The Albsteig Schwarzwald leads from Albbruck on the Hochrhein along the Alb up to Feldberg. It runs in the opposite direction to the flow of the river and connects gorges, waterfalls, quiet forests in the Hotzenwald and viewpoints.

This article presents the stages with their official lengths and altitudes, lists highlights and tips on the travel time and arrival, and shows how individual sections can be reached from our house in Ühlingen-Birkendorf.

Photo: Qwesy Qwesy /Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Albsteig Black Forest: Route and key facts

Length: 83.3 km according to the Albsteig portal (Genießer variant)
Start and destination: Albbruck on the Hochrhein up to the pass at Feldberg, with detours to Bernau and return to St. Blasien
Operators: Albsteig Schwarzwald information point at the Waldshut district office; partners include, among others, the South Black Forest Nature Park, the Black Forest Association and Schwarzwald Tourismus
Variations: seven „enjoyment stages“ and four „sportive stages“

The trail begins in the Waldshut district and ends at Feldberg. Along the way there are St. Blasien with its cathedral and the Menzenschwander Alb; the region belongs to the South Black Forest Nature Park. Also the Slake Steig runs through St. Blasien.

Albsteig stages: the seven gourmet stages

The information comes from the overview on albsteig.de. The portal does not list travel times or difficulty levels.

Stage	Track	Length	Ascent / Descent	Special features
1	Albbruck – Görwihl	11.9 km	573 / 273 hm	Studinger Steg, Höllbach waterfalls, Gämsen near Schachen
2	Görwihl – Wittenschwand	14.9 km	654 / 382 hm	Devil's cuisine, alpine view near Wolpadingen
3	Wittenschwand – St. Blasien	16.4 km	481 / 570 km	Smuggler trail, Bildstein cliff, Albstausee, Windberg waterfall
4	St. Blasien – Menzenschwand	9.6 km	179 / 127 mph	relatively flat, glass saw
5	Menzenschwand – Feldberg Pass Summit	10.0 km	462 / 90 km	Menzenschwander Waterfall, Klusenmoräne, Goat meadows
6	Fieldberg – Bernau	10.1 km	185 / 524 hp	Herzogenhorn (highest point), Krunkelbachhütte, Scheibenfelsen
7	Bernau – St. Blasien	10.4 km	51 / 140 km	flat forest paths, pine forest, wooden crafts in Bernau

The seven stages add up to 83.3 km. They can be hiked individually as day trips; the shorter sections between St. Blasien, Menzenschwand and Bernau are also suitable for a half-day trip.

The sporty variant

Those who prefer longer days can hike the route in four stages, according to the portal:

Albbruck – Görwihl: 11.9 km
Görwihl – Houses: 27.1 km; the portal calls it the „biggest challenge“ with steep ascents and descents and narrow paths
Häuser – Menzenschwand – Feldberg Passhöhe: 23.7 km
Fieldberg Pass – Bernau – St. Blasien – Häusern: 24.8 km

The portal points to a detour from the Albsteig to Feldberg: about 4 km and 260 meters in elevation in one direction, marked with the signposts of the Black Forest Society.

Highlights on the Albsteig

Canyons and waterfalls

In the lower valley, the path runs through a steep, rocky section with a waterfall called Teufelsküche. Waterfalls are found at several points: the Höllbach waterfalls near Görwihl, the Windberg waterfall near St. Blasien, and the Menzenschwander waterfall, which we discuss in the article on the Höllbach waterfalls. Menzenschwander Waterfall describe in more detail.

Hotzenwald, Albstausee and views

The first stages lead through the silent forests of the Hotzenwalds. At Wolpadingen, the portal mentions an alpine view; other stations include the smuggler trail, the Bildsteinfell rock formation, and the Albstausee lake. After that, the pass elevation of Feldberg, Bernau, and the Bernauer Hochtal follow.

St. Blasien and the Cathedral

St. Blasien is the starting point and the hub of the route: Here the Albsteig and Schluchtensteig meet. The cathedral with its 36-meter-wide dome is worth a visit; details are provided in our article on St. Blasien. In the village in the sky, Höchenschwand, If you are taking a day off between two stages, a trip by car is worthwhile: from our house it is about 23 km, and by car it takes about 25 minutes.

Travel time, arrival and instructions

Travel time: According to the Albsteig portal, the hiking season runs from November; until early May there is a winter break, and the portal strongly advises against hiking during this time.
Equipment: The portal recommends ankle-high hiking shoes with a profiled sole and, if necessary, poles, because some sections can be very steep and slippery.
Dogs: They may be carried with you; there are requirements for wearing a helmet in many places.
Home: For the entire tour, the portal lists Albbruck or St. Blasien as starting points.
Parking: Free parking is available in Albbruck at the community hall, in St. Blasien along the bypass road, and in Seebrugg; at Feldberg, the parking garage and the Grafenmatt parking lot are available.
Accommodation: The portal recommends booking by phone at least one day before arrival; on weekends, holidays, and during the summer holidays, many houses are fully booked.

According to the portal, with the KONUS guest card you can travel between St. Blasien and Albbruck for free by bus and train (about one to one and a half hours). During weekends and holidays, the offer is very limited; for example, there are no connections on the routes between Görwihl and St. Blasien on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

Due to the electrification of the Hochrheinbahn, rail replacement services are in effect from April 26, 2026, which according to the operators will last until 2027. Current schedules can be found on the Deutsche Bahn website.

Albsteig from our house

The stages are easily accessible by car. We calculated the following distances using a route planner:

Goal	Distance from the hotel	Driving time by car
St. Blasien	about 23 km	about 25 minutes
Menzenschwand	about 28 km	about 30 minutes
Albbruck	about 29 km	about 35 minutes
Bernau in the Black Forest	about 33 km	about 35 minutes
Görwihl	about 38 km	about 45 minutes

Our house is therefore a perfect base for day trips: in the morning to the Albtal valley, and in the evening back to Birkendorf. We are located at 800 meters in the Rothauser Land, near the Swiss border. If you are looking for more hiking tips, you will find them on our website. Hiking holiday in the Black Forest.

Photo: Wellnesshotel Sonnenhof & Sonnhalde

After an stage, our Wellness area For relaxation: indoor pool, panoramic sauna with forest views, textile garden sauna, organic steam sauna and Kneipp water walk pool, open daily from 9:00 to 20:00. Our Arrangements Like „Active in the Southern Black Forest“, it includes accommodation, a breakfast buffet, a pampering menu, a lunch snack buffet, use of the wellness area, and the KONUS guest card. You book the rooms directly on the website. Book page.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Albsteig Schwarzwald?

The Albsteig portal lists 83.3 km for the gourmet version with seven stages.

Where does the Albsteig begin and end?

It begins in Albbruck on the Upper Rhine and leads towards the pass of Feldberg, in the opposite direction of the river flow. The portal Albbruck or St. Blasien lists Albbruck or St. Blasien as starting points for the entire tour.

When can you hike the Albsteig?

According to the portal, the season ends in October; from November there is a winter break until early May.

How many days does it take to climb the Albsteig?

The enjoyment variant includes seven stages of 9.6 to 16.4 km each, while the sporty variant includes four stages of 11.9 to 27.1 km.

How far is the Albsteig from your hotel?

St. Blasien is about 23 km from our house, reachable by car in about 25 minutes; Albbruck is about 29 km away, about 35 minutes.

Albsteig Black Forest: Stages and highlights

Albsteig Black Forest: Route and key facts