The scent of pine cones, the murmur of streams and wide views from numerous vantage points – the Lauterbach climatic health resort in the heart of the Black Forest spoils all of your senses. The forested and fertile valleys are great for hiking. From wide plateaus, you enjoy magnificent views to the Swiss and Vorarlberg Alps as well as to the Vosges Mountains. In the valleys, you encounter traditional farms, species-rich wetlands and shimmering biotopes.

Hidden gems such as the Bergkapelle mountain chapels, Kapfhäusle farmhouses, pulpits and lookout towers make the Lauterbacher Wandersteig unique. The hike leads you 35 kilometres (21.7 mi) through the hilly Black Forest. You can start anywhere along the route as it's circular. In this Collection, I’ve divided the route into two stages, but you can also leave yourself more time or reverse the direction of travel.

Starting from the town of Lauterbach, the Lauterbacher Wandersteig is a designated Wanderbares Deutschland premium trail. The first stage is the shortest and takes you from the Lauterbach Valley up to the plateau at Falkenhöhe. You hike over the Fohrenbühl Pass to the Mooswaldkopf, the highest point of the Lauterbacher Wandersteig.

The next day, you come across boundary stones along the former border between Baden and Württemberg in the forest. The wide, high Sulzbach Valley offers you a Black Forest idyll straight from the pages of a book: houses decorated with flowers, green pastures and small chapels. You pass highlights such as the Felsenmeer boulder field and Hohenschramberg castle ruins as you hike back to the starting point in Lauterbach.

Since there are no refreshment stops on the first stage, I recommend taking a snack and enough water with you. On the second day, you can take a break at the Gasthaus Heuwiese or in the town of Schramberg. You can best reach Lauterbach by car. The nearest train station is in Hornbach. Alternatively, you can take the bus (number 55 from St. Georgen im Schwarzwald station) to Schramberg and join the Lauterbacher Wandersteig from there.

Due to its compact length and easily walkable paths, the Lauterbacher Wandersteig is perfect for a weekend trip. You don't need any previous knowledge, so you can take on this long-distance hike as a novice. Just make sure you bring enough stamina.