7 excursion tips in Bad Wildbad for the whole family
Bad Wildbad is located in the narrow day of the Enz river in the northern Black Forest. High above the spa town you will find some great excursions for the whole family.
The best way to reach the excursion sites in Bad Wildbad is to take the S6 or the bus to the town. From the station, it is not far to the funicular railway that goes up to the Sommerberg.
1. Sommerbergbahn
The Sommerbergbahn is Baden-Württemberg’s highest funicular railway, which takes you from the Enz valley in Bad Wildbad up to the Sommerberg, 291 metres higher. The valley station is located at Uhlandplatz. The railway line is not integrated into the local public transport system, although it provides an ideal connection to the residential area on the mountain as well. You therefore need an extra ticket, which you can buy from vending machines at the valley and mountain stations.
The Sommerbergbahn has existed in the Northern Black Forest since 1908. It was financed by private investors. They wanted to use the railway to integrate the Sommerberg area into the health resort and thus generate additional sources of income. In 1910, the town then took over the quite lucrative operation. In the meantime, the railway has been modernised several times and modern trains have been running on the line since 2010. Something special is that bikers can enjoy a pleasant ride to the top station via the separate biker access at the bottom station and special areas in the small train.
The length of the railway is 738 metres and it has a gradient of 37-53%. Two trains, which are connected to each other by a traction cable, depart from the stations at the same time. The line is single-track and there is a passing point in the middle where the trains meet. If you take a closer look at the two trains, the names King Wilhelm II and Queen Charlotte immediately catch your eye. The royal couple of Württemberg used the former railway for a trip to the Sommerberg in 1910 and the trains now bear their names in their memory.
The mountain station was rebuilt after a fire in 1954. Today, in addition to the entrance to the railway, there is also an information room about the offers in the Northern Black Forest, a café and a viewing platform. Access to this free viewing point is inside the building. The view of the railway line and the valley is unique!
A ride on the funicular is an experience and an unforgettable excursion in Bad Wildbad. The panorama cars offer a fantastic view of the valley. Next to the track you look into the fir high forest typical of the Northern Black Forest. Unfortunately, the journey is over far too quickly. But instead, the Sommerberg awaits the passenger with its diverse excursion possibilities.
Fares of the Sommerbergbahn:
Adults Single ticket: 4,-€ Round trip: 7,-€ The current tariffs can be found on the Webseite .
Timetable:
The current journey times are published on the provider’s webseite.
2. Unusual overnight stay in the Northern Black Forest
Are you familiar with Sleeperoos? This is a small tent-like (but much more stable) two-person accommodation that is usually found in very unusual places.
During our visit, there were two of these “sleeping cabins” at the top station of the Sommerbergbahn. A truly dreamlike place that promises peace and relaxation as soon as the cable car stops running and the visitors are back in the valley. The best part, however, is the view over the Enz valley and the Black Forest. Who wouldn’t dream of that?
3. Black Forest treetop path
Not far from the mountain station, the Black Forest treetop path was opened in 2014. For us, it is always an experience to discover the region from a different perspective and so a visit is simply part of the experience.
From the entrance with the cash desk area, you enter a wooden walkway about 630 metres long. It rises gently, hardly noticeable, and reaches a height of about 20 metres above the forest floor.
If you walk along this path, you move between the trees and only occasionally manage to catch a glimpse of the valley. But the view into the forest offers plenty of variety. Every now and then you see a squirrel scampering up the trunks and the birds chirping in the treetops.
Information boards and activity stations along the trail tell you a lot about local nature. Not only popular with children, but with almost every age group, are the adventure stations offered along the trail. Walking over wobbly elements, balancing on ropes and seeing the forest floor deep below – it takes a bit of courage and skill. But don’t worry, if you don’t want to go this way, just stay on the main trail.
After a while, the observation tower appears in front of you. The tower has a unique construction that allows visitors to climb up a spiral construction with a maximum gradient of 6%.
