When the snow glistens on the mountains
Winter at Schluchsee
Wrap up warm and off you go – on skis, skates, or simply with the right footwear
When the snow crunches underfoot and the warming sun glitters on the snow, then the long-awaited winter season has finally arrived, inviting you to enjoy active outdoor pursuits during your winter vacation in the Black Forest at the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten am Schluchsee. The Feldberg lift network is the largest contiguous ski area north of the Alps and attracts numerous winter sports enthusiasts every year. A wide range of activities, from skiing and cross-country skiing to tobogganing, winter hiking, snowshoeing, and snow kiting, are available during your winter vacation in the Black Forest.
The Black Forest lies still, covered in a thick layer of white snow. The silence invites you to escape the stress of everyday life and the nerve-wracking noise of the city on a winter vacation in the Black Forest. The glistening white paths and powder snow do the rest, tempting even those who don't usually enjoy hiking to take a romantic trip into the fascinating natural surroundings.
Incidentally, it is no coincidence that the world seems quieter to us in winter, because snow absorbs sound. If you want to finally "hear" silence again and enjoy nature in peace, the 300 kilometers of groomed and rolled winter hiking trails in the Black Forest offer the best opportunity.
During a winter vacation in the Black Forest, snowshoes are a wonderful way to explore this winter wonderland—in an environmentally friendly way, of course. Making the first tracks in the fresh snow, across open fields, without having to stick to trails, is fascinating and interesting for children too. Snowshoes can be rented at any sports store. Guided snowshoe tours are offered in many places.
One tour tip for beginners and families with children is the Rothaus snowshoe trail. The route is about four kilometers long and starts at the Grafenhausen-Rothaus tourist information office. Alternatively, you can take part in a guided hike organized by Hochschwarzwald Tourismus GmbH.
Those who prefer more action during their winter vacation in the Black Forest can hit the Black Forest toboggan runs. The longest run starts in Lenzkirch-Saig and winds its way down to Lake Titisee over a kilometer of winding, rolled forest trails. To save tired tobogganers from having to hike all the way back up again, there is a shuttle bus to the top of the mountain.
This rapid descent, which is floodlit until 11 p.m. at night, is of course not just for children – adults also get their money's worth with this snowy fun. Tobogganing is possible in good snow conditions from December to the end of February.
Guests on winter vacations in the Black Forest should find out for themselves what "cow pat sledding" and "zipfelbob" mean. The winter fun park at Schluchsee offers children and adults unlimited fun on the slopes during the cold season. For example, with unusual sledding equipment such as zipfelbobs, cow pat sleds, and tubes.
And the "magic carpet" allows winter sports enthusiasts to float back up the mountain in a relaxed manner after their descent. If you're hungry, food is of course also provided.
Guests at our hotel in the Black Forest receive discounted admission tickets.
Thanks to its high altitude and guaranteed snow, the Feldberg offers ideal winter sports conditions on over 110 days a year. From December 23 to January 5, a hotel shuttle bus takes our guests on their winter vacation in the Black Forest to the highest mountain in Baden-Württemberg, which is part of the Feldberg lift network. Countless chairlifts and T-bar lifts take you up to the top in comfort. There are downhill runs of all levels of difficulty and around 68 kilometers of slopes.
For cross-country skiers and skaters, around 22 trail grooming machines are in use every day in the Black Forest to groom over 80 trails with a total length of over 300 kilometers. Trails of various degrees of difficulty are created for both classic cross-country skiers and skaters. This means that everyone is guaranteed to find the right tour for them and their requirements during their winter vacation in the Black Forest.
How about the 1.4-kilometer-long "Schluchsee Rundspur," which is suitable for beginners? There are special cross-country skiing courses for newcomers. There are several rental stations along the trails where you can get the right equipment, one of which is located directly in Schluchsee.
Just like in the old days, you can take a steam train through the snow-covered winter landscape of the Black Forest in December. The sight of the puffing locomotive from the 1930s and the train crew in original uniforms from the 1950s transports passengers back in time. The historic train consists of a locomotive, two express train cars, three "Donnerbüchsen" (thunderboxes) and a freight car for luggage. It runs on specific dates on the so-called Dreiseenbahn (Three Lakes Railway) from Seebrugg to Titisee and on the Hintere Höllentalbahn (Rear Hell Valley Railway) from Titisee to Löffingen.
The snow report keeps you up to date on current snow depths, which lifts are open, and which trails are groomed: https://www.hochschwarzwald.de/service/schneebericht.
