Hiking in the Northern Black Forest – Boot Trip 3 stages hike

The Northern Black Forest is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts. Here, numerous very well signposted hiking routes of varying lengths and degrees of difficulty await those seeking recreation through a varied landscape.

There are over 24,000 kilometers of marked hiking trails in the Black Forest. In the Northern Black Forest, you will find certified quality trails, premium trails, but also trails and signposted extra tours. It is not easy to keep track of them all. Good that there is the free Black Forest app, which contains over 4000 different tour suggestions for the entire Black Forest.

Whether hikers, cyclists or winter sports enthusiasts, there is actually the right tour for everyone. Many of the suggested tours are not round trips. But that’s not a problem, because the hiking routes often have starting or ending points that are connected to public transport. The free KONUS guest card, which is valid throughout the Black Forest and is issued to overnight guests in many resorts, allows free use of bus and train.

Boot trip 3 stages hike in the Northern Black Forest

The Boot Trip is a 3 stage hike in the Northern Black Forest. The individual route lengths are about 20 kilometers, but you must not forget that it goes uphill and downhill. The goal leads on well-signposted paths through the varied and hikable nature of the region. At the end of each stage there is the possibility to spend the night on the spot.

On the map you can see the complete itinerary of the Boot Trip 3 stages hike.

1st stage: Boot Trip from Höfen to Kaltenbronn

We hiked the first stage of the Boot Trip 3 stage hike from Höfen an der Enz to Kaltenbronn. This route is just under 20 kilometers long and you should plan about 6 hours for it. If you are viewing the tour via app, be sure to make the map available offline. There is little cell phone reception!

Already one day before the hike we had checked in at the end point of our tour in Hotel Sarbacher in Kaltenbronn. From there we left in the morning with the hourly bus 772 (direction Bad Wildbad), which stops almost directly at the hotel. In Bad Wildbad we changed to the S-Bahn in the direction of Pforzheim. This also stops at the station in Höfen an der Enz.

Once we arrived there, however, we didn’t set off for the hike right away. We were first drawn to the Bohemian craft beer Höfener Brauhaus (Schönklingstraße 12/1, 75339 Höfen an der Enz). Here, in front of a residential building, is a refrigerator with freshly brewed beer. We bought a bottle and took it with us as “food”. The beer was quite strong and tart and tasted wonderfully refreshing.

Back at the starting point of the hike then started. The exact route of the 1st stage of the Boot Trip 3 stage hike can be traced on the map or hike.

Hike from Höfen an der Enz to the Eyachmühle Inn

The first signpost that showed us the direction was between the train station and the Hotel Ochsen. We followed the sign “blue rhombus” in the direction of the bench path.

First we went uphill along the road between some residential houses. A path across a small meadow between the houses brought us into the forest. It went quite steeply uphill in zig-zag on natural paths. The weather was not quite so friendly during our stay. Although it was still dry at the beginning of the hike, but the paths but quite soaked from the rain of the previous day and in some places it was very slippery. It is recommended to wear good sturdy shoes!

After a while you reach a gravel path and the signpost to the bench hut. Always following the blue rhombus, the path now alternates between natural paths and gravel paths. Finally, we reached the bench hut, which stands on a small meadow at a crossroads.

From there, still following the trail marking “blue rhombus” we continued uphill to the Eiberg. The path was very lonely, we have not encountered another hiker. A perfect time out in nature with lots of movement, simply gorgeous.

From the Spitzhütte, the path led down into the Eyachtal valley to the restaurant “Eyachmühle”. Here we made a somewhat longer stop with coffee and cake. Those who prefer hearty food will find various Swabian specialties on the menu.

Along the course of the stream

After the refreshment in the restaurant, the hike continued. Standing in front of the restaurant (facing the house), the tour continues to the left. We now followed the “yellow rhombus”, which brought us on the road into the valley.

Now we went along the Eyach, which was not quite so peaceful due to the rainfall, but flowed a bit more vigorously. The path runs in sections over hill and dale, over gravel paths and always upstream to the hiking sign Lehmannshof/bridge. From here you return to the path, which is signposted with the “blue rhombus”.

The path leads through a meadow landscape to the Rotwasserhütte. After crossing a stone bridge, still following the blue rhombus, we went back uphill along the Rotwasser on a natural path, which was quite slippery due to the wetness.

Shortly before the Horn hiking sign, we reached a gravel path again that would take us to the last section of the hike.

The path through the high moor to Kaltenbronn

Following the Mittelweg, which is marked “yellow rhombus”, we finally arrived at the Holzbohlensteig. This trail leads through the high moor and was the highlight of the hike for me.

To the right and left of the path grow ferns and the typical plants of a moorland. Through the trees one could discover the small Hornsee and the Wildsee. A few ducks were not disturbed by the onset of rain and swam comfortably across the lake.

Unfortunately, the benches were a bit too wet to sit here in peace and enjoy the view. But it is really worth it. The view is unique and – since there was no cell phone reception here either – no messages, no calls disturbed – the digital detox led to deceleration.

After a while we reached a gravel road again, where the Leonardhütte offered some rain protection.

We went slightly downhill following the path with the yellow rhombus in the direction of Kaltenbronn. The roaring deer in the game preserve at the Kaltenbronn information center greeted us. Past the game preserve, the tour leads directly to the door of the Hotel Sarbacher, where we had started our tour in the morning.

Fancy more?

There are two more stages that complete the Boot Trip 3 stages hike “In the north at the top”.

2nd stage: Boot Trip 3 stage hike “In the north at the top”: Kaltenbronn – Bad Herrenalb

Through the Hohlohmoor it goes to Bad Herrenalb. The exact route can be seen on the map for the 2nd stage of the Boot Trip 3 stage hike.

3rd stage: Boot trip “In the north at the top”: Bad Herrenalb – Neuenbürg

The trail leads from the spa town of Bad Herrenalb to Neuenbürg. From there you can take public transport to the starting point of the first stage (Höfen an der Enz).

If you would like to hike the tour, you can find out the route on the map.

Things to know about the 1st stage of the Boot Trip 3 stages hike

The hike took place as part of a research trip to the Northern Black Forest.