Schonach in the Black Forest: Nature, Trails, Culture and Winter

Schonach in the Black Forest lies in a high valley between 600 and 1,164 metres; the town centre is located at 850 metres. The landscape comprises forests, meadows, pastureland, heathlands and moors. For your planning, this allows you to consider nature, activities, family experiences, culture and winter sports side by side, based on specific locations.

Geographical setting

The measurable elevation and the named landscape forms provide two separate points of orientation for travel planning: figures provide context, while landscape terms make the natural environment concrete. The range from the high valley to the elevation of the town centre thus stands alongside the diversity of forests, meadows, pastureland, heathlands and moors. This brings geographical context and different landscapes together without allowing any single feature to describe the town on its own.

Nature

The natural environment includes Rohrhardsberg. It is part of the Natura 2000 network, which protects rare and endangered species as well as valuable habitats. In the Triberg granite massif, rock formations have created larger and smaller waterfalls along the Gutach, Schonach, Elz and Alpirsbach rivers. When choosing nature experiences, you can consider protected habitats, rock formations and waterways as separate topics.

Winter and Hiking

Winter sports are represented at the Langenwald ski jump by a clearly named event: the FIS World Cup in Nordic Combined takes place there in winter. In addition, a virtual reality programme at the ski jump allows you to experience ski jumping from the jump tower. For your planning, a winter sporting event and a virtual experience at the jump tower are presented here as different types of activity side by side.

Trails also offer different highlights. The Schalenstein Trail is a family-recommended hiking trail in Schonach. At Rohrhardsberg, the U(h)rwaldpfad was nominated as Germany’s most beautiful hiking trail in 2024. The family focus of one trail and the nomination year of the other provide different priorities for personal selection.

Families and Leisure

The spa gardens offer a water playground, a beach volleyball court, mini golf, a foot-wading facility, a music pavilion, flower meadows and a refreshment facility. The natural outdoor swimming pool has a children’s playground and a beach volleyball court; lunch and snacks are served at a kiosk. The Schonach town rally is designed for families with children aged six and over. The offerings can be organised by water, play, sport and a shared rally.

Culture and History

Among its oldest sacred objects, St Urban’s Church preserves a baptismal font from 1624 as well as altar paintings from 1747/48. In Untertal stands an accessible cuckoo clock that is considered the first largest cuckoo clock in the world. Clockmaker Josef Dold and his family built it between 1977 and 1980. For chronological context, both the 17th and 18th centuries and the construction years 1977 to 1980 are relevant here.

The three fields help you compare your travel period with your desired booking flexibility.

Other Places

Brigachtal, Donaueschingen, Tuningen, Neukirch, Furtwangen in the Black Forest, Schönwald in the Black Forest, Königsfeld in the Black Forest, Gremmelsbach

For the overarching travel overview: Schwarzwald-Baar District.