Winter Holidays in the Black Forest: Skiing, Cross-Country & Hiking

When winter comes to the Black Forest, visitors to the higher elevations are often greeted by a deep blue sky over a sparkling white blanket of snow. Many mountain peaks also offer stunning panoramic views as far as the Alps and the Vosges on clear winter days.

The other side of winter shows on overcast days, when fog lingers in the valleys. The landscape is then wrapped in a milky white. At these times, the Black Forest often sinks into an almost mysterious mood. 

Whatever the weather, this low mountain range is one of the most beautiful holiday regions in every season. Anyone who loves the changing moods of a snow-covered Black Forest will find their place here as a winter holidaymaker or winter sports enthusiast. Those seeking relaxation will enjoy winter hikes through romantic scenery just as much as active visitors on the ski slopes and cross-country trails.  

Snow reliability in the Black Forest 

What do you do in winter in the Black Forest? Skiing is an obvious choice, but it is far from the only one. The Black Forest is Germany’s largest low mountain range, with more than 70 peaks between 1,000 and 1,493 metres. It offers much more than downhill skiing. Feldberg, which reaches 1,493 metres and has snow on an average of 157 days a year, is considered relatively snow-sure. This means that anyone planning a winter holiday here usually finds a genuine winter landscape on site. 

This applies in particular to cross-country skiers and alpine skiers. From December to March you can generally rely on a sufficient snow cover for winter sports, especially in the Southern Black Forest. January and February usually offer the best snow conditions and are therefore the prime months for winter sports. 

Even in the Black Forest there is no absolute guarantee of continuous snow cover during this period. In some areas, snowmaking systems are therefore used at times to ensure that skiing is still possible.

The most snow-sure regions include Feldberg, Todtnauberg, Belchen, Mehliskopf, Hundseck and Schonach.   

Skiing in the Black Forest 

If your main goal in winter in the Black Forest is simply to ski when the mountains lie under a thick blanket of snow, you will find plenty of options in the region’s 56 ski areas. There are slopes for every level, from easy runs to more challenging descents. 

This popular holiday region offers more than 100 lifts and around 200 kilometres of pistes. Families in particular appreciate the many smaller ski areas where you can learn to ski in a quiet, relaxed setting. In terms of snow reliability, Feldberg stands out. With an average of 157 days of complete snow cover a year at 1,493 metres, it has the longest ski season of all low mountain ski areas in Germany. 

The entire ski area around Feldberg, together with Altglashütten, Menzenschwand, Muggenbrunn, Todtnauberg, Notschrei, Stollenbach and Belchen, forms the Feldberg lift network, which offers 70 kilometres of pistes and 43 ski lifts. 

Twenty kilometres of these slopes are covered by artificial snow, so skiing is possible here on most days of the winter season. Feldberg is also home to the Todtnau Hinterwald run, the longest descent in all German low mountain ranges, which covers a distance of 9.3 kilometres and a vertical drop of 736 metres. A ski holiday in the Black Forest offers something for everyone.

Cross-country skiing through the Black Forest

In winter the Black Forest is a paradise for cross-country skiers. Once the mountains are covered in snow, you can glide through a quiet white landscape on your skis. In the Southern Black Forest Nature Park alone there are more than 170 groomed cross-country trails with a total length of 1,200 kilometres. 

Winter in the Black Forest is closely linked with cross-country skiing on a branched network of more than 2,000 kilometres of trails. You can usually choose between classic technique and skating. No matter which style you prefer, you will find well-signposted and well-maintained routes throughout the region. It is entirely up to you whether you opt for leisurely tours on sunny trails or push yourself on more demanding routes. 

You can choose between circular trails of different lengths and difficulty levels, and challenging high-altitude trails for experienced cross-country skiers, which are certified by the ski association. Anyone looking for a special sporting challenge will also find it in the wintery Black Forest. The long-distance ski trail from Schonach to Belchen, for example, covers around 100 kilometres and 14 stages.   

Winter hiking in the Black Forest

When the Black Forest is blanketed in fairytale-like snow, the fir trees wear white crowns and the sun reflects off the snow, winter hikes become a very special experience. Out in nature you can enjoy wide views as far as the Alps and breathe clear, crisp air.

Across the Black Forest there are now around 950 kilometres of well-cleared and waymarked winter hiking trails. Hikers can see at a glance which routes can be walked without special equipment. In the High Black Forest alone there are currently 20 winter hiking trails.

If you are not put off by winter weather and prefer untracked terrain, you should head out on snowshoes through this impressive landscape. The Black Forest now offers many kilometres of marked snowshoe routes. Snowshoes prevent you from sinking into deep snow up to your knees. Equipped like this, there are hardly any limits to snowshoe hikes in the snowy Black Forest, even if you leave the signposted routes. A holiday home in the Black Forest is well worth it.