Triberg and the Kinzig valley by car

Waterfalls, clocks and half-timbering

The central Black Forest is the picture-postcard region: tumbling waterfalls, steep half-timbered facades, cuckoo clocks and farmhouses with vast hipped roofs. This loop strings the finest together. You begin in Triberg, where the Gutach drops over 160 metres in seven cascades, Germany's highest waterfalls, and the home of the cuckoo clock. From there the B33 descends through the Gutach valley past the Vogtsbauernhof, the open-air museum where the original Black Forest farmhouses stand.

In the Kinzig valley come the half-timbered towns: Wolfach with its glassworks, Schiltach with perhaps the loveliest market square in the region, and Schramberg among its five valleys. The way back to Triberg runs over the heights. Together about 85 kilometres on quiet country roads, a full but relaxed day without a single metre of motorway. If you are on holiday in the Black Forest, this is the classic introduction to the region.

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. Triberg

Start · the highest waterfalls

Triberg is the start and the great draw at once: the Gutach drops here over 160 metres in seven cascades, Germany's highest waterfalls, through shady forest with footpaths and tame squirrels. Triberg is also the capital of the cuckoo clock, with shops full of woodcarving. A fine start before you drop into the valley.

Practical: park at the falls (admission to the waterfall park); come early, it is a popular spot.

3. Vogtsbauernhof (Gutach)

the open-air museum · Vogtsbauernhof

At Gutach stands the Vogtsbauernhof, the open-air museum of the Black Forest. Around the original farmhouse of 1612, with its vast hipped roof, authentic farms, mills and workshops from across the region have been gathered. You see how people lived and worked here for centuries, and you meet the famous Bollenhut, the hat with the red pom-poms.

Practical: large car park at the entrance (admission); allow a few hours for the whole grounds.

5. Wolfach

the rafters' and glass town · Wolfach

Wolfach was a town of raftsmen, who floated the timber of the Black Forest down the Kinzig to far-off places. On the atmospheric Hauptstrasse with its gateway stands the Dorotheenhütte, the last active glassworks in the Black Forest, where you can watch glassblowers at work. In February Wolfach is famous for its colourful Fasnet (carnival).

Practical: park by the Hauptstrasse; the Dorotheenhütte can be visited with a guided tour.

6. Schiltach

the jewel · Schiltach

Schiltach is for many the loveliest town of the drive: a steep market square full of painted half-timbered houses, and along the little river Schiltach the old tanners' quarter. The town lived for centuries on rafting and tanning; the Schüttesäge museum tells that story. Take your time to walk the square.

Practical: park on the edge and walk up to the market square; the centre is small and quiet.

7. Schramberg

the finale · Schramberg

Schramberg is called the Fünf-Täler-Stadt, the town of five valleys, because five valleys meet here. It grew with the Junghans clock company, whose striking terraced factory still climbs the slope; high above lie the ruins of Hohenschramberg castle. From Schramberg you drive back to Triberg over the heights, with fresh views over the forests at every turn.

Practical: park in the centre; the castle ruin and the clock museum world lie by the town.

Practical: for convertible, motorbike and camper

From your holiday base: if you are staying in the Black Forest, start the loop from your own base. Type your start town into the planner and Touren.app rebuilds the same route from Triberg, Hausach, Schiltach or wherever you are.

Admissions: the Triberg Waterfalls and the Vogtsbauernhof charge admission; allow a separate stop with parking for each. The half-timbered towns are free to visit.

Tolls and season: the B33, B294 and the high road are toll-free, no vignette needed. The waterfalls are at their most impressive after rain or during snowmelt; the finest months for the whole drive are May to October, with a chance of snow on the highest stretches in winter.

Which vehicle: the winding valley and high roads are a fine scenic drive for convertible and motorbike. It works well in a campervan too; park on the edge of the half-timbered centres, the lanes themselves are narrow.

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 distance is an indicative figure that we measure in the build.

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