Westweg

The western route is a north-south distance hiking trail in the Black Forest from Pforzheim to Basel. The approximately 285 km long mountain trail was created as the first long distance hiking trail in Germany in 1900 and has since been maintained by the Black Forest club and supervised. His Signs is a red diamond on a white background.

The western route is part of the European long-distance route E1 ( North Cape - Sicily).

• 4.1.2.1 Overview
• 4.1.2.2 Directions

• 4.1.3.1 Overview
• 4.1.3.2 Directions

• 4.1.4.1 Overview
• 4.1.4.2 Directions

• 4.1.5.1 Overview
• 4.1.5.2 Directions

• 4.1.6.1 Overview
• 4.1.6.2 Directions

• 4.1.7.1 Overview
• 4.1.7.2 Directions

• 4.1.8.1 Overview
• 4.1.8.2 Directions

• 4.3.1 Ninth Stage: Cold hostel - Hinterzarten 4.3.1.1 Overview
• 4.3.1.2 Directions

• 4.4.1 Ninth Stage: Cold hostel - Barental
• 4.4.2 Tenth Stage: Barental - Hochkopfhaus
• 4.4.3 Eleventh Stage: Hochkopfhaus - hazel
• 4.4.4 Twelfth Stage: hazel Degerfelden
• 4.4.5 Thirteenth stage: Degerfelden -Basel

Route description

The western route starts in Pforzheim. He leads us through the Enztal to Dobel and then through extensive forests with bogs to Hohloh. After descending into the Murg Valley, the trail climbs back up to the highest point of the northern Black Forest, the Hornisgrinde. The other route runs along the Black Forest High Road to Alexanderschanze and then through forests into the Kinzig valley to Hausach. After a steep rise in the western route of the Martin Chapel ( Bregquelle ) touches to the Cold hostel European watershed between the Rhine and the Danube. In Titisee, the western route bifurcates into a western and an eastern route. The western route (variant A) runs over the Feldberg peak, the Ballon and the Blue Kandern and then through the Wolf's Glen and the valley of the meadow to Basel. The eastern route (variant B ) branches south to the second highest Black Forest mountain, Duke Horn, from, goes beyond the heights between Wehra and meadow valley, leading to the High Möhr to Dinkelberg order to Rheinfelden down in the Rhine valley and to get to Basel.

History

The western route was created in 1900 from Baden Schwarzwaldverein by Philipp Bussemer from Baden -Baden and Julius merchant from Lahr. Considerations to create a continuous mountain trail from north to south through the Black Forest, already went back to the year 1894.

The western route, which was in 1903 supplemented by the supervised by the Wurttemberg Black Forest club Ostweg from Pforzheim to Schaffhausen and the balance from Pforzheim to Waldshut, became the model for many other long-distance trails.

On 15 December 2006 the western route by the German Hiking Association got the seal Qualitätsweg Walking in Germany. To meet the criteria, including not more than 20 percent of the route to be asphalted or paved, had in the run sections of the West path misplaced or dismantled close to nature. Here also the separation point between the eastern and the western variant of Barental was moved to Titisee. The required recertification every three years as a predicate trail was last done on 12 January 2013.

Course

Day trips / stages

Common stages of variants A and B

Variant

• Distance: 24.7 km
• Walking time: about 6.5 hours
• Difficulty: easy to medium

The western route starts just like the two other Black Forest Höhenwege middle and Ostweg at the inn copper hammer near the confluence of the rivers Würm and Nagold. From Pforzheim Central Station to the beginning of the paths the route is signposted. It leads to the church of St. Michael along the pedestrian zone on the Gernika bridge and past the convention center for CCP Reuchlinhaus that houses the Jewellery Museum Pforzheim. Then it goes to the Nagoldtalsperre along the copper hammer, the actual starting point of the hike.

