Heidelbeerweg Enzklösterle: Black Forest Gourmet Trail

The Heidelbeerweg is a Black Forest gourmet trail that is perfectly signposted in both directions. It is one of four premium hiking trails in the district of Calw and takes you on a circular route on both sides of the Enz valley near Enzklösterle.

The “bilberry village”, famous for its wild-growing bilberries, lies in the Northern Black Forest between Pforzheim and Freudenstadt. Enzklösterle also offers several restaurants serving hearty regional cuisine.

This varied hike is of medium difficulty, covers 12.7 kilometres and can be completed in four to five hours. You will tackle around 330 metres of elevation gain on both the ascent and descent.

If you prefer a more relaxed pace, you can simply take more time or split the tour into two stages. A minimum of equipment is recommended: hiking boots, walking poles if needed and rain protection. In summer you should also carry enough drinks.

The bilberry takes centre stage 

Framed by deep fir forests and meadow valleys, the climatic health resort Enzklösterle lies in the Black Forest. In addition to the premium-certified Heidelbeerweg, which invites you to enjoy a relaxed hike and to snack on berries, the village offers further hiking routes and mountain bike trails. Just a few kilometres away in Poppeltal–Seewald you will find a giant slide or summer toboggan run. 

In the bilberry village of Enzklösterle, the “blue gold” of the Black Forest, the bilberry, is naturally the star. The surrounding fir forests provide ideal conditions for these wild berries. In the village itself, a visit to the Heidelbeerhaus is well worth your time. The forest berries are present all year round in many different ways. Local restaurants have embraced the bilberry and feature it in many variations on their menus.   

The Heidelbeerweg is a circular route 

The Heidelbeerweg Enzklösterle starts at the local tourist information office, where you will also find free parking spaces. Additional parking is available at the sports hall. You can also join the circular route at other points such as the Hirschtal car park or the car park on Hetschelhofweg. 

From the tourist information office the path leads through the spa park, past the Heidelbeerhaus and across the river Große Enz. Along the Aichelberger Weg you reach the Enztraufweg, which takes you into a dense fir forest and then into the Lappach valley. From there the trail climbs up to the Schöllkopf plateau. The ascent to the Schöllkopf mainly follows earthen paths and narrow tracks that wind between large boulders. The Schöllkopf itself lies at 810 metres and offers a fine view. 

The landscape along the Heidelbeerweg is shaped by tall fir and pine trees, moss-covered rocks and, of course, bilberry bushes. Depending on the surroundings, the gourmet trail changes character, yet it only includes moderately steep sections. In many places you walk along narrow paths that lead right through wild bilberry fields, which gave the trail its name. Along the way, themed boards at the Schöllkopf share interesting facts about this delicious blue forest fruit. 

The path then descends to the Heidelbeer platform and leads back through the idyllic Lappach valley towards the Enz valley and across the Enz. After crossing the village of Enzklösterle you reach the Hummelberg. From there you continue to the cultural monument Rußhütte, built in 1829. Until the late 19th century, pine soot was produced here and used as a black pigment. 

Next the route leads to the Hirschkopf and on to the Erdbeerplatte, where you will also find the Heidelbeer swing. From here there is a lovely view of Enzklösterle and its surroundings. The Hirschtalweg then takes you into the Upper Enz valley with a stop at the Enzklösterle red deer enclosure. This section of the gourmet trail follows wider and partly unpaved earthen tracks. 

Following the Hirschtalweg you return to your starting point in Enzklösterle. In the spa park near the church you pass a mighty Douglas fir. This impressive tree was planted there in 1880. If you like, you can round off your hiking day with a visit to the adventure golf park with beer garden before heading back to your Black Forest holiday home.  

Gourmet trails in the Black Forest 

The Black Forest is a paradise for hikers and now also offers a wide range of gourmet trails. These themed routes focus on specific aspects of the region and combine them with typical Black Forest pleasures. Thanks to the many different themes, there is a suitable gourmet trail for almost every taste. 

The circular hikes, which lead through especially attractive landscapes and cover different levels of difficulty, can be completed as half-day or full-day tours. There are always places to stop for food and drink, so you can combine your nature experience in the Black Forest with cultural and culinary highlights. 

All gourmet trails are certified as premium hiking routes and bear the hiking seal of the German Hiking Institute.

Premium hiking trails with a path-like character lead reliably along near-natural routes through varied countryside and are checked on a regular basis. Premium also means that the trails offer a high experience value and are very well marked and signposted.

It is also important that the entire Black Forest uses a unified hiking guidance system. Every signpost shows the exact location. In addition, you will find information on the next signpost and further destination points. Popular gourmet trails feature overview boards with more details on the theme of the route and are particularly well signposted throughout.