The Black Forest High Road

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 6 min read

The Schwarzwaldhochstraße — the Black Forest High Road — is one of Germany's classic scenic drives, tracing the ridgeline of the northern Black Forest between Baden-Baden and Freudenstadt along the B500. At its best, it is a procession of viewpoints over the Rhine valley toward the Alsace plain, dense fir forest on both sides and villages where the cuckoo clock is not a tourist cliché but a local craft tradition. At around 60 km end to end, it is also short enough to drive in a single relaxed day, making it a perfect addition to a wider road trip through the south-west corner of Germany.

The route: Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt

The B500 begins (or ends, depending on your direction) at Baden-Baden, the elegant spa city that has been a playground for European aristocracy since the Romans. Heading south, it climbs quickly out of the Rhine plain and into the forest, reaching elevations of around 900–1,000 metres on the ridge. Freudenstadt, at the southern end, is a market town with one of the largest market squares in Germany — worth a stop before heading on.

The route is approximately 60 km and takes anywhere from 1.5 to 3+ hours depending on how often you stop. It is paved, well-maintained and perfectly driveable in a standard car. Allow more time in summer when the viewpoint car parks can fill up, and more still if you plan to stop for lunch or a walk.

Highlights and stops along the way

Mummelsee

The best-known landmark on the route is the Mummelsee, a small glacial lake at around 1,030 metres, roughly midway along the route. The lakeside hotel and restaurant are a natural stopping point, and the lake itself — dark, still, and ringed by forest — is atmospheric in any weather. A short path circles the lake in about 20–30 minutes. German legend associates the lake with water spirits (Mümmelchen), which gives it a certain mystique beyond the scenery.

Hornisgrinde

At 1,164 metres, Hornisgrinde is the highest peak in the northern Black Forest. A car park at the road's edge gives access to a short uphill walk to the summit, rewarded on clear days with views extending to the Vosges in France and sometimes to the Alps. There is also a telecommunications tower and a small visitor station at the top. Worth the detour if the weather is cooperative.

Ruhestein

The crossroads at Ruhestein is a useful pivot point — a road descends west toward Achern and the Rhine valley, east toward the Murg valley and Baiersbronn (a village famous for its extraordinary concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants, if you are planning a special dinner stop). The area is a hub for hiking into the surrounding national park forest.

Allerheiligen monastery ruins and waterfalls

A short detour west from the main route leads to the Allerheiligen ("All Saints") ruins — a Premonstratensian monastery founded in the 12th century and now a romantic skeleton of Gothic arches set into the forest hillside — and nearby waterfalls dropping in a series of steps through the gorge below. One of the most photogenic spots in the region and rarely overcrowded except on summer weekends.

Baden-Baden: the best start point

If you are allocating more than a single day to the Black Forest, Baden-Baden is worth time in its own right. The Roman bath ruins and the lavish 19th-century Friedrichsbad baths sit alongside the Kurhaus casino and the elegant Lichtentaler Allee park. The town is small enough to walk entirely. Parking is available at the edge of the pedestrian core; driving into the very centre is impractical and unnecessary.

Baden-Baden also puts you within easy reach of the Alsatian Wine Route on the French side of the Rhine — a different but complementary scenic drive that pairs well with the Schwarzwaldhochstraße as a two-day itinerary with a border crossing.

When to drive the Black Forest High Road

Late spring and early autumn are the best times: clear air, lighter traffic and the forest at its most varied in colour. Late April to June brings wildflowers on the upland meadows; October turns the mixed patches of birch and beech gold and copper against the evergreen firs.

Summer weekends bring heavy traffic — the B500 is a popular route for motorcycles and Sunday drivers from the Rhine valley cities. If you are visiting in July or August, aim to drive early in the morning or on a weekday to avoid the worst of it.

Winter is possible and atmospheric, particularly after fresh snowfall, but some of the minor roads branching off the ridge close, viewpoints become icy, and the higher sections can be genuinely slippery. Snow tyres are advisable and the drive takes longer.

The Black Forest and German road rules

Germany's road rules apply on the B500: standard motorway limits do not apply here (it is a national road), and the typical limit is 100 km/h on open stretches, dropping to 70 km/h or lower through villages. Speed cameras are not common on this route but speed humps and signed 30 km/h zones appear in the small villages along the way.

German cars drive on the right, pass on the left. The road is two-lane through most of its length with passing places and occasional overtaking sections. It is not a road to rush — the bends are tight in places and the scenery discouraging to impatience.

There is no toll or vignette required for German national roads — the autobahn vignette that applies in Austria, Switzerland and some other countries does not exist in Germany. See the motorway tolls guide for Germany and surrounding countries in detail.

Combining with a wider road trip

The B500 sits naturally inside several wider driving circuits:

• Black Forest loop: Baden-Baden south on the B500, then down through the central and southern Black Forest via Triberg (home of the world's largest cuckoo clock) to Freiburg, and back north via the Rhine valley — a two to three day circuit.
• Three-country corner: combine with Alsace (France) to the west and Basel or the Swiss Jura to the south for a cross-border tour that covers radically different landscapes in a short distance.
• Rhine Romantic Road: the Rhine valley north of Baden-Baden, through Karlsruhe and on to Heidelberg, pairs well as a day on the valley floor after a day on the ridge.

For a broader look at the best German and European scenic drives, the best European road trips guide covers multi-day itineraries across the continent.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to drive the Black Forest High Road?

The B500 from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt is about 60 km and takes around 1.5 hours without stops — or a full and very pleasant half-day with the main viewpoints, Mummelsee, and a walk included. Most visitors allow 3–4 hours.

Is the Black Forest High Road suitable for camper vans or large vehicles?

Yes, broadly — it is a public national road maintained to standard dimensions. Some of the minor detour roads branching off (particularly to viewpoints and car parks) can be tighter. The route is regularly used by touring motorcyclists on wide bikes without issues.

Do I need to pay a toll on the B500?

No. Germany does not charge a road vignette or toll on national roads for passenger cars. The B500 is completely free to drive. See the motorway tolls guide for context on Germany and neighbouring countries.

What is the best viewpoint on the Black Forest High Road?

The Hornisgrinde summit on a clear day is the most expansive, with views across the Rhine plain to Alsace and beyond. For atmosphere rather than panorama, the Mummelsee lake in morning mist is hard to beat.