Located in the southwest corner of Germany, the Black Forest is a beautiful region full of forests, meadows, vineyards and lakesides. There are 23,000km of walking trails and 8,000km of cycle trails in the region alone! And in winter, skiers flock to the area for its downhill slopes and cross-country trails.
The Black Forest is an outdoor lovers paradise and a giant adventure playground. And there’s a wealth of activities to keep the whole family happy on your camping holiday.
The Black Forest is a hiking paradise and children will enjoy the guided walk of the Witchelpfad – a trail where children follow clues along a mile-long path in search of the capercaillie bird, via displays of gnome-like creatures and their dwellings. The walk sets off from the House of Nature, which has displays about local wildlife and culture, as well as a virtual hot air balloon ride.
The region’s lakes offer more ways to enjoy the outside with kayaking, canoeing and sailing. The largest lake, Schluchsee has a lido with a giant slide into the lake. The area is also famous for its thermal baths, with the town of Baden-Baden being particularly prolific. Or take a trip to Triberg and its waterfall. At 163m it’s Germany’s highest and tumbles down over seven cascades.
Adrenaline seekers are sure to love the Hasenhorn Coaster. Take a chairlift to the top of the mountain and then ride the 2.9km-looping track down on a go-kart! Or visit the Seewald Leisure Park with its coaster that has an ascent and descent of approximately 1500m. There’s also a children’s railway, bungee jumping, trampoline, dodgems and a merry-go-round. Or try Spasspark, where kids can ride giant tyres down a fake grass slope and jump on a bouncy dome.
Animal lovers will enjoy the Schwarzwaldpark in the Southern Black Forest, where you can watch the wolves being fed, take in a falconry display or join the guided tour through the monkey enclosure. You’ll also find a white-water ride, flying boat, and summer toboggan as well as smaller play facilities such as trampolines and playhouses with slides.
After all that activity, make sure to try some of the region’s traditional dishes such as venison medallions, smoked duck and pork fillet rolls stuffed with ham and cheese. You’re bound to need the energy for another day of fun!
Fly to Basel with Swiss, or to Stuttgart with British Airways or Lufthansa. Ryanair also flies twice daily to Strasbourg. Alternatively, you can take the Eurostar to Paris and then take a train to Strasbourg from Gare de l’Est in four hours. Once in the Black Forest you can travel round the region easily with the excellent bus and train network. Some tourist railway lines are even served by old-fashioned carriages pulled by steam engines.
Family friendly campsites
