Westweg: Etappe 11 West (Wiedener Eck - Kandern)

With Belchen and Blauen, two of the great Black Forest peaks are on the program. The Belchen is considered one of the most beautiful, pristine and alpine peaks in the southern Black Forest. Its massive mountain massif towers over the surrounding valleys with its mighty forest and craggy flanks. The Blauen, on the other hand, extends far into the Rhine plain. On the descent into the Markgräflerland region, it's time to say goodbye to the Black Forest.

From Wiedener Eck, the Westweg circles the Heidstein on narrow paths and then descends through the steep mountain slopes to Krinne. The Belchen is now the crown prince of the Black Forest mountains. A steep, stony and alpine trail - enriched with views down into the Münstertal valley - climbs up through the mountain forest until you reach the bare summit. From the edge of the forest, a detour leads directly to the summit (1,414m). The Westweg runs parallel to the slope to the Belchenhaus, which has been the highest inn in Baden-Württemberg since 1898. What a show! From the summit, the view sweeps across the entire southern Black Forest to the shimmering ice giants of the Alps. 700 meters further down, the Kleine and Große Wiesental valleys spread out with their idyllic villages. Through a unique mountain forest with rowan and mountain ash trees, the route above the "south face" of the Belchen descends slowly at first and then steeply. The rocky steep slope of the Hohe Kelch becomes really challenging. A few handrails help you over exposed sections. Past the Dekan-Strohmeyer chapel, the trail runs along the edge of the forest to the Haldenhof. On the ascent to the Kreuzweg parking lot, the narrow path winds around the Weiherfelsen rock. This is followed by a relaxing section on quiet forest paths to Müllheimer Egerten. From there, the trail leads through the steep northern flank up to the iron Blauenturm (1,165m). From now on, it's all downhill! The route via the mystical Hexenplatz and the Sausenburg castle ruins is so entertaining that Kandern is reached sooner than expected.