Treetop Path (Baumkronenweg) in Waldkirch
Photo: On the way to the treetops
Key Facts
- Location: In Waldkirch in the central Black Forest, 15 km north of Freiburg
- GPS address (car park): Baumkronenweg Waldkirch, Erwin-Sick-Straße, 79183 Waldkirch
- A 200-meter-long walkway leads up to the level of the treetops
- Also features: Sensory trail with many interesting stations, mini barefoot path, forest playground, high-speed tube slide
Description
The treetop path leads along a wide walkway into the world of the treetops, offering a unique perspective on the flora and fauna of this elevated zone. Along the 200-meter-long steel and timber structure, information boards provide extensive details about the forest, while visitors can also enjoy beautiful views towards Waldkirch, the Elz Valley, Freiburg, and the Rhine Plain as far as the Kaiserstuhl.
Photo: Adventure Trail
The walk from the parking lot (well-signposted; take the Waldkirch-Süd exit off the B 294) to the treetop path is 1.2 km long and quite steep; anyone planning to push a stroller up, for instance, should be in good physical shape.
The strenuous climb is made easier by the stations along the "Sensory Trail," which invite visitors to take short, entertaining breaks. At these stations, you can estimate the height of a tree, identify animal tracks, play a forest-themed memory game, compare your own weight to that of a tree trunk on the forest scales, or simply relax on a wooden deck chair.
At the entrance to the treetop path, there is also a small kiosk selling refreshments and ice cream, as well as a barefoot path and an adventure trail for visitors of all ages. Additionally, you can start your return journey down via the high-speed tube slide.
Once back at the bottom, you can dip your feet in the Stadtrainsee lake, enjoy refreshments on the lakeside terrace, or take a pedal boat out for a spin. A mini-golf course, the Black Forest Zoo (Schwarzwaldzoo), and the Elztal Museum are also located right next door.
Photo: Quiz on the 'Sinnesweg' – which animal is the strongest?