Höchenschwand combines hiking trails with a range of themes: one circular trail focuses on legends and history, the Wolf Trail traces the return of the wolf, and other trails are dedicated to the therapeutic climate, woodland animals or Black Forest ham. There is also a museum about an artist’s life and work, and an observation tower with panoramic views. You can choose activities for your stay based on the themes and routes that interest you. The municipality is located in the Black Forest Biosphere Reserve area.
Hiking trails by theme and distance
The Höchenschwand Legends Trail is a circular route of around 9 km with eleven stations. Children learn about various legends along the way, while adults receive historical information. The trail thus brings together two ways of telling stories on the same route: legends and local history. If you are interested in both, the circular trail offers a clear thematic choice.
The Wolf Trail, just under 22 km long, leads from Waldshut-Tiengen through districts of the municipality of Weilheim to Höchenschwand. Its route symbolizes the path of the wolf, which is migrating back from Switzerland; hikers learn interesting facts about wolves along the way. Compared with the Legends Trail, at around 9 km, it covers a considerably greater distance. The two trails therefore differ both in theme and length.
The therapeutic-climate hiking trails have a different focus: they are assessed for their physiological and therapeutic effects. Their exertion levels are graded, among other things, according to route length and elevation gain. So when comparing routes, you can use these criteria as a guide without assuming a specific walking time.
The Stalking Trail was designed specifically for children, who can spot various woodland animals along the way. The Ham Trail, by contrast, is dedicated to Black Forest ham, a well-known symbol of the Black Forest. The themes range from woodland animals to a regional product, so the trails do not all promise the same kind of experience.
Culture and places in the municipality
Christian Gotthard Hirsch’s Malerhäusel was both the artist’s home and workplace in Höchenschwand. The Malerhäusel Christian Gotthard Hirsch Museum offers insights into his life and work. Its opening hours vary by season, so check the current hours before your visit. This makes it possible to combine a museum visit with an interest in local history while keeping the seasonal opening hours in mind.
In the town center, there is a playground next to the mini-golf course by the Haus des Gastes. There are also two public barbecue areas on the outskirts: one by the Loipenhaus and one at the Kreuzstein hiking car park. Fire restrictions may apply due to weather conditions. The two barbecue areas are at different named locations; check whether any restrictions apply before using them.
The Rothaus-Zäpfle Tower at the nature sports center offers panoramic views. This viewpoint complements the themed trails and cultural attractions. For an outing nearby, the Häusern/Höchenschwand forest swimming pool is located in a wooded area on the B 500 between Häusern and Höchenschwand. Check whether the pool is currently open before your visit; its location between the two places makes it a destination in the surrounding area.
Another cultural highlight in Waldshut
Kaiserstraße in Waldshut also offers a historical perspective on public spaces. When it became a pedestrian zone in 1989, the town stream was moved back to the middle of the street and three fountains were rebuilt. This adds a different perspective to the story of the Malerhäusel: in Höchenschwand, the focus is on an artist’s life and work; in Waldshut, it is on the transformation of a street and its fountains.
To make your choice, you can first weigh up the theme and distance: the Legends Trail combines a circular route with legends and history, while the Wolf Trail is longer, at just under 22 km, and focuses on wolves. The therapeutic-climate hiking trails offer another way to choose, based on route length and elevation gain. The museum, observation tower and places in the town center provide different kinds of experiences. Discover more destinations: Altenburg, Wutöschingen, Grafenhausen, Wehr, Dogern, Rickenbach, Lauchringen, Ibach.
For the main travel overview: Waldshut.
