Black Forest, Germany
Zweitälersteig ("two-valley trail") is a multi-stage hiking path with a length of 108km and 4,120 vertical meters between 260 and 1,241 meters above sea level.
It encircles various locations of the Zweitälerland, a 270 km² holiday region located in the Southern Black Forest Nature Park in sunny Southwestern Germany. The two valleys, Elztal and Simonswäldertal offer typical scenery of the Southern Black forest and impressive views towards the other summits of the Black Forest and the Rhine valley, on clear days, you can even see the French Vosges and the Alps.
In 2019, "Wandermagazin", a hiking magazine, nominated it Germany's most beautiful hiking path in the category "routes".
When hiking on the ZweiTälerSteig you cross all the climatic zones of the Black Forest. Wild nature and enjoyable views characterize the climb. The eastern part between Waldkirch and Elzach-Oberprechtal challenges you physically: rocks, gorges and waterfalls, narrow paths in a tight zigzag. The western part is more runnable: changing views, easy paths, gentler climbs.
During the hike on the ZweiTälerSteig, you cross the three highest mountains in the ZweiTälerLand, the Kandel (1,241 m above sea level), the Rohrhardsberg (1,163 m above sea level) and the Hörnleberg (905 m above sea level). Many of the numerous natural highlights and some attractions in ZweiTälerLand were included in the route, for example the Zweribach waterfalls, the "mystical mountain" Kandel, or the Kastelburg above Waldkirch.
The route starts and ends in Waldkirch. The standard version, which I did, is anti-clockwise, starting out with Kandel, but you can do it in both directions.
(modified and abridged from https://www.zweitaelersteig.de/)
-submitted by Simone Schwarz
