An Excursion to the Upper Black Forest
From Freiburg, you can make a 145km (90-mile) 1-day circuit through one of the most scenic parts of the Black Forest, returning in time for dinner. Along the way, you'll pass a trio of the highest summits in the Black Forest and two of the region's most beautiful lakes.
Head immediately south to Schauinsland along Route 317, a narrow twisting road. At the car park, you can climb some 100 steps to the belvedere tower for a panoramic view of the area.
Continuing south, you reach Belchen Mountain, which rises to a height of 1,414m (4,640 ft.). From where the road ends, it is an easy 20-minute hike to the summit. On a clear day, you can look out from the observation platform here and take in a panoramic sweep of the Rhine plain, plus a view of the Alps from Säntis to Mont Blanc.
Continue east to the hamlet of Todtnau, where visitors can walk up a footpath to the Falls of Todtnau, about a mile away. Back at Todtnau, continue east along Route 317 to Feldberg. Here a chairlift takes visitors to the 1,425m (4,750-ft.) Seebuck peak, which is crowned by the Bismarck monument and offers another sweeping panoramic view of the Black Forest.
On the road again, follow Route 317 east until it becomes Route 500 heading south to Schluchsee, one of the loveliest lakes of the area and the most important body of water in the Black Forest.
After a visit here, head north along Route 500 to the hamlet of Lenzkirch, from which you'll have a view of Lake Titisee. The road then continues to the resort of Titisee itself . After a visit you can return to Freiburg by heading west along Route 31.