From the copper hammer the path initially runs uphill to the ruins Hoheneck and from there back downhill to Dillweißenstein. There the Nagold is crossed, and it goes past the cemetery on over the the district of Pforzheim Büchenbronn belonging to the Arboretum Tornado stone, reminiscent of the tornado over Pforzheim on 10 July 1968. From there it goes up first and then further down into the Enz. At The Bottom Enzsteg the present Westweg separates from the height variation on the went the way up to 2006. The road goes from there enzaufwärts to Grösselbachfurt where the Grösselbach is crossed on stepping stones. There is also named after a former manager of the Black Forest Association Neuenbürg Eberhard- Essich Hut. Further along the Enz, the path to Neuenbürg and there over the rear lock crate passes up at the youth hostel to the castle Neuenbürg. About the Front Castle walks the walk goes down into the town center of Neuenbürg and from there via the Hafner platforms and through a piece of woods to the residential book mountain, where the height variation together again comes with the main line of the road. Through the forest it goes on to the district of the municipality of Schwann Straubenhardt. Schwann is touched while protecting house just on the outskirts. The path continues to Schwanner waiting, a vantage point with views north into the Rhine valley. At the Schwanner waiting the road is crossed L 339. From there it continues through the forest past the meadows to the Duke Dreimarkstein. The Dreimarkstein has its name because there come together the denunciations of the former municipalities able to serve, which now belongs to Neuenbürg, and Conweiler, which now belongs to Straubenhardt, with the denunciation of the community Dobel. When Dreimarkstein is a refuge and a barbecue area. The trail crosses the road L 340 and via the Hüttwaldweg further to the Great Volzemer stone. The milestone Dobel, after the path leaves the forest and leads first through meadows, reached via the New Bürgerstraße.

Height variation

In 2006, the first stage of the Western path was laid. The former stage is further marked as height variation.

Survey

• Distance: 26 km
• Walking time: about 7 hours
• Difficulty:

Directions

From the center in Dobel, the trail leads through the portal to the Sun Gate at the Kurhaus in 1937 built water tower on the ridge road. After the high road is crossed at the yard, the path in the woods and over the Hahnenfalzweg, the Otto Ochner pathway and the Althäuslesweg goes to wide Häusle. At wide Häusle place several hiking trails come together. There is also a refuge where the here again denoted as Hahnenfalzweg west route leads right past. Passing the Swiss head hut the trail leads to Hahnenfalzhütte that is managed primarily on weekends and holidays from the Skizunft Bad Herrenalb. At the Hahnenfalzhütte the path goes first diagonally left uphill to long- Mart head hut and on to Kreuzlehütte. There, turn right at first on a slightly rising forest and then a hiking trail to the deer park at Kaltenbronn. There you cross the road before the path leads up steeply to Hohlohsee. On Hohlohsee it goes over a boardwalk and then on to Hohlohturm. From there the path leads down further over the Prince hut to the Latschigfelsen with views into the Murg Valley. About switchbacks you go to the witches fountain and on about Gausbach to the stage destination Forbach.

Third stage: Forbach - Unterstmatt

Survey

• Distance: 19.4 km
• Walking time: about 6.5 hours
• Difficulty:

Directions

In Forbach, the path crosses the Murg to the historic wooden bridge and continues past the fountain of Moses before it steeply to the Maria-Hilf chapel and on to the hut goes up on Wegscheiden. Then you walk down past the Johannesbrunnen the northern bank of the Schwarzenbachtalsperre. The road goes along the Seebach, one of the tributaries of the reservoir up to the Herrenwieser lake. The Karwand of Gletscherkarsees is 170 meters, the highest in the northern Black Forest. At her along the trail partly in zigzag uphill. At one point, denoted by Zweiseenblick you can see the Schwarzenbachtalsperre and Herrenwieser lake. The western route soon reaches for the first time a height of 1000 meters. The Bussemer memorial stone commemorates one of the two founders of the West path, the Baden -Baden Philipp Bussemer. His monument is surrounded by rhododendron. Continue straight to Baden built level with the 1891 and after Grand Duke Frederick II of Baden named Friedrich tower. Slightly downhill to reach the youth hostel Baden height and then the pass sand on the here Schwarzwaldhochstraße mentioned main road B 500 on a trail parallel to the main road along the walk leading to the Hundseck and then up to the treeless Grind summit of the high head. From there it goes through a partially lined with large granite slabs way down to the pass Unterstmatt.

