Hotzenwald-Querweg, Etappe 1: Über den Dinkelberg in den Hotzenwald

The first stage of the short long-distance hiking trail takes us from the Wiesental valley via the highest point in the Hotzenwald forest up to the stage town of Herrischried.

A hiking day could hardly be more varied: While we start in Schopfheim deep down in the Wiesental valley, Lake Eichen is a real special feature along the way after just under an hour. The seemingly temporary lake is a result of the soluble rock layers in the shell limestone of the Dinkelberg. We cross the flat hilly landscape with its orchards and paddocks over to Hasel, where the Erdmannshöhle cave is the most beautiful stalactite cave in the southwest. The trail then swings up into the Black Forest, which for us means a challenging terrain section over into the Wehratal valley. After that, it really gets down to business: the ascent from the reservoir up to the Hornberg basin with over 600 meters of elevation gain awaits us. The view from the edge of the basin and the silence at the Ödland Chapel are the reward before the final spurt down to Herrischried.