Leading over 50 miles ( 80 km) and almost 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) of elevation gain, the Albsteig takes you through the Black Forest in Germany from the High Rhine River to Feldberg, a popular winter resort. Along the way, you will discover wild gorges, dense fir forests, panoramic views and unrivalled tranquility as you hike the narrow paths and dirt roads through the forest. You will walk along the banks of the River Alb and up to vantage points overlooking the magnificent Black Forest. The Albsteig is a wonderful hiking destination in southwest Germany that will take you away from any crowds.

Your adventure begins in the village of Albbruck on the Upper Rhine which lies directly on the Swiss border. Allbruck is easy to reach by train. Following pretty hiking trails, the first three stages take you to the small town of St. Blasien past roaring waterfalls and panormas of the Swiss Alps Shortly after St. Blasien, the Alb splits into two arms: the Menzenschwand Alb and the Bernau Alb. It’s up to you to decide which arm of the river you follow; both routes rejoin each other in Feldberg in five days time. If you can’t make up your mind, you can also hike both routes: one to Feldberg and the other back to St. Bastian. This lets you enjoy all of the hiking trails, adding two days to your trip. On the east route, you will visit picturesque waterfalls whilst the west route reveals great views over the Herzogenhorn, the highest point of the Albsteig.

At the end of every stage, you will find comfortable accommodation and there are also plenty of places to stop for refreshments en route. If you don’t want to hike the entire trail in one go, you can walk individual stages. The start and finish pints are well-connected to public transport. Many towns en route also have a tourist information office. All that is left is to set foot in this picturesque landscape, follow the meandering Alb and enjoy the stunning nature in the Black Forest.

More and more people want to explore and experience the impressive nature in the Black Forest — whether by hiking, by cycling or on a mountain bike. But we as humans are only guests here in the Black Forest — and the animals and plants are our hosts. That's why #RespectForNature is mandatory for all nature lovers, because only with respect we'll preserve the Black Forest in its beauty for our descendants.

You can find out more about the #respectfornature initiative on our profile page komoot.com/user/schwarzwaldtourismus or at respekt-schwarzwald.info.