorgeous. Multiple trails branch off in different directions if you want to keep hiking. There are also big wooden reclining benches right at the base of it where you can lean back, stare up, and let the mist cool you down.

It was so relaxing and I could have stayed there for at least an hour to just enjoy the view…but we still had things to do…like the Black Forest Line! A suspension bridge that’s as long as the Empire State Building is tall, the Black Forest Line stretches from hill to hill high above the valley.

The bridge is wide, walkable, and made of grating so you can see straight down to the forest floor below. It takes about 10 to 12 minutes to walk across, and the views in every direction are incredible. You can reach the Black Forest Line by walking up a steep trail after visiting the waterfall. Or you can drive and park in their lot.

🇩🇪 Insider Insights:

• Tickets for the waterfall and bridge can be purchased together at the entrance machines.
• The suspension bridge stays open until dusk (roughly 8 p.m.) even after the lobby closes.
• You can drive directly to the upper parking lot and access the bridge from there or walk up from the waterfall.
• Heights-averse? The waterfall alone is absolutely worth the trip!

How to Plan Your Black Forest Day Trip

• From Freiburg: Drive south and you’ll reach Todtnau in about 45 minutes.
• From Triberg or further north: Totally doable, just get an early start.
• Staying overnight: Todtnau and the surrounding valley are worth a staying a night or two if you have the time.
• What to wear: Comfortable walking shoes (no hiking boots needed, but skip the sandals for Feldberg)
• Food: There are restaurants, cafés, and snack spots at each stop.

As the day went on, Aaron and I just kept saying to each other…this area is just so beautiful! Blue sky, green hills, yellow flower fields, a ridiculously fun coaster, a thundering waterfall, and views that stretch forever from the suspension bridge…it was the perfect day in every way!

Helpful Links & Resources:

• Here’s the shop we mentioned with all of the local items and gifts
• DIY Germany Travel Planner (includes our Black Forest regional guide and our interactive map with hotels, sights, castles, etc, for the Black Forest and all over Germany)
• Custom itinerary service
• Itinerary review service