Grand Canyon of the Black Forest

One of the most beautiful hiking trails in the entire region is the Wutach Gorge (Wutachschlucht), nicknamed the "Grand Canyon of the Black Forest".
These are wild gorges, followed by footbridges, steps and paths carved into the rock, with a stream that is sometimes calm, sometimes cascading, and lush vegetation.
PLEASE NOTE: the road is currently closed for the return journey to Schattenmühle. Continue along the Lotenbach gorge for about 1.5 km until you reach the B315 road, where you will find the bus stop.

Details

1257734
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.03 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 482 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 396 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 687 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 566 m

Photos

Description of the walk

To get to Schattenmühle by car, take the B31 from Freiburg towards Titisee (enter Göschweiler into your satnav) and follow the signs for Wutachschlucht until you reach Schattenmühle.
The car park is on the right after crossing the bridge.
We did the hike in the opposite direction from Wutachmühle to Schattenmühle, but it can be done in either direction.

(S) A shuttle bus takes us to the starting point at Wutachmühle. When you leave the car park, turn left, cross the bridge and, at the bus stop, take the path on the right down to the Wutachmühle sawmill.
You are now on the Bühlertälerweg. Follow the yellow rectangle with a white and red diamond in the middle.

(1) At the first covered bridge (kanadersteg), do not cross it, but continue left, following the Wutach.

(2) A bridge takes you across and back across the river after a rockfall.
Continue to the next bridge to follow the other side of the Wutach.

(3) A new cable-stayed bridge takes you back to the other bank where, a little further on, you will find benches and tables with a shelter ( Schurhammerhütte).

(4) Keep to your right towards Bad Boll, slightly uphill and downhill.

(5) Beautiful view of the Wutach. Continue westwards.

(6) Further on, you will pass a beautiful moss-covered waterfall.

(7) Then another bridge leads to the Bad Boll Chapel with benches and tables.
At the next intersection at the starting point, take the path on the right and cross this beautiful bridge with a gendarme's hat shape, which leads to a wider path for 1.4 km. At the intersection where there is a bench and table (up high), leave the bridge on your left and continue along the path.

(8) Pass a beautiful little waterfall before heading back into the forest and its stony paths.
After passing bridges, waterfalls, cliffs and meadows with exceptional wildlife, finish the route by passing in front of the Gasthaus Schattenmühle.
Return to the car park where you left your car and take the shuttle bus (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 575 m - Departure from Wutachmühle
  2. 1 : km 1.23 - alt. 592 m - Canadian bridge
  3. 2 : km 1.6 - alt. 600 m - Rockfall
  4. 3 : km 3.98 - alt. 608 m - Cable-stayed bridge
  5. 4 : km 5.84 - alt. 622 m - Shelter with tables and benches
  6. 5 : km 6.83 - alt. 684 m - View of the Wutach
  7. 6 : km 8.03 - alt. 646 m - Waterfall
  8. 7 : km 8.81 - alt. 629 m - Bad Boll Chapel
  9. 8 : km 10.43 - alt. 646 m - Beautiful little waterfall
  10. E : km 13.03 - alt. 668 m - Schattenmühle car park

Notes

On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, a shuttle bus runs from Wutachmühle back to the starting point at Schattenmühle. We took it to do the route in the opposite direction (€3.40 per person, bus 7344)
The shuttle bus leaves at 9 a.m. and then every hour to Wutachmühle. It only runs from mid-April to mid-October.
During the week, you have to use the regular bus services, but there are fewer connections.

There are no restaurants along the route, but there are two places with benches and tables.
Do not do this walk in bad weather, as the ground is stony and the wooden footbridges are slippery when wet and some sections are a little adventurous.
It is also advisable to wear walking shoes with soles suitable for the terrain and to bring walking sticks.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 20 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Charry
Charry

Hello Cricri,
It's refreshing in summer. We avoided the crowds at the weekend.
I'll make it again since you left, thank you for your feedback.
Charry

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cricri68
cricri68

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We set off from the car park at Lotenbachklam, which is much wilder than Wutaschlucht. It was a rainy weekend, so it was muddy and slippery, but the advantage was that there weren't too many people around! We returned via the paths through the fields, passing through Münchingen and Boll, making a total of around 30 km.
Worth seeing, but it must be crowded in good weather!

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Charry
Charry

Thanks for the information about the road being cut off, so you took the Mullerweg to the B315.
Buses do not run from mid-October to April.
Sincerely
Charry

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Pousframb
Pousframb

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Watch out for the buses returning to the starting point: the road is currently closed, so the bus does not run. You have to continue along the Lotenbach gorges to find two buses that will take you back to the starting point.

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Charry
Charry

Hello Alain,
I noted in the description that the shuttles only run from mid-April to mid-October.
I hope you had good weather, because this week the forecast is for -3° in the canyon.
@ +
Charry

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Alain5757
Alain5757

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike. We didn't go all the way: about 3/4 of the way we had to turn back because we weren't in the period when the shuttle buses for the return journey were running. And as I don't speak German, it would have been complicated to use the regular buses.

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Charry
Charry

Hello Christophe
I'll say it again, we're going along a river and in the off-season it's wet. So you have to be very careful on the pebbles, which can be slippery.
Best regards
Charry

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Christophe 8
Christophe 8

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice hike but be careful when it rains as the rocks can be slippery.

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Charry
Charry

Hello,
Yes, as you say, be very careful, especially if it's a few days earlier.
Take your walking sticks with you, as you'll be stepping over rocks that can be slippery.
Best regards
Charry

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Sundgau44
Sundgau44

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike. Caution: it had risen sharply during the week: many slippery passages. No bus tour, so carpooling with a young couple. The best plan!

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Charry
Charry

Hello Cédric
Thank you for giving us the updated price of the shuttle for 2023.
When we did it again, the route was temporarily changed because of a rockfall.
But you can't go far wrong, you follow the stream.
Sincerely
Charry

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Cedric HO
Cedric HO

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Little change in altitude.
A pleasant hike in the following order: park at the Schattenmühle, then take the bus to the Wutahmühle to set off on foot and return to the car.
Bus fare 7.5 for a family (2 adults and 2 children).
Benches as indicated in the route description.
Some bridges or detours no longer correspond to the description, but the route remains the same and is easy to follow in view of the yellow rectangle with red and white lozenges throughout, as well as the various km signs.

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Charry
Charry

Yes, it's a very popular walk in summer, I always recommend May or June and September.
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Sincerely
Charry

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maurice.weiss
maurice.weiss

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

Very nice tour to follow. We did this route on 29 May (bank holiday) and it was still quite busy, but not too busy yet. I imagine that in summer the traffic can be a problem because there are passages where only one person can pass at a time.

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Aurorebe
Aurorebe

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great walk, sometimes you walk right alongside the river and sometimes you move away from it and climb up the cliffs to get some lovely views.
The bridges are very well laid out.
It's crowded in summer, but that's reasonable.
We're glad we did it.

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