Hotel Hofgut Sternen
Why we like it: An old inn of the Höllental, at the entrance to the Ravenna Gorge, with 107 four-star rooms in four houses, one of which hosted Goethe.
Duration2 nights
From Basel1 h 10 by car to the Schauinsland
From SpainFlight to Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL) and a hire car
Getting aroundBy car
Best timeMay – October
BringMountain footwear for the Feldbergsteig
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed to leave Basel on a Friday morning and return on Sunday afternoon, from May to October, by car. You sleep both nights at the Hofgut Sternen, in the Höllental, less than an hour from everything.
Friday
- 108:45Cable car to the Schauinsland
From Basel to the valley station, in Horben, in about 70 minutes. Cabin up to 1,284 m, €15 return, and a walk to the viewing tower.
- 211:00On foot to Die Halde
It is 2 km along the summit from the top station. Lunch from 12:30 at the hotel restaurant: game from the nearby hunting grounds and Baden Rostbraten. Booking essential.
- 315:00Cake at Die Bergstation
Back at the cabin, coffee and cake on the terrace beside the station; open until 17:00.
- 416:00To the Hofgut Sternen
Ride down on the cable car and drive about 45 minutes to the Höllental. Check-in from 15:00; dinner in the SchwarzwaldStube, with a reservation.
Saturday
- 109:00Feldbergsteig
About 40 minutes to the Haus der Natur, at the Feldberg pass. The loop is 12.4 km and takes about 5 hours, over the summit, the huts and the Feldsee.
- 213:30Lunch at the Raimartihof
In the second half of the route, beside the Feldsee: goulash from its Galloway cattle or Kaiserschmarrn. Kitchen until 17:30 on Saturday.
- 317:30The Ravenna Gorge
From the hotel door, walk up the gorge to the mill and back: the prettiest part of the Heimatpfad, without doing the whole loop. Dinner in the SchwarzwaldStube.
Sunday
- 109:30Triberg waterfalls
About 50 minutes from the Höllental. With the Triberg-Card, €9 in summer 2027, you also get into the Schwarzwaldmuseum.
- 212:30Lunch at the Gasthaus Staude
A quarter of an hour away, in the meadows of Gremmelsbach. Trout, game and a three-tier Black Forest gateau.
- 314:15Vogtsbauernhof museum and journey home
Big-roofed farmhouses in Gutach; €13, last entry at 17:00. From Gutach to Basel, an hour and a half.
From Basel in one day you see a corner of the Black Forest; in two nights you combine the south and the centre. You sleep at the Hofgut Sternen, the old inn of the Höllental, and from there you go up the Schauinsland, walk the loop around the Feldberg, the summit of the Black Forest, go down the Ravenna Gorge, which starts at the hotel's door, and on Sunday you return via Triberg and the farmhouses of the Vogtsbauernhof.
How do you get there from Spain?
There is a direct flight from several Spanish cities to Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg airport (BSL). Hire the car at the airport: this plan needs it, because the Feldberg, the Höllental and Triberg are in different valleys. From the airport to the Schauinsland cable car it is a little over an hour via the A5 and Freiburg.
Where to sleep?
| Accommodation | Area | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Hofgut Sternen | Höllental, at the entrance to the Ravenna Gorge | Both nights; dogs allowed for €19 a night |
| Camping Kirchzarten | Dreisam valley, at the gates of Freiburg | With a tent or motorhome; open all year |
| Hotel Die Halde | Schauinsland pass, at 1,147 m | If you want a spa and half board included; from €382 a night |
| Gasthaus Staude | Gremmelsbach, above Triberg | If you prefer to spend the second night in the centre |
What if I have an extra day?
Spend Monday in Freiburg, going down the B31, or do the whole Heimatpfad loop from Hinterzarten, 7.25 km through the Löffeltal and the gorge. Bear in mind that the Gasthaus Staude is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
With children
The cable car, the Ravenna Gorge, the waterfalls and the museum work with children who walk. The Feldbergsteig is long: with small children, leave the car at Rinken, above Hinterzarten, and walk 3 km along a pushchair-friendly track to the Raimartihof and the Feldsee.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
Black Forest, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Black Forest
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Where to stay
Where to stay in Black Forest
Hotel Die Halde
Why we like it: A 39-room mountain hotel at 1,147 m on the Schauinsland, with a 1,100 m² spa, a pool with a view of the Feldberg and light full board included.
From €382
View details
Camping Kirchzarten
Why we like it: A family campsite open all year at the gates of Freiburg, with 365 tourist pitches, a summer swimming pool included and free public transport with the KONUS card.
From €26
View details
Where to eat
Where to eat in Black Forest
Raimartihof, the Feldsee farm
What to order: the house Galloway beef goulash with Spätzle, or the Kaiserschmarrn with plum compote if you arrive mid-afternoon.
Closed Mondays (kiosk only) · Tuesday to Thursday, 10:00 to 17:00 · Friday to Sunday, until 18:00 · On foot or by bike only
Die Bergstation, café and restaurant on the Schauinsland
What to order: a Flammkuchen or the Baden dish with sausage salad and herbed fresh cheese; in the afternoon, cake from the display.
Every day from 9:30 to 17:00 · Monday and Tuesday, self-service only · Closes during cable-car maintenance
Gasthaus Staude
What to order: fresh trout or a game dish at midday, and for dessert the three-tier Black Forest gateau, if they have it that day.
Wednesday to Sunday · Lunch from 11:30 to 14:00 · Coffee from 14:30 to 17:00 · Dinner from 17:30 to 21:00 · Closed Monday and Tuesday
Tips
Worth knowing first
Local tip
Check the calendar before you book: the Raimartihof is closed on Mondays and in November, the Vogtsbauernhof from November to March and the Schauinsland cable car for a few weeks in spring and autumn for inspection.
We'd skip it
From November to March: the Vogtsbauernhof museum is closed, there is snow on the Feldberg and the Ravenna Gorge is slippery.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car?
Yes. Without a car you can reach every place, but not all of them in two days.
How long does it take from Basel?
About 70 minutes to the Schauinsland and an hour and a half back from Gutach.
Is the Feldbergsteig hard?
It is demanding: 12.4 km, 502 m of ascent and about 5 hours.
Does the hotel accept dogs?
Yes, the Hofgut Sternen, with notice and €19 a night.