Camping in the Black Forest

The Black Forest is one of the most beautiful low mountain ranges in Germany and a dream for nature-loving campers. With its dense forests, green meadows, clear bathing lakes and sunny mountain meadows, the Black Forest promises a unique nature experience. At the same time, the numerous award-winning campsites offer plenty of comfort and a first-class range of leisure activities.

Camping in the Black Forest: all important information at a glance

The Black Forest is an ideal holiday destination for a camping holiday in Germany. Probably no other region is so diverse and therefore suitable for the most varied tastes. Campers can choose whether they want to spend their holiday in a dreamy meadow valley, in the dense forest or at one of the popular bathing lakes such as Titisee, Schluchsee or Kirnbergsee.

The standard of the campsites in the region has improved significantly in recent years. Campers can find a pitch for their motorhome, caravan or tent at over 60 sites in the Black Forest. 20 of them have 4 or 5 stars. Many of them are classified by the ADAC and offer outstanding quality and tested comfort at a high level.

Despite everything, Black Forest camping still offers a closeness to nature that is often sought in vain elsewhere. In Langenwald, at Schluchsee and in many other places in the Upper Black Forest , there are a number of excellent nature campsites where you can quickly leave the hustle and bustle of the big city behind you.

There are even special trekking camps in the Black Forest National Park between Baden-Baden and Freudenstadt . These campsites are only accessible on foot and are ideal for nature lovers and hikers with tents who want to spend the night under the stars** and with the sound of rustling leaves in the forest.

Many campsites also cater specifically for holidaymakers who bring their children camping in the Black Forest. These campsites are particularly family-friendly holiday paradises and have playgrounds and a family-friendly leisure programme that promises plenty of variety.

The best campsites in the Black Forest

Camping fans in the Black Forest need not complain about a lack of choice. There are numerous excellent campsites in the popular holiday region for camping fun with a caravan, motorhome, tent or in a rented mobile home.

• Kreuzhof campsite: a particularly family-friendly site with a natural swimming lake, children's area, adventure playground, sauna and steam bath for the perfect family holiday.
• Schwarzwaldcamping Alisehof: popular campsite in the romantic Wolftal valley, one of the most beautiful valleys in the southern northern Black Forest.
• Camping Schluchsee: quiet and natural campsite on Schluchsee, one of the cleanest bathing lakes in Germany .
• Camping Langenwald: family campsite in the heart of the northern Black Forest, not far from the Black Forest National Park and with excellent connections to the neighbouring network of hiking trails.
• Camping Kirnbergsee: Spacious site in a dreamy location between green meadows, forest and the Kirnbergsee lake with excellent leisure facilities.
• Camping Schwarzwaldhorn: 4-star campsite in a fantastic scenic setting in Simonswald.
• Camping Steingrubenhof: Idyllically situated campsite in a monastery village in the Southern Black Forest Nature Park.
• Camping Münstertal: 5-star campsite with panoramic views of the gently rising Münstertal valley and state-of-the-art facilities, a wellness area and a wide range of leisure activities for children.

In addition to pitches for caravans, many campsites also offer tent pitches, glamping tents, mobile homes, rental caravans or bungalows for overnight stays. The facilities on the pitches often include shops, swimming facilities, dog showers and wellness treatments.

On the pitches in the Black Forest, an electricity connection and a connection for waste water are part of the minimum equipment. Sanitary facilities, a waste disposal station for dishwashers etc. and a fresh water supply are also available on some pitches.

How to get to the Black Forest

The easiest way for campers from the west of Germany to travel to the holiday paradise of the Black Forest is via the A5 motorway. This route is also ideal for the Swiss and anyone travelling from Frankfurt am Main, Saarland or the Rhineland. From Cologne, it is around 430 kilometres to Freiburg im Breisgau, a route that is easy to manage with a caravan .

To the east, the A81 motorway passes through the low mountain range. The route from Stuttgart is also an excellent option - Villingen-Schwenningen, for example, is not far from this motorway. The municipality itself is crossed by the B33 motorway, which also serves St. Georgen, Triberg and the legendary B500, the Black Forest High Road.

Gastronomy

The Black Forest is known throughout Germany for its high-quality, rustic cuisine. Black Forest ham in particular is recognised as a seal of quality. In addition, many of the mountain pasture operators specialise in the production of fresh pasture milk, butter and aromatic cheese.

These products are best savoured during a rest stop on a hike in one of the mountain huts or hikers' lodges with crusty farmhouse bread. Herbal liqueurs and regional gins such as Monkey 47 are also often served here. And the region has another treat in store: Black Forest gateau is a must for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Top destinations for campers in the Black Forest

At higher altitudes, visitors to the Black Forest will find many idyllic climatic health resorts and starting points for unforgettable hikes. There are also thermal baths, clear lakes and sleepy little towns with an ancient history of craftsmanship.

Schluchsee

Schluchsee is the largest and most famous lake in the Black Forest and one of the cleanest bathing lakes in Germany. It is also home to a water sports centre and the spa resort of the same name.

Riedsee

The two quarry ponds Riedsee 1 and Riedsee 2 in the Donaueschingen/Hüfingen region are not quite as well known. The smaller of the two lakes has a beautiful sandy beach and is located in the immediate vicinity of a well-kept campsite.

