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Access via the B500 Schwarzwaldhochstrasse (mountain road). Ortenaukreis. Black Forest
Starting point at Mummelsee. As this is a very popular tourist destination, the car parks quickly fill up at weekends. It is best to use the car park below the road.
The hike starts at the car park in front of the hotel.
(S/E) Walk along the lake in front of the hotel, climb the small staircase on the left to reach the road that climbs to Hornisgrinde. Take the path that climbs to the left towards Hornisgrinde and Unterstmatt and, at the first fork, climb to the right on the path marked with a red diamond. At the next fork, stay on the right-hand path that leads to the panorama over Mummelsee.
(1) At Mummelseeblick, enjoy the view of Mummelsee.
Immediately afterwards, a new path on the left leads to the Hornisgrindeturm tower - Grinde Hütte
(2) Next to the massive square tower is the brand new Hornisgrindehütte restaurant with its panoramic terrace.
Until 1999, the Hornisgrindeturm was used by French forces stationed in Germany since the end of the Second World War.
Pass by the tower to reach the small tarmac road that runs alongside the peat bogs along this high plateau. Head north and reach the Bismarkturm.
(3) This tower is smaller than the previous one and can be accessed via a staircase.
After the tower, turn left towards the television transmitter, heading towards Unterstmatt. Pass a gigantic wind turbine and, after a slight descent, you will reach the Hornisgrinde Sendeturm television transmitter.
(4) The TV transmitter tower is 206 metres high. Its location allows it to cover a large area with terrestrial and digital broadcasting.
Shortly after the transmitter, take the path on the right towards Ochsenstall and tackle a slightly tricky descent between rocks and roots. Proceed with caution. Continue to the Ochsenstall refuge.
(5) This refuge is located at a crossroads where you will need to turn left and then immediately right towards Unterstmatt. There is another slightly tricky descent before you reach a forest path that leads to Unterstmatt.
(6) UnterstmattStation is a ski resort with numerous ski lifts.
Start the return journey on the left via a steeply ascending track. At the first fork, continue straight on towards Ochsenstall until the next fork.
(7) There are no signposts, so turn right and shortly afterwards you will come to a three-way junction. Go left where a steeply ascending path leads back to Hornisgrinde. You will come back onto a tarmac road after going around a building with a broadcasting antenna (metal tower).
Pass the transmitter again to return to the path you took on the way there.
(3) At the Bismarkturm, take the paved path on the left towards the Dreifürstenstein. The path then follows a wooden walkway through the high-altitude moors. When you reach an intersection, turn right towards the Hornisgrindeturm.
(8) On the left is the Dreifürstenstein, a large flat rock with an inscription marking the division of the region at this point in the 18th century between the Duchy of Baden, the Principality of Württemberg and the Bishopric of Strasbourg.
Continue along the path to the Hornisgrinde Tower and then descend to the Mummelsee lake via the same route you took on the way up (S/E).
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