Westweg-Etappe 02: Dobel - Forbach

The second stage shows the typical landscapes of the northern Black Forest in one day: rustling coniferous forests, magnificent views, moorland hilltops and deeply carved river valleys. The leisurely ascent from Dobel to Kaltenbronn is garnished with numerous views, most of which are due to the force of hurricane Lothar (Christmas 1999). Over steep, rocky paths, the trail descends past the Latschigfelsen rock into the wild Murg Valley to Forbach

On the outskirts of Dobel, the Westweg trail plunges back into the deep coniferous forests. The trail climbs gently over the ridge between Alb and Eyach towards Kaltenbronn. The Westweg always runs below the ridge line, first to the Weithäuslesplatz, then with great views under the Schweizerkopf to the Hahnenfalzhütte. At the Langmartskopfhütte, it reaches the Kaltenbronn plateau. Magnificent views of the Murg Valley accompany the Westweg to the Kreuzlehütte, where it crosses the Alte Weinstraße and heads for the Kaltenbronn inn. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Kaltenbronn was the preferred recreational destination and hunting ground of the Grand Duke of Baden, Friedrich I. Today, skiers and cross-country skiers cavort here in winter.The Kaltenbach, which leaps merrily over large granite boulders, accompanies the Westweg up to the Hohloh-See, a small high moorland lake. The boardwalk leads directly to the Hohloh Tower, which was built by the Black Forest Association in 1897 on the highest point of the extensive high plateau at 988 meters. After a steep descent, the full height difference to the Murg valley is revealed on the pulpit of the Latschigfels. The Murg has carved out a deep rocky canyon. In the Kauersbach valley above Gausbach are the characteristic wooden hay huts that immigrants brought with them from Tyrol. The mown grass could dry in them and in winter the farmers brought it down into the valley on sledges. The panoramic trail via Gausbach shows the lovely side of the Murg Valley before the stage ends at the historic wooden bridge in Forbach.