The „Murgleiter“ runs along the Murg Valley from the city Gaggenau via Gernsbach, Forbach and Baiersbronn to the Schliffkopf, once lengthways through the northern Black Forest. It has been listed as a premium trail since 2008 and is elected as one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Germany. The total length of 110 kilometers is divided into five stages whereat each of them consist of multiple technically demanding climbs and downhills to many popular locations of this area.
The paths meander along the nam-giving river through the contrasting valley of the Murg. On the way, the hiker passes a wide variety of habitats and cultural landscapes: From deciduous forests to dense coniferous forests, accurate vineyards and lovely orchards, fantastic mountain slopes, dreamy hayloft valleys and wide meadows. On the way he encounters some bizarre rock formations, mystical gorges, quiet moors and glacial cirques as well as the fascinating nature of the Black Forest National Parks with their Scandinavian-looking grind surfaces.
The hiking trail by no means stays down in the valley. The five stages add up to around 4.500 meters of ascent when your starting point is the Unimog Museum in Gaggenau and you continue the route southwards via the papermaking town of Gernsbach through the historic half-timbered towns of Weisenbach and Forbach to Baiersbronn up to the 1.055 m high plateau of the Schliffkopf. It is also possible to start the trail on this plateau and move on in northern direction with 3600 meters of climb in order to finish at the impressive wooden portal of the Murgleiter in Gaggenau.