Wolftal

The wild and romantic Wolftal lies in the heart of the Black Forest and, with its gently wooded hills, is one of the most beautiful valleys in the region and the perfect destination for hikers and nature lovers. The pretty towns of Bad Rippoldsau-Schapbach and Oberwolfach are also well worth a visit.

Villingen-Schwenningen

The municipality is located on the German Clock Route and is known for its high-quality craftsmanship. Visitors usually take a look at the local history and clock museum and the Hellmut-Kienzle clock collection. Traditional local history parlours and farm museums such as those in Tannheim and Mühlhausen can be visited around the town. In spring, Villingen-Schwenningen is a stronghold of the Alemannic carnival.

Titisee-Neustadt

The municipality is located directly on Lake Titisee and is a recognised climatic health resort. In addition, the local health resorts emphasise Kneipp treatments. The campsites around the lake are among the most beautiful in the Black Forest. Located in the Southern Black Forest Nature Park, hiking trails, such as the Mittelweg, lead through Titisee-Neustadt.

Bad Herrenalb

Bad Herrenalb is the right place for anyone looking for relaxation on a camping holiday in the Black Forest. Situated in the northern Black Forest, the municipality with its many small hamlets such as Gaistal and Bernbach will delight you. Holidaymakers can relax in the Siebentäler Therme spa with wellness treatments and thermal baths. The monastery ruins of Bad Herrenalb are a cultural landmark.

Weather and best time to go on a camping holiday in the Black Forest

Many camping enthusiasts spend their holiday in the Black Forest between May and September. This period offers the best conditions for activities in the fresh air. In spring until May, it is comparatively dry, so you can set off on the many hiking trails (don't forget your hiking map!).

It rains a little more frequently in June and July. On the other hand, camping holidaymakers can look forward to temperatures with highs of up to 25 degrees Celsius and plenty of sunshine. Even in September, the barometer often climbs to 21 degrees Celsius. Nevertheless, you should bring warm clothing and especially a windproof jacket for excursions to the higher altitudes.

Top 5 sights in the Black Forest

• Freiburg Minster: The mighty cathedral was built in the 12th century and fascinates visitors with its red sandstone façade.
• Triberg Black Forest Museum: This exhibition shows historical artefacts and tells more about traditional life in the middle of the mountains.
• Hohenzollern Castle: The magnificent fortress near Bissingen was once the seat of the Hohenzollern dynasty and is a popular excursion destination with a café.
• Feldberg: At 1,493 metres, the Feldberg is the highest peak in the Black Forest and is best climbed via the Feldberg-Steig.
• Triberg waterfalls: With a total height of 163 metres, this natural wonder is one of the highest waterfalls in the whole of Germany.

Top 2 insider tips for clever campers

• Schauinsland: The 1,284 metre high elevation is the local mountain of Freiburg im Breisgau. You can take the railway up to the summit and enjoy the fantastic view over the forests. The Schauinsland road is also legendary and is considered one of the most beautiful terrains for motorcyclists.
• Feldberg climbing forest: Families with children will get their money's worth here. The climbing forest delights with a whole range of courses and attractions. Well secured, young holiday guests can test their skills from the age of four. The facility offers various levels of difficulty with heights between 1 and 12 metres.

Activities and excursions

The Black Forest is particularly suitable for campers who want to spend a lot of time in the fresh air surrounded by beautiful nature. Whether you go on an exciting discovery tour by bike, on foot or on the water - the low mountain range offers the best conditions for hiking, mountain biking or river rafting.

Hiking in the Black Forest

One of the most important long-distance hiking trails that lead through the Black Forest is the Mittelweg. Over a length of 230 kilometres, it crosses the low mountain range from south to north and leads from Waldshut to Pforzheim. Other popular excursion destinations for hikers include the Feldberg, the beautiful Wolftal valley and the first-class climatic health resorts of Enzklösterle and Schönwald.

Rafting

In many places in the Black Forest you can go rafting in the wild streams and rivers. Providers in the region organise rubber dinghies, kayaks and guides. The Murg is one of the best rivers for this sport.

Cycling and mountain biking

Steep mountain bike trails from the mountains down into the valley are not uncommon in the Black Forest. And ambitious athletes have a free choice from north to south. Biking fans and extreme cyclists have more than 100 kilometres of marked trails to choose from in the Black Forest. There are also exciting bike parks where you can take your first steps in the sport.

Events

February - March

• Alemannic carnival: In many places in the Black Forest, carnival is one of the highlights of the year. Unlike carnival, the jesters wear handmade masks and stroll through communities such as Villingen-Schwenningen and Rottweil in an almost mythical manner.

April - May

• Clock collectors' fair: If you want to get hold of historical souvenirs from the German Clock Route, you should visit Eisenbach in April.
• Mill Day: At Whitsun, mills throughout the Black Forest are open to visitors.
• Baden Wine Fair: Offenburg becomes a place of pilgrimage for all wine lovers in May. Visitors can sample fine wines from the Baden region at the wine fair.

July

• Stimmen-Festival: Internationally renowned artists from the rock and pop scene perform in Lörrach.
• Lake night festivals: In July, wine and song are celebrated at Titisee and Schluchsee.

August

• Feldberg St Laurentius Festival: The religious memorial day is celebrated with an open-air church service. Regional food is served at the cattle huts in the afternoon.
• Waldshut Chilbi: This colourful folk festival has been celebrated since the 15th century and commemorates the end of the Waldshut War in 1468.