Fourth stage: Unterstmatt - Alexanderschanze

Survey

• Distance: 27.8 km
• Walking time: about 8 hours
• Difficulty:

Directions

The stage from Unterstmatt to Alexanderschanze that crosses both the Hornisgrinde, the highest mountain in the northern Black Forest, as well as with the head touches the second highest mountain passes, running on a height above 900 meters. From the starting point in Unterstmatt the left path leads past the former Hoehenhotel Unterstmatt. About hiking trails trail climbs to Wanderheim Ochsenstall and then to the radio tower Hornisgrinde. A paved with granite slabs way you pass wind turbines to Bismarck tower or signal tower, which is located at the highest point of the summit level, and then to Hornisgrinde Tower. The area around the tower was used by the military Hornisgrinde - 1942-1997, which is evident even given some to decay at a price buildings and remains of the barrier along the path. After Hornisgrinde tower of descent follows the Mummelsee, which is reached in the vicinity of the mountain hotel Mummelsee. From the mountain hotel, the trail leads past the Mummelsee Chapel on to Seibelseckle. At the valley station of the ski lift there it goes diagonally right uphill and on over the Hellmut Gnädinger path past a monument that commemorates the hurricane Lothar on 26 December 1999 to Darmstädterhütte. Even before the Darmstädterhütte the trail leads right over a Bannwald partially along the former border between the Kingdom of Württemberg and the Grand Duchy of Baden. By the Wild lake at the grave of the deceased Orientalist Julius 1913 Euting the trail climbs slightly. The path down to the Wildsee, which turns before the Eutinggrab left, is very steep and suitable only for sure-footed hikers. The western route, however, continues over the head of the lake and then switchbacks on the slope down to the hearthstone, where the path to the Great Hearthstone Hills- crosses the Black Forest Road. Oblique left it goes along the pig head about free Grind surface up to the grinding head. The path leaves both the hotel and the grinding head Lothar path on the left. About a forest it comes to the former Hostel refuge and continue to Alexanderschanze. The name Alexanderschanze goes to a named after Duke Karl Alexander of Württemberg, built in 1734 Schanze for military security of the strategically important junction at the Württemberg border. The area was secured until 1945. Today there is a nature reserve and a hotel.

Fifth stage: Alexanderschanze - on Hark

This stage and the next stage can be handled by powerful walkers in one day.

Survey

• Distance: 16.9 km
• Walking time: about 4.5 hours
• Difficulty:

Directions

The sixth stage takes mainly downhill and over long distances through the forest. From the junction in front of the former hotel Alexanderschanze you first need a short distance along the Black Forest High Street go before the western route turns on a path to the left. We continue on hiking trails and forest roads to the lookout Renchtal with a launch site for hang gliders. At the sign Graseck can differ from the western route and migrate over the Devil's Pulpit. However, the marked Westweg diamond trail at the Hilda hut over to the Lettstädter height, where he will meet again with the way of the Devil's Pulpit. From there, the trail continues up to a vantage point from which one can overlook the Glaswaldsee. The lake itself is not on the western route; for a trip you have to schedule about 30 minutes. From the vantage point of the route continues across the sea - level to the sign on Klagstein. Also the Klagstein, a sandstone rock with good views of the Wolftal is, not directly on the western route. This leads on past the Julius wells to the pass Free mountain on the road between L 93 Bad Peterstal and Schapbach. Are the suitors Berger hut, a fountain and a trail parking lot on the saddle also Free -called pass. After the Free saddle, the trail climbs about 100 meters in altitude to the hut at the Litt Weger altitude where intersect the western route and the cross travel Gengenbach Alpirsbach. From there it is a little more than four miles to the stage finish on Harkhof, a working hill farm with accommodation.

Sixth stage: On the Hark - Hausach

This stage and the Voretappe can be handled by powerful walkers in one day.

Survey

• Distance: 16.5 km
• Walking time: about 4 hours
• Difficulty:

Directions

The western route runs from Dobel to Blue on the western route or to the High Möhr on the eastern route through consistently in the summit areas and on the high passes of the Black Forest. The only two exceptions are the Murg Valley and the Kinzig valley. The sixth stage leads down from Harkhof into the Kinzig valley to Hausach that lies at an altitude of 237 meters at the lowest point of the west path.

