The Bernauer Hochtal Steig, which has been awarded the status of a Black Forest premium hiking trail, guarantees an exceptional hiking experience: it leads through fairytale forests and across extensive pasture fields for around 16 kilometres and offers beautiful views of the highest Black Forest peaks, the Alps and the Bernauer Hochtal. Eight sky loungers at exposed points tempt you to take a rest: Box seats in the midst of nature. Halfway along the trail, the Krunkelbachhütte mountain inn invites you to take a break.
Autorentipp
A stop at the Krunkelbach-Hütte mountain inn is very cosy. If you sit outside, you can enjoy the view of the summit of the Herzogenhorn.
Wegbeschreibung
The Bernauer Hochtal Steig starts at the Ankenbühl hiking car park above the district of Weierle at 885 metres. It first leads across a mountain pasture to Holzmättle (875 m), from here it goes uphill on a partly rocky, partly rooty forest path to the 1,075 m high Hohfelsen. From this rock massif, you have a marvellous view of the high valley with the districts of Oberlehen, Unterlehen and Weierle. A short stretch through the forest, then you walk along extensive mountain pastures. Hinterwälder cattle can be seen here, the smallest breed of cattle in Europe. At the Riggenbacher Eck at 1,125 m is the Neumannshütte, a refuge with a barbecue area and far-reaching views of the Bernau valley. The next stage leads along beautiful forest paths to the Spießhörnern. The "Am Kleinen Spießhorn" viewpoint at 1,330 metres is one of the box seats: The second-highest Black Forest peak, the Herzogenhorn (1,415 m), Bernau's local mountain, is in view. And the third highest peak, the Belchen (1,414 m) with its bare summit. On a clear day, the long Alpine chain is impressive - the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau are 140 kilometres away. Whether near or far: You can hardly get enough of the panorama. And if you want to know which mountains lie ahead, look through the Viscope - a telescope that automatically displays mountain names and their heights. A little further through the forest and you will reach the 1,349 metre high Spießhorn with its summit pavilion. It is also the highest point of the Hochtal Steig. Across the neighbouring valley of Menzenschwand, you can see the mighty dome of St. Blasien Cathedral in the distance. Now it's downhill through sparse coniferous forest - the path is beautiful with its winding roots. You then cross a pasture field up to the 1,294 m high Krunkelbach hut. The path now leads back towards Bernau. From the Himmelsliege on the Milchberg above the Krunkelbach hut, the view sweeps over the entire Bernau high valley. The Hochtal Steig and Hans-Thoma-Weg run together. Narrow and steep in places, the path winds downhill through beautiful mixed beech forest, then across mountain meadows and pastures to the Scheibenfelsen rock at 1,052 metres. After leaving the Scheibenfelsen, the Hochtal Steig turns into the Bernauer Panoramaweg - one of the most beautiful paths with far-reaching views in the southern Black Forest. With almost no ups and downs, you can enjoy the sunny side of the high valley along extensive mountain pastures at an altitude of around 1000 metres. Finally you reach the Kaiserberg. From here, the Hochtal Steig only leads downhill back to the starting point.
Ausrüstung
We recommend that you bring sturdy shoes, sufficient provisions and, on warm days, enough water and sun protection!
