Black Forest

Route

1. Freiburg Hbf

   Start of the Höllental (Hell's Valley) climb

2. Titisee

   Lakeside stop popular for cuckoo-clock shopping and swimming

3. Triberg

   On the Schwarzwaldbahn, home to Germany's highest waterfall

4. Offenburg / Karlsruhe Hbf

What you'll see

• The Höllentalbahn gains around 700 metres in under 30 km, including a stretch graded at 1-in-18, among the steepest adhesion railways in Germany
• The Schwarzwaldbahn threads 39 tunnels and multiple spiral loops as it climbs from the Rhine plain to Villingen at over 800 m altitude
• Dense spruce forest, half-timbered villages and, near Triberg, views towards the highest waterfall in Germany from the platform area

Stopover ideas

• Titisee — lake walk and Black Forest gateau
• Triberg — waterfall trail, a short walk from the station

Practicalities

Trains

RE regional trains on the Höllentalbahn (Freiburg–Titisee–Neustadt) and the Schwarzwaldbahn (Offenburg–Villingen), both roughly hourly

Duration

about 1 hour Freiburg to Titisee; about 1h30 on the full Schwarzwaldbahn Offenburg–Villingen climb

Best time of year

May–October for hiking connections; February–March for snow in the higher villages

Which ticket?

Both lines are entirely regional (RE), so a Deutschlandticket covers them completely — no long-distance fare needed. Ideal for pass holders who want to save a travel day, or for anyone already holding the Deutschlandticket for a longer German stay.

Plan the exact connection on the journey planner or work out whether a rail pass pays off on the trip planner.