The Belchen

de fr

A short hike to admire the view from the second highest peak in the Black Forest

Details

n°1418285
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.02 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,125 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,135 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,616 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,481 ft
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Photos

Cross
Belchen cable car
Cross at the top

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the side of the road.

(S/E) Head towards the forest and pass the small hut.

(1) After the barrier, head left up the path signposted Belchen.

(2) Turn right, then cross a path and follow the winding track up to the edge of the forest.

(3) Continue towards the summit, then turn right onto the main path (Rundweg Belchen) to the cross. Go straight on, following the path down to the restaurant.

(4) Take the small path that descends, passing under the cable car.

(5) After several hairpin bends, cross the road and follow the ski runs to the left to reach the cable car departure station. Head towards it.

(6) Take the small path on the right that leads into the forest to reach the road and cross it.

(7) Turn left, continue and cross the farmyard to head up the path that passes in front of the memorial cross. Cross the road to reach the car park at the start (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,707 ft - Car park at the side of the road
  2. 1 : mi 0.16 - alt. 3,711 ft - Junction, left
  3. 2 : mi 0.82 - alt. 3,947 ft - Junction, on the right
  4. 3 : mi 1.34 - alt. 4,475 ft - Exit from the forest
  5. 4 : mi 1.96 - alt. 4,436 ft - Belchenhaus
  6. 5 : mi 2.46 - alt. 4,117 ft - Route
  7. 6 : mi 3.25 - alt. 3,615 ft - Cable car departure station
  8. 7 : mi 3.65 - alt. 3,481 ft - Junction, left
  9. S/E : mi 4.02 - alt. 3,707 ft - Car park at the side of the road

Notes

Starting point: car park at the first right-hand bend after the junction leading to the Belchen cable car (Belchenbahn).

Worth a visit

Food is available at the Belchen restaurant and at the restaurant near the cable car departure station.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
AldeLa
AldeLa

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike. Not too crowded on the way up to the summit. One small downside: not much of a view because it's so dense in the forest. An impressive sight at the summit, 100,000 metres above the trailhead. After the cable cars arrive, there are fewer people. The last part of the hike is much quieter. A pleasant hike that's not too long.

Machine-translated

Didier Mayeur
Didier Mayeur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Less popular than the Feldberg (which has become a bit of a tourist factory, with very expensive parking - between €12 and €15 - and tarmac paths for pushchairs and bicycles, which go downhill very quickly, so pedestrians please park! only the descent to the Feldberg lake is interesting and magnificent, but surprisingly, there is no signposting before the end); the Belchen is less popular, with beautiful signposted paths and a superb 360° view from the summit.

Machine-translated

Teopfunk
Teopfunk

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Just to say that the Belchen is the third and not the second highest peak in the Black Forest; the second highest is the Herzogernhorn, which is one metre higher.
Sincerely

Machine-translated

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