From Harkhof the walk is short uphill to Harksattel and further into the forest. About Forest and hiking trails cross the saddle hut is reached at which a playground is where the trail leads right past. About an asphalted piece to get to the sign for the heron head. There you can turn to fire head, the 200 meters in altitude is about 3.5 kilometers from the western route above to the right. The fire head is achieved through the Steiglehütte. On the mountain is next to the youth hostel of the Black Forest Association and a lookout tower of the fire station head. Through the 125 meter high radio tower fire head throughout the Middle Black Forest is visible and thus landmark for Westwegwanderer. Who would not like having to go through the fire head, travels straight across the road and after about 100 meters diagonally left and then continue to the Hirzwasen on which a cross. On Hirzwasen the western route and the Great Hansjakobweg come along who is carrying on from there to the fire head. The west route goes to the Hirzwasen to level the field, in which a forest clearing is. Next on the way is the chief hole hut that belongs to the Black Forest club Wolfach. Often, club members are in the cottage, offering hikers tea. The high punch, a 690 meter high observation point is, not directly on the western route can also be reached via a detour in about five minutes. From the high hole hut the trail leads steeply downhill and on to the White Cross. In between there is a turnoff to the managed and visible from the road Käppelehof. From the White Cross the road goes uphill again with Spitz rocks with a small pavilion-like hut. From there you can enjoy a nice view of the West and Southwest middle Kinzig valley. After the pointed rocks, the trail leads in only three kilometers at 340 meters of altitude steeply downhill to the stage finish to Hausach.

Seventh stage: Hausach Wilhelm height ( above Schonach )

Survey

• Distance: 21.0 km
• Walking time: about 6.5 hours
• Difficulty: medium

Former quadrangle Baden, Württemberg, Furstenberg and Further Austria

Directions

The stage from Hausach to Wilhelm height is considered the most demanding stage of the entire Western way. In the first section to the Farrenkopf the way the largest increase on the entire west route rises to six kilometers at 550 m,.

From Hausach Station, the journey goes along the rail road. When wooden porch Kinzigtaltor Hausach it comes to the Kinzig dam and then under the railway underpass, continue to the town church of St. Mauritius. From there the trail follows the main road past the Town Hall and then runs diagonally left up to the Kreuzbergweg. At the club well, just turn left on a hiking path that leads past the castle source steeply up to the castle ruins Husen. Behind the castle, from whose tower you can look down to Hausach, the trail continues steeply uphill most of Schmidt's Wandereckle, the Haseneckle and at various vantage points to the hare man - hut on the Farrenkopf. Named after the painter Wilhelm Hase man cottage has two floors. You can reach the suitable to sleep on top of a ladder. After Farrenkopf the road on the southern ridge in turn leads steeply down to the pass Büchereck where the western route with the highway crosses L 107. Even before crossing the Büchereck hut and the hill is passed on Büchereck. All jumps past which will cycle among the Baroque jumps and are thus part of a large defense system of the 17th and 18th centuries. They were built in the context of conflicts between the Habsburgs and the Kingdom of France, especially during the Palatinate War of Succession and. After crossing the Büchereck it goes uphill again. You pass the hill on the maximum and Hornberger Kolping hut before the western route from the hazel mountain runs on the same route as the Querweg Rottweil - Lahr. The achieved shortly after the meeting of the two paths Hirschlach ski jump is one of the Prechtaler jumps that were deviating reconstructed part of the original historical jumps from a tourist. There, the path crosses with the two valleys riser, so that for almost two kilometers three black forest trails on a stretch run. On this route the after Triberg Obervogt Theodor Huber (1756-1816) is named Huber rocks. The secured an iron railing climb leads to a lookout point overlooking the Elz Valley. On Hirzdobel separates the path from the two valleys trail that leads down into two kilometers away Witten Bach, a district of Oberprechtal. After Fährlefelsen the cross walk from bends left and leads down to Hornberg. The western route, however, continues steeply uphill to Karlstejn.

This consists of blocks of granite rock used to be called Hauenstein. It was renamed after Duke Carl Eugen of Württemberg had mounted him on 23 July 1770. A memorial stone still recalls this event. The rock was from the mid-15th century, with 968.9 meters above sea level. NN is the highest mountain peak Württemberg. With the signing of the Act of Confederation in 1806, however, was the black ridge to the highest peak of the kingdom. Highest point Württemberg was at this time but already the Dreifürstenstein below the summit of the Hornisgrinde. The border agreement dated October 2, 1810 between the Kingdom of Württemberg and the Grand Duchy of Baden Hornberg and thus the Karlstejn came to Baden.

From Karl 's stone path leads to the guest house Nice view and then to end mountain with the Gasthaus Zum Karlstejn. In the guest house there is still 300 meters ahead on the road towards Schonach, before the path turns right diagonally. After Erwin - Swiss home you come to a stone archway, which belonged to the former Mr. Hof. There it goes straight and then turn left into Lord forest path before about the Silberbergweg the Vesperstube Silberberg is achieved. After Vesperstube which also rents guest rooms, it comes up short a paved meadow before the walk reaches to almost level ground at the belonging to Schonach Wilhelm height the stage destination.

