Altenrond: Winter Hiking and Trails in the Bernau High Valley

When planning a stay in Altenrond, you can explore different trail themes in the Bernau High Valley. Southwest of the Feldberg area, extensive meadows and pastures, mixed forests, and unspoiled moorland shape the natural and cultural landscape. The area has the Bernau High Valley Trail, the Enchanted Forest Path, and other themed trails. Each trail has a different focus: nature reserves, art installations, winter hiking, and views offer different ways to discover the landscape.

Hiking Trails with Distinctive Themes

The Enchanted Forest Path in Bernau is 2.5 kilometers long and lies south of the Oberlehen district in the Taubenmoos Nature Reserve. The five-kilometer Hans Thoma Artists’ Trail also runs near Oberlehen. It is a loop trail with seven art installations. There you can see reproductions of paintings by Hans Thoma, which he painted at these locations more than 100 years ago. Both trails are marked along their entire length with their own distinct signage. They differ in more than just length: the Enchanted Forest Path is defined by its location in Taubenmoos, while the artists’ trail connects the paintings with the places where they were created.

A winter hike in the Bernau High Valley crosses a country road in Altenrond and then follows the Schliefeweg to the “Schliefe” trail junction. As surface conditions can vary in winter, check conditions before setting out. This will help you take the described section of trail and the road crossing into account when planning.

Panoramas and Getting Your Bearings

The panoramic loop around Bernau first follows a narrow path through the forest, then opens up to views of the entire Bernau High Valley. The route follows the Albweg for five kilometers. From the Kaiserhaus–Hof Panorama Trail, the view extends across the high valley and the wooded heights of the southern Black Forest; in good visibility, you can also see the Swiss Alps. If you choose based on the scenery, the views differ: one route switches from a forest path to a view of the entire valley, while the other offers a panorama of the high valley and surrounding heights, with the possibility of seeing the Alps.

To reach the panoramic loop, drive uphill from the end of Altenrond in the direction of Kaiserhaus to the Ankenbühl hiking car park. For the Kaiserhaus–Hof Panorama Trail, the starting point is only a few meters from the bus stop. As the exact bus-stop route may change, check it for your travel date.

Cycling and Excursions in the Region

As an alternative kind of tour, “enjoy&bike: Bernau’s High Valley Surfer | The Hilly One” is a 36.2-kilometer cycling loop. Many well-known attractions in the area around Bernau in the Black Forest can be reached free of charge by bus and train with the KONUS guest card. For regional excursions, this means you can consider public transport as well as the hiking trails.

The nature discovery trail in Bernau in the Black Forest features 15 play, storytelling, and information stations for the whole family. Bernau in the Black Forest celebrates Hans Thoma Day every year on the second weekend in August. On the third weekend in August, the town also hosts its annual Holzschneflertage and a nature park market. Event dates and programs may vary from year to year; if you want to plan your trip around one of these events, check the specific dates.

For the broader travel overview: Bernau in the Black Forest.