Hiking in the Black Forest: The premium trail and Black Forest gourmet trail Teinacher
Exciting history, idyllic valleys, unspoiled nature — these are the characteristics of the gourmet trail "Der Teinacher" in the Black Forest. The start is at the outdoor pool parking lot at the entrance to Bad Teinach in the northern Black Forest. After just a few meters, the hiker is surrounded by much nature and beautiful views on the Berry Path into the WanderWelten Teinachtal.
The Teinach valley accompanies the hiker for some time until it goes over the highlight of the gourmet trail, the Mathildensteps with over 600 steps up to the heights around Emberg. With the Wolf’s Gorge, we reach the spooky part of the hike before then ascending again into the romantic old town of Zavelstein with its impressive castle ruins. Descending again into the Teinach valley, we are surprised by a monument, the Adolfshöhe.
The conclusion to this eventful hiking tour is the section that runs directly along the Teinach, promising peace, nature, and originality. A gourmet hike that is somewhat more challenging, but promises much experience in the northern Black Forest.
Thanks to support from the Black Forest Association, the gourmet trail "Der Teinacher" was implemented in the Black Forest. Information on Black Forest Association signage
Detailed route description for the premium trail "Der Teinacher" - hiking in the northern Black Forest
Exciting history, idyllic valleys, unspoiled nature and beautiful views form the framework of the Black Forest Gourmet Trail and premium hiking trail "Der Teinacher". The name givers are the little river Teinach and the famous mineral water from Bad Teinach. We start our varied route at the parking lot of the Teinach outdoor pool. There are plenty of free parking spaces available there.
A short climb leads us onto the Berry Path, where we can immediately enjoy the first view into the magnificent Teinach valley with spa park and thermal bath of the Hotel ThermeTeinach at the hut "Beautiful View". On this pleasant panoramic path, we are accompanied by unique documents of former spa guests, carved in stone, gratefully reporting on their healing successes at the Teinach mineral springs, next to the "Mooshäusle", the "upside-down little house" (with a first view of our intermediate destination, Zavelstein Castle) and the sandstone-formed Centennial Bench.
The path leads gently downhill to the impressive Devil’s Bridge, a round-arched bridge made of large sandstone blocks. However, we cross the Teinach quite adventurously on large stepping stones. The view into the beautiful Teinach valley with its original weather-beaten hay huts inspires dreams of a vacation. After these moments of calm, we pay attention to traffic when crossing L 374 and soon afterwards K 4329. Immediately after the second road crossing, the path turns sharply right. We now enjoy the valley to the left of the Teinach until the viewpoint "Der Teinacher".
It is worth lingering here a bit, taking a look at the production facilities of Teinacher Mineralbrunnen GmbH and mentally preparing for a strenuous ascent. One last sip of the healthy mineral water, warm clothes in the backpack, and off we go along narrow paths up through the Mathildenanlage built over 250 years ago. Many stone benches made of Buntsandstein testify to the aristocratic promenades of earlier times. The now following over 600 steps were once built by Queen Mathilde. Today, they bring the hiker up to the height of Emberg. This ascent requires some stamina, sure-footedness and coordination.
Striking Buntsandstein rock formations, dark forests and mystical forest spots accompany us on the eventful, though strenuous climb to the high plateau. There we find wide pastures and a resting place to catch our breath, dry off sweat, and replenish hydration. Along a meadow path beside a wild hedge, we enjoy the pleasant, fresh mountain air. Shortly before Emberg our path branches off at a right angle. Soon we enter the forest again and hike on a forest road to the Rötenbach. Here we must be careful not to miss the left turn into the gorge!
A winding, wild path allows us to cross the small brook and the valley. Then we go downhill on a forest road until we reach the point "Mountain Hut". It is definitely worth the few meters left up to the hut to take a small break and enjoy the view of the castle and the Heckengäu. Back on the forest road, we continue downhill through a true fairy tale forest. Long lichens hang from the branches of the trees, thick moss muffles our steps, and you get the feeling that fairies and goblins make their home everywhere in the forest here. The dream soon ends though, because just the name of the following gorge, Wolf's Gorge, recalls rather unpleasant times in the Black Forest. After some time on enchanting paths, we cross the Rötenbach at the "Evening Bridge". We ascend towards the Castle Mountain Hut (a managed mountain hut made from local timber) and pass above the cemetery of Bad Teinach, continuing past former gardens of Teinach citizens.
At the end of the path, it goes sharply left uphill then immediately right. We cross L 346. On the opposite side of the road, the path forks. We take the right fork and face another fairly steep ascent. At the next signpost, turn left onto Castle Path and soon we can make out the remains of the old Zavelstein Castle. A visit to the castle should definitely be included. The climb up the tower is rewarded with a unique panorama. Then our path leads through the old town; a little time travel begins and transports us back to the Middle Ages. On ancient cobblestones, we walk past a mighty fountain, pretty half-timbered houses, an old smithy and the impressive former fortified church St. Georg. All these impressions can also be enjoyed with a cup of coffee and a piece of cake or other treats.
At the end of the old half-timbered street, we turn right and immediately right again, walking down the slope on a wide path with views of the town and the castle ruin. The path enters the forest again and soon we are back on narrow natural paths.
After a while, we are surprised by the "Adolfshöhe", a monument with a peculiar shape that cannot be assigned to any architectural style or era. The "Teinacher" then stretches above old manor houses out of the valley. Here too, we must not be tempted by the broad forest road and be cautious not to miss the turnoff to the Schiller Cabin.
A hut with an interesting past, as a sign explains. A few more meters downhill through the forest and we stand at the B 463, which we cross carefully. Opposite, we descend to the Teinach, cross it over the Lang Bridge and then immediately enter on the right into the untouched flora and fauna of the beautiful nature of the Teinach valley. From now on, the soothing babbling of the Teinach accompanies us and we enjoy the wonderfully natural path. In summer, the first sounds of the Bad Teinach outdoor pool soon reveal that we are at the destination of our eventful hike.
An important note for hikers:
Almost all the stairs and steps we encounter on the way are often uneven and natural, often also in the forest, so they can be quite slippery when wet or humid. For these reasons, hiking the "Teinacher" in the described direction, i.e. clockwise, is highly recommended.
