Nature & Sports
Dear nature lovers and sports enthusiasts,
With its magnificent natural beauty and unique landscape, the St. Blasier region is a year-round El Dorado for various outdoor activities. Two excellent premium hiking trails, the Albsteig and Schluchtensteig, lead through our area. The images on this page may already give a good impression of the spectacular natural surroundings and the opportunities they offer. However, these photos are no substitute for experiencing and enjoying them in person. Therefore, the motto can only be: Come - Be amazed - Enjoy!
Premium hiking trail
Albsteig
Rock-lined gorges and magnificent views...
The new Albsteig premium hiking trail runs 83.3 kilometers along the bubbling Alb River. Hike against the flow of the river from Albbruck on the Upper Rhine to its source on the Feldberg, gaining over 2,700 meters in elevation. Marvel at numerous waterfalls and the Devil's Kitchen in the steep, rock-lined gorge of the lower Alb Valley. Hike through unspoiled landscapes, across blooming meadows, through the tranquil Hotzenwald forest, and along the Menzenschwand or Bernauer Alb to the Feldberg. Along the way, magnificent viewpoints and charming Black Forest villages invite you to linger. If you have the time and inclination, you can also walk back to the starting point of the Albsteig Black Forest in Albbruck. Hike along the flow of the river and downhill, and completely new perspectives suddenly open up for the hiker. The ideal opportunity to slow down your life.
Here you can learn more about the entire route and receive interesting information:
Premium hiking trail
Schluchtensteig
Profound & promising...
Rediscover the Black Forest from its wildly romantic, adventurous, and most natural side. The Schluchtensteig is a 119 km long long-distance hiking trail through the Southern Black Forest. The particularly scenic stages 4 and 5 lead hikers through the St. Blasien district, among other places.
The premium hiking trail runs along natural rock paths and root paths through primeval ravine forests, along secured trails, as well as meadow paths and quiet forest roads, and up to panoramic heights with Alpine views. A true natural paradise for leisurely hikers who should be sure-footed and largely free from vertigo. The diverse landscape is what makes the Schluchtensteig so appealing, offering a constant stream of new surprises. The best time to hike is from May to October.
Here you can learn more about the entire route and receive interesting information:
Domsteig & Geißenpfad
Cathedral Trail St. Blasien
This brand-new premium hiking trail starts in the cathedral city and covers a distance of 11.6 km, mostly on scenic mountain trails around St. Blasien.
Goat Trail Menzenschwand
The beautiful hiking trail first leads past some impressive old Black Forest farms before reaching the valley floor, where you can enjoy breathtaking views and fantastic perspectives of the surrounding valleys, hills and the picture-book village of Menzenschwand.
Winter sports opportunities
Five chairlifts, nine drag lifts, three magic carpets, and 16 ski slopes with a total of 34 km of slopes. At an altitude of 1,450 meters, snow sports enthusiasts will find the right slope for every need – from easy beginners' runs to challenging FIS World Cup courses.
The ski lifts invite you to enjoy both sporty and relaxed skiing with magnificent Alpine panoramas. The longest run is the Wiesenquell run, which is approximately 3 kilometers long.
The Spießhorn Ski Arena in Menzenschwand, located south of the Feldberg, offers three lifts and six slopes, 80 kilometers of cross-country ski trails, and 70 kilometers of winter hiking trails. The Schwinbach (700 m) and Mösle (572 m) lifts offer varied and challenging runs, as well as leisurely family runs. The Rehbach ski lift is particularly suitable for beginners and children.
Fantastic cross-country ski trails lead through the historic Black Forest farms
romantic village of Menzenschwand.
Our tip: The Menzenschwand Valley is also an ideal starting point for ski touring, snowshoeing, or simply winter hiking. There's also a snow sports school on site.
Alb reservoir and Alb valley
A place of peace and relaxation
In the idyllic Alb Valley, St. Blasien's southernmost district, you can dream deeply, enjoy nature and life in peace and quiet, undisturbed by the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The small river that gives this romantic valley its name rises on the Feldberg, the highest peak in the Black Forest, and passes through Menzenschwand and St. Blasien on its way to flow into the High Rhine in Albbruck. However, the Alb River didn't always flow so tamed downstream. Before the river was dammed in the upper part of the Alb Valley, it flowed completely untamed through the valley, where it left its impressive mark on the rocks of the Alb Gorge. This created a wildly romantic landscape, a true insider tip for nature lovers and adventurers. The beauty of the valley is reflected in the Albsee lake – an oasis of peace, a place to linger. A worthwhile destination is the circular hiking trail around the lake, which is easily accessible on foot from St. Blasien. Far from through traffic, the villages of Albtal are nestled amidst fields and meadows; Black Forest farms characterize the rural idyll.
Trekking camps for outdoor fans
Take a break and discover nature in a particularly intensive way
The Trekking Black Forest project was initiated in 2017 jointly by the Central/Northern and Southern Black Forest Nature Parks, the Black Forest National Park, and the Forestry and Natural Resources Agency (ForstBW). The goal is to establish a network of trekking camps along the Black Forest's central long-distance hiking trails in coordination with nature conservationists and forest owners. Overnight stays in the open air are officially permitted there. In the 2020 season, the program was expanded to include the Southern Black Forest: Three camps on the Albsteig and Schluchtensteig trails are operated by the city of St. Blasien and the municipality of Dachsberg.
All camps are located away from towns, accessible only on foot, and have pitches for up to three tents, a fire pit, and a small toilet block. Hikers must bring their own equipment, food, and drinking water. The camps can be found using the so-called "last mile" route, a route description including GPS coordinates that will be sent upon booking. Camps can be booked via the online platform: www.trekking-schwarzwald.de
Our tip:
If you'd like to spend your next vacation, including an overnight stay, directly in nature, this form of travel is ideal. Perhaps you've never spent the night outdoors before? Then why not give it a try? This is also a great opportunity for families to give children and young people a special connection to nature. This not only sharpens their senses, but also their perception and awareness of animals and plants, as well as their conservation.