The higher you get, the more beautiful the view. After 620 metres you have reached a height of about 40 metres and from the very top the view is breathtaking. You look out over the dense forests of the Black Forest and, if the visibility is good, you can even make out the Stuttgart TV tower and the Swabian Alb. For me, a great vantage point that wonderfully reflects the vastness of this unique landscape.
Don’t feel like walking down the tower again? No problem! At certain times, you can use the spiral slide in the middle of the tower for a fee. Sitting on a slide carpet, you whizz down 55 metres. A great experience not only for children!
Opening hours:
January – March, November, December daily 9:30 – 16 h April, October daily 9:30 – 18 h May – September daily 9:30 – 19 h
Admission fees:
Adults: € 11.50 Discounts are available.
Detailed information on the current opening hours and admission prices can be found on the webseite of the provider.
4. Excursion tip in Bad Wildbad: Adventure Forest Sommerberg
You can already see it from the treetop path, the adventure forest. What a huge playground for children in the middle of the forest!
There are about 20 different play stations for children on about 8000 m². From the traditional sandpit and slide to ropeways and a giant bouncy cushion, there are plenty of varied highlights for children to discover here. Parents can make themselves comfortable at picnic tables and watch their offspring.
Unfortunately, use of the adventure forest is not free of charge. But with the variety of things on offer, you can spend a lot of time there and have a great day.
Opening hours:
Friday till Monday and open daily during holidays in Baden-Württemberg and on public holidays
from 14 April: 10 – 18 h May – September: 10 -19 h October: 10 – 18 h
Admission fees:
Children under 3 years: free Persons over 3 years: 7,-€
5. Fairy Tale Trail “The Cold Heart”
The fairytale trail “The Cold Heart” begins at the tower of the tree-top walk. We walked along the 3.2-kilometre-long circular trail for a while and were able to gain a small impression.
Right at the beginning of the trail, you should download an app indicated there onto your mobile phone. Later, the information can be accessed offline.
There are various stations along the barrier-free path. The radio play “The Cold Heart” by Wilhelm Hauff is narrated there. In addition, you can learn about the Black Forest and its inhabitants from the child-friendly information boards. But the topics of rafting, Black Forest specialities and glassmaking are also addressed.
6. WILDLINE suspension bridge
From the Fairytale Trail you can reach one of the most popular and impressive excursion tips in Bad Wildbad, the WILDLINE suspension bridge.
Supported by two pylons and held by two steel cables, a suspension bridge leads over a precipice of about 300 metres. It is the only suspension bridge in Europe that has been built upwards in the shape of an arch.
After buying your ticket, you pass a turnstile and go onto the bridge. You walk across a grating with an unobstructed view downwards; it takes some effort to look down. Even without wind, the bridge sways slightly as you walk the 380 metres to the other side. There you can leave the bridge through a turnstile or go back to the starting point.
The view from the bridge is unique!
Opening hours:
15 February – 31 October: 9 am – 7:30 pm
November – 14 February: 9 am – 4:30 pm
Admission fees:
Single ticket: €9.50 Discounts are available.
You can find out the exact opening hours and current prices on the provider’s webseite .
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There is a small ski slope with two ski lifts on the Sommerberg. There are also cross-country ski trails through the forest area.
A restaurant is located directly at the top station of the drag lift and invites you to take a cosy break during winter sports.
Travel information for Bad Wildbad
How to find us
By car If you are travelling by car, you should park it in a multi-storey car park in Bad Wildbad and take the funicular to the Sommerberg. There is a paid car park directly on the Sommerberg about 10 minutes’ walk from the entrance to the tree-top walk.
By bus You can reach Bad Wildbad with bus line 420. Bus: Freudenstadt – Bad Wildbad / Bad Wildbad – Freudenstadt Line: Calw – Bad Wildbad / Bad Wildbad – Calw Bus route: Bad Herrenalb – Bad Wildbad / Bad Wildbad – Bad Herrenalb
By local public transport Bad Wildbad is connected to the rail network by the S 6 line. The city railway runs on the Enztalbahn line to Pforzheim. There are several stops in the town area. The Uhlandplatz/Sommerbergbahn station allows you to take the Sommerbergbahn directly to the excursion area.
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