This tour combines magnificent natural experiences and breathtakingly clear views with a touch of history. You walk along the historic border trail (“Grenzweg”), the former border between Baden and Wurttemberg with old boundary stones, to Kniebis. There you can discover the ruined 13th century monastery. At the viewpoint “Ellbachseeblick” you can look even further back into the past down to the idyllic glacial lake “Ellbachsee”. It was formed during the last Ice Age and still enchants its visitors today.
Directions
Follow the “Mittelweg“ trail (red diamond with white stripe) towards Zwieselberg: across the “Loßburger Straße“ and the Lower Market Square, passing to the right of the town church “Stadtkirche“ through the alleyway. Cross the “Schickhardt-, Alfred-, Gärtner- and Rappenstraße and follow the “Wölperwiesenweg” out of town.
Over the footbridge (signpost Bässler Brücke, at the Teuchelwald Car Park), turn right into the “Teuchelweg” trail and walk past the Waldcafe and the Agnesruhe shelter to Eiserne Hand. Via Schwenke and Fliegerstein head further towards Zwieselberg and at Finsterteich walk left downhill into the valley of the “Kleine Kinzig” river (signpost Frauenteich). At "Kinziglehütte" cross the footbridge Kinzigbrückle and walk uphill on a narrow path via Staig and Pfaffenwald to Zwieselberg /Hirsch.
Across the road begins the border trail (“Grenzweg”, follow the blue diamond) to Zwieselberger Eck. Along the way, at intervals of 100 m, you can see old boundary stones, some with well-preserved coats of arms. 800 m after the signpost Buchwaldhöhe, turn left on the forestry trail for about 200 m to the signpost Spindelhau. From there, follow the footpath to the left towards Auerhahnköpfle, where the Grenzweg branches off to the right to Mooswiese.
Now leave the Grenzweg and follow the yellow diamond to the right to the Abendwieshütte shelter with its barbecue area and continue via the footbridge (Fußgängerbrücke) to the ruined monastery in Kniebis-Dorf. After a short climb on the “Kohlwaldweg”, the hiking trail turns left leading to the Parkplatz Kohlwald and continues to the Ellbachseeblick (blue diamond). From the viewing platform, you can enjoy the fantastic view over the “Ellbachsee” lake and the village of Mitteltal to the “Hornisgrinde”, the highest mountain in the Northern Black Forest (1,164 m).
Passing Rankweg, Muckenloch and Stadion you arrive at the visitor centre, where the tour ends. From the bus stop “Skistadion” you can take the bus back to Freudenstadt.
(The words printed in bold are the names of the signposts.)
Equipment
Rugged footwear is recommended.
Safety information
Be careful, the footpaths are slippery when wet. No accessibility in case of snow.
More information
Informationen zur einheitlichen Wegebeschilderung im Schwarzwald siehe https://www.schwarzwaldverein.de/schwarzwald/wanderwege/die-wegweiser . Die Beschilderung besteht aus Hauptwegweisern mit Standortangabe und verschiedenen Zielen mit Entfernungsangabe sowie verschiedenfarbigen Rauten, die den Wanderer von einem Schilderstandort zum nächsten leiten (örtliche Wanderwege = gelbe Raute / regionale Wanderwege = blaue Raute / Fernwanderwege & Themenwege = eigene Raute oder Toursymbol pro Weg).
