Schluchtensteig

The Schluchtensteig is a 119 km, eight-stage long-distance trail linking the gorges (Schluchten) of the central and southern Black Forest, running from the half-timbered town of Schiltach to Stühlingen near the Swiss border. The trail begins at Schiltach's Marktplatz, reachable by the Kinzigtalbahn line to Schiltach station, and finishes at Stühlingen station. Across its full length the route accumulates roughly 3,900 m of climbing, a strenuous multi-day undertaking typically covering 6 to 8 days at 10-20 km per stage, with sustained ascents and descents through steep gorge terrain each day. Surface conditions vary by stage, from packed forest track and gravel roads to narrow, root-crossed paths within the gorges themselves, including the Wutachschlucht stage where wooden footbridges cross the river; shade is generous through the forested gorge sections, with more open, exposed stretches on the ridge connections between valleys. Landmarks include the Wutachschlucht gorge stage, one of Germany's deepest, and numerous waterfalls and narrow river ravines encountered throughout the route, in addition to the half-timbered old town of Schiltach at the start. Each stage typically ends in a village with guesthouse accommodation, such as Schönwald or Lenzkirch, functioning as the overnight shelter network rather than mountain huts; hikers should carry water between villages, refilling at each overnight stop. Shorter day-hikers can sample individual stages, such as the Wutachschlucht section, without committing to the full traverse.