A Multi-Stop Journey: From Observation Towers to Waterfalls

A Challenging but Rewarding Day

For our day in the Black Forest, we had quite an ambitious itinerary planned. Our schedule included visits to Freudenstadt, Ellbachsee Blick, Buchkopfturm, Allerheiligen Waterfalls, and the National Park Center. Interestingly, we only discovered the existence of the Black Forest National Park while checking into our hotel. It would’ve been nice to have known about it ahead of time, but our flexible vacation plans allowed us to quickly integrate this new destination into our itinerary. For this particular day, we selected a mix of driving and walking excursions. This way, if we happened to linger too long at one location, we could easily adjust our plans without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

First Stop: Freudenstadt

Our initial destination was Freudenstadt. Upon arrival, a friendly parking officer pointed us toward a good parking spot to leave the car for free and directly at the start of a nice walk. We appreciated this helpful tip, as it made access to the area much more enjoyable. Following the officer’s guidance, we set off on foot, taking a leisurely uphill stroll along Kienberg, decorated with sculptures and fragrant rose bushes. The delightful aromas enveloped us, enhancing our experience further.

At the peak of Kienberg, we visited the Friedrichsturm. This impressive observation tower stands 25 meters tall and consists of 148 steps. Erected in 1899 to commemorate the city’s 300th anniversary, the tower was planned by the Black Forest Association and the Beautification Association, eventually being named Herzog-Friedrich-Turm in honor of the city’s founder.

After soaking in the refreshing breeze and stunning panoramic views from the tower, we returned to the car, feeling quite content with our first stop.

Next Destination: Ellbachsee Blick

The next stop on our adventure was Ellbachsee-Blick. We parked near a winter sports area, where we noticed it wasn’t particularly crowded, creating a pleasant atmosphere to embark on our hike. Our walk through the forest led us along well-maintained paths to the viewpoint. The platform at the lookout offered an exceptional view, which we felt would be even more breathtaking at sunrise or shrouded in fog. Nevertheless, even in our less-than-optimal conditions, the view of the dark lake below was serene and beautiful. There seems to be a nice trail down to the tarn and around it, offering some beautiful views. But this didn’t fit into our plan of this day. Maybe we would come back to this place later – or – maybe at a later vacation?

After enjoying the vista for a while, we closed the loop, taking a different set of trails and forest roads back to our car. The tranquility of the forest made this segment of the day particularly enjoyable.

The Scenic Buchkopfturm

Following Ellbachsee Blick, we made our way to the Buchkopfturm. This structure, known as the Weißtannenturm near Maisach, provides impressive panoramic views of the Black Forest, Rhine plain, and the Vosges mountains. Standing at a height of 28 meters and situated at 921 meters above sea level, the tower consists of eight floors made of cross-laminated timber and reinforced with 13 tons of steel. Its hexagonal shape allows for expansive views from every floor, accessed by climbing 140 steps.

We parked approximately 1-2 kilometers from the tower and enjoyed a leisurely hike to reach it. However, since my wife has a fear of heights, she chose to wait at the foot of the tower while I ventured to the top. As I ascended and explored, the experience was enriching, despite a brief period of rain that caught us on our way back.

Once the sun re-emerged, I cleverly kept my umbrella open to dry it off. During this moment, I made a discovery that, while likely well-known in the hiking community, was new to me: an umbrella can serve as excellent protection from the sun, while at the same time profit from even the slightest breeze around the head! Back at the hotel, I ordered a lightweight hiking umbrella with added sun protection – so I had something to look forward to when we got back home.

Exploring the Allerheiligen Waterfalls

Our next destination was the Allerheiligen Waterfalls. The waterfalls are characterized by the Lierbach stream, also known as the Grindenbach, cascading down seven steps for a total drop of 83 meters.

We were aware that the site offered excellent opportunities for photography, so I packed my camera gear, including filters and a tripod. As we approached the falls, we first walked to the end of the trail to scout out the best shooting spots, enjoying the scenery along the way. This effective strategy allowed us to return to select specific locations for photography at a more leisurely pace.

During my exploration, I adjusted my camera settings to use shutter speeds ranging from 1/400s to 2s, ensuring that I captured the best possible images for later review.

In my haste to photograph the last few spots, I, unfortunately, grew a bit lazy and neglected to set up the tripod for some shots; this choice proved to be a mistake. Without the stability of the tripod, the differences in position and angle between each shot meant that the photos weren’t fully comparable. Consequently, I recognized I needed to prioritize setting up the tripod for each shot in the future to achieve the best results.

After concluding our visit to the waterfalls, we returned to the car and drove toward the upper end of the cascades, where we explored the ruins of an old cathedral. Here, we took a well-deserved break to savor coffee and cake before moving on.

National Park Center

Since we had just recently learned about the Black Forest National Park, visiting the National Park Center was a spontaneous choice on our return journey. We hadn’t planned to stay long because we were already filled to the brim with impressions from the day’s earlier adventures. Still, we wanted to get a glimpse of the options available for a future visit. Upon arrival, we were struck by the remarkable architecture of the center. During our time there, we began a pleasant conversation with a lady in the gift shop. She kindly recommended several points of interest worth exploring in the area and encouraged us to review the exhibition.

Although we decided against an in-depth exploration that day, the brief interaction sparked our interest and provided us with a solid reason to consider returning in the future when we could fully immerse ourselves in what the park has to offer. As we returned to our accommodations that night, I felt thankful for the flexibility of our itinerary, allowing us to integrate unexpected gems into our plans effortlessly. With our minds racing with thoughts of what the next day might bring, we settled in for the night, already looking forward to our upcoming adventures.

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All posts from our trip to the Black Forest in 2024: