From the Murg Valley via the Hornisgrinde and the refuge

The route starts at the Waldhotel Louise and first leads on car-free roads into the Murg Valley (the asphalt of the second, steepest part of the descent is bumpy). Then it goes 20 km downstream through the valley of the Forbach and the Murg via the Murg Valley Cycle Path to bypass the busy main road in this valley. It turns a bit much sometimes. Twice you have to climb steeply on the Murg Valley Cycle Path. At Schönmünzach you leave the Murg and climb over the Seibelseckle to the Hornisgrinde. The Hornisgrinde is the highest mountain in the northern Black Forest (1163 meters altitude). The ascent of the Seibelseckle is long (14 km), but runs on a very quiet road, which is even closed to car traffic further up. Then it does not go downhill, but follow the Black Forest High Road (B500) for 1 km and at the Mummelsee turn off and climb to the summit of the Hornisgrinde in another one and a half kilometers. This part is car-free, but expect hikers in good weather. Once at the top, you can cycle a small loop with a view in almost all directions.

Turn right and drive back to Mummelsee. Now follow the B500 for a distance of about 6 km. On nice Sundays and holidays, the B500 is flooded with motorcyclists, but during the week the crowds are not too bad. From the B500 you have a beautiful view of the Rhine Valley. Then it's down to All Saints' Day: a monastery ruin and also the entrance to a waterfall, absolutely worth a visit. You have to climb a bit on the descent (one kilometre) and then it is again a long (9 km) descent to Oppenau.

In Oppenau you have to go back up to the ridge and it goes over the ascent of the refuge, not over the main road, but over a very low-traffic road (which ends 2 km below the summit on the main road). Not an easy climb, but nicer and easier than crossing the main road. Shortly before the summit you have a beautiful viewpoint towards the Rhine Valley. Then follow the B500 again (over a distance of 4 km, 2 km of which with cycle path along the B500) and at Kniebis you drive along an asphalt forest road in good condition towards Freudenstadt. Via the steep descent of the Kienberg (also on a car-free road) you arrive in Freudenstadt and cycle to the Waldhotel Louise.