The starting point is Freiburg im Breisgau, the lowest point of the entire route. From Schwabentor, the trail leads up to the Schlossberg above the sunny vineyards and on to the pilgrimage church of St Ottilien, down into the Zarten basin. In the Dreisamtal valley, the trail climbs steeply from Buchenbach up to the rocky pulpits above the Höllental valley with their spectacular views and on to Hinterzarten. In the Black Forest Highlands with its characteristic Black Forest farms, we hike along Lake Titisee, the largest natural lake in the Black Forest. We then climb up to the viewing tower on the Hochfirst. At 1190 metres above sea level, it is the highest point of the cross-country trail. Mountain stages are followed by gorges. We hike along the Haslach to the confluence with the Gutach, where the two join to form the "raging Aach". We walk through the botanically and geologically significant Wutach Gorge via Schattenmühle to Achdorf, where the Wutach is diverted towards the Rhine. We reach Blumberg through its former "Blumberger Pforte" and climb the Buchberg, which offers great views. With a view of the Sauschwänzle railway, we hike to the village of Randen on the mountain of the same name. The Hohe Randen is already part of the Swabian Alb. At the Blauer Stein, we have crossed the geographical border to Hegau. We can marvel at its volcanic cone from afar on the scenic Alter Postweg from Riedöschingen to the pretty little town of Engen. They are right on the way to Singen. Behind them is the Friedinger Schlössle, the last of the 400 castles that once stood in the Hegau region. The view from the former Homburg castle above Stahringen is impressive. Through the wooded Bodanrück between Untersee and Überlinger See, the cross-country trail leads to numerous natural beauties. On the way to Constance are the Mindelsee lake and the wildly romantic and steep Marienschlucht gorge.
