Black Forest High Road (B500) scenic drive
Germany's most famous panoramic road: the B500 from Baden-Baden past the Mummelsee and the Hornisgrinde to Freudenstadt, and back as a loop through the Murg valley. About 120 km at 600 to 1000 metres of altitude. For convertibles, ordinary cars, motorbikes and campervans.
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Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Mummelsee by Rene1971 (CC BY-SA 3.0), Freudenstadt market square by Gerd Eichmann (CC BY 4.0).
The classic of the Black Forest
No road stands for the Black Forest like the Schwarzwaldhochstrasse, the Black Forest High Road. From the spa town of Baden-Baden you climb in a few kilometres to the main ridge, and then the B500 follows the heights for over sixty kilometres: dark spruce forest, open moorland, views as far as the Vosges and one classic stop after another. Along the way lie the Buehlerhoehe with its panorama, the Hornisgrinde as the highest peak, the legendary Mummelsee, the National Park at the Ruhestein and the viewing platform above the Ellbachsee, until you reach Freudenstadt with its enormous market square.
We drive it as a day loop: out along the panoramic road to Freudenstadt, back through the quiet Murg valley past Baiersbronn and Forbach to Baden-Baden. Together about 120 kilometres on winding country roads, without motorway and toll-free. If you are on holiday in the Black Forest, this is the drive to set a day aside for; the stops turn it into a full, relaxed day.
The route on the map
A schematic overview by Touren.app, not a navigation map. The exact route opens under “Drive this route” or in Google Maps. Map orientation: north is up.
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The places along the route
1. Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is the elegant spa town on the edge of the Black Forest, with thermal baths, the Lichtentaler Allee and a casino in the Kurhaus. The B500 begins here and climbs steeply to the main ridge straight away. A good starting point: set off early and you will have the high road quietly to yourself.
Practical: park in the town-centre garages; fill up beforehand, the villages up top are small.
2. Bühlerhöhe
After the climb from Baden-Baden you reach the Buehlerhoehe, with its stately Schlosshotel and a small church with famous stained-glass windows perched on a rocky spur. On a clear day you look out here over the Rhine plain as far as the Vosges in France. It is the first great view of the day and one of the finest.
Practical: laybys at the viewpoints; it is worth stopping when the air is clear.
3. Hornisgrinde
At 1164 metres the Hornisgrinde is the highest mountain in the northern Black Forest. On the bare summit stands an observation tower from 1910, closed for decades and reopened in 2005, with a wide view over the ridge and the high moorland. From the Mummelsee a short walk brings you up.
Practical: park at the Mummelsee and walk up, or take the spur road to the top; it is windy and cool up there.
4. Mummelsee
The Mummelsee is the best-known crater lake of the region and the heart of the Black Forest High Road: an almost circular mountain lake at the foot of the Hornisgrinde, ringed by dark forest, with a hotel in Black Forest style and a chapel on the shore. Legends of the water spirit and the lake king made it famous. You can hire a paddleboat and walk the loop around the water.
Practical: large car park, busy around midday; come early or late for the quiet.
5. Ruhestein
At the Ruhestein pass lies the visitor centre of the Black Forest National Park, the first national park in the state. Short trails lead into the wilderness from here, such as the Lothar Path across a stretch of forest flattened by the 1999 storm Lothar, and you look out over the Grinden, the open heath on the ridge.
Practical: park at the National Park centre; the centre and the viewpoints are free to visit.
6. Ellbachseeblick (Kniebis)
Just beyond the Ruhestein, near Kniebis, stands the Ellbachsee viewing platform. From the wooden deck you look down onto the Ellbachsee, a small moorland lake in an old glacial cirque. A short walk from the road brings you there; it is one of the finest spots to pause.
Practical: park at Kniebis or the Alexanderschanze; a short, easy walk to the platform.
7. Freudenstadt
Freudenstadt closes the panoramic road. The town has the largest market square in Germany, ringed by arcades and rebuilt in the years after 1945. Here you turn back: the return runs through the green Murg valley, past Baiersbronn and Forbach to Baden-Baden, a calm river road as a counterpart to the heights.
Practical: park on or near the Marktplatz; a good place for a late lunch before the drive back.
Practical: for convertible, motorbike and camper
From your holiday base: the Black Forest is a holiday region, not a day trip from the Low Countries. If you are staying in the area, start the loop from your own base: type your start town into the planner and Touren.app rebuilds the same route from Baden-Baden, Freudenstadt, Baiersbronn or wherever you are.
Tolls and vignette: the B500 and the Murg valley are ordinary federal roads, toll-free and without a vignette. You need no German or Austrian vignette for this route.
Season and weather: the highest sections (Hornisgrinde, Schliffkopf) can hold snow into spring; the road stays open, but bring winter tyres in the cold season. The finest months are May to October.
Which vehicle: the winding high road is a favourite scenic drive for convertible and motorbike. Note that the B500 has speed checks and enforcement, so drive calmly. It works well in a campervan too; the roads are wide and the car parks at the stops are large.
How we keep it honest: we have composed this loop and checked the stops; the label is 'measured and checked', driving it comes next. The 60 km of the B500 is the official length; the full loop is an indicative figure that we measure in the build.
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Email this route to yourselfFrequently asked questions
How long is the Black Forest High Road?
The Schwarzwaldhochstrasse itself is the B500 and is officially 60 kilometres long, from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt. As a day loop with the return through the Murg valley it comes to about 120 kilometres.
Is the B500 toll-free?
Yes. The B500 and the Murg valley are ordinary federal roads, toll-free and without a vignette. Germany has no vignette requirement for cars.
What is the best stop along the way?
The classics are the Mummelsee (the famous crater lake), the Hornisgrinde as the highest peak with its observation tower, the Ellbachsee viewing platform and the Buehlerhoehe with its view to the Vosges. Freudenstadt, with the largest market square in Germany, ends the drive.
Can you drive the route in winter?
The road generally stays open, but the highest sections can hold snow from late autumn into spring. Bring winter tyres in the cold season; the finest time is May to October.
Is the route suitable for convertible, motorbike and camper?
Yes. The winding high road is ideal for convertible and motorbike, though the B500 has speed checks. The route works well in a campervan too: wide roads and large car parks at the stops.
Are the exports really free?
Yes, free with a Touren.app credit on them. You never pay us for exports; those who want to drive without ads and offline choose Plus.
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