Eighth stage: Wilhelm height - Cold hostel

Survey

• Distance: 21 km
• Walking time: 6 hours
• Difficulty:

Directions

The eighth stage runs almost continuously at an altitude of about 1000 m Compared to most other stages there are fewer inclines or declines.

After the inn Wilhelm height of the first path crosses the road before he goes through the portal on a rock pile web. At the end of the bridge turn right and shortly thereafter left diagonally. Over a crest and a small lake over to get to the Wolf farm. From there, the trail leads to a paved path to the branch to Blindensee, which is reached through a pile web. From Blindensee it is initially more on the pile web; then you walk through a farm across a road, at a wayside cross over and then continue to the Weißenbacher height. From there it crosses a bridge and then continue to the Elzquelle leads. The Elz flows into the Rhine. Shortly thereafter, the western route crosses the main European watershed for Martin's Chapel, near which the Breg, one of the headwaters of the Danube rises. Next goals are to Günther rocks and the Friends of Nature House Brend. From the Friends of Nature House is worth a trip to the Brend tower. Then it's on to the Hotel Goldener Rabe, before turning the right way. The road then leads on to the Neueck. Then it's on to a paved road below the Black Forest Road. The trail crosses two roads lead over a ski slope and passes under the Black Forest High Road through to Frankenblick. Then it goes to the caves Bildstöckle and then at the Black Forest road to the Cold hostel.

Separation of the western and the eastern variant

In the ninth stage separates the western and the eastern variant in Titisee. By 2006, the separation point was still in Barental. The western variant now carries on the ridge between Titisee and Hinterzarten to Upper Hinterzarten. From there he transferred to the Emil Thoma way to the Feldberg summit, where it meets again on the former section. The eastern variant leads to the former western variant on Barental, the Zweiseenblick and Caritasheim and then on to Duke Horn, where she also comes back together with the previous route.

Variant A - Western Route

Ninth Stage: Cold hostel - Hinterzarten

Survey

• Distance: 26.0 km
• Walking time: about 6.5 hours
• Difficulty:

Directions

From the Cold hostel follows the path for about 250 meters of the B500 and turn right into a rocky forest path that leads further up to the mountain restaurant laughter Häusle. From laughter Häusle the hike the B500 continues past a water reservoir and keep going repeatedly crossing the inn Schweizerhof over to the Gasthaus zum Kreuz in St. Margen. From there, the route continues over the Turks -Louis -Schanze on the Hohlengraben past the sweet little house for Doldenbühl with the prospect of the Jostal. From there it goes through the white pine height to Fürsatzhöhe. From the Fürsatzhöhe off worth making a detour to the chapel Holy fountain, reminiscent of the Holy Notburgastraße. From the Fürsatzhöhe the way to the youth hostel mountain Häusle and on to Geigershof leads. Then it goes downhill to Titisee and from there to the bank Hans Cross on the Kessler height and Kesslerhof to Hinterzarten.

Tenth Stage: Hinterzarten - Wieden Corner

• Distance: 24.5 km
• Walking time: 6 hours
• Difficulty: medium

Eleventh Stage: Wieden Corner Blue

• Distance: 21 km
• Walking time: 5.5 hours
• Difficulty:

Twelfth Stage: Blue - Wollbach

• Distance: 16.5 km
• Walking time: about 4 hours
• Difficulty:

Thirteenth stage: Wollbach -Basel

• Distance: 19 km
• Walking time: 5 hours
• Difficulty:

Variant B - Eastern route

Ninth Stage: Cold hostel - Barental

• Distance: 20.5 km
• Walking time: about 7 hours
• Difficulty:

Tenth Stage: Barental - Hochkopfhaus

• Distance: 25.5 km
• Walking time: about 7 hours
• Difficulty: medium

Eleventh Stage: Hochkopfhaus - hazel

• Distance: 18.5 km
• Walking time: 5 hours
• Difficulty:

Twelfth Stage: hazel Degerfelden

• Distance: 23 km
• Walking time: 5.5 hours
• Difficulty:

Thirteenth stage: Degerfelden -Basel

• Distance: 16.5 km
• Walking time: about 4 hours
• Difficulty:

References and Notes