Five days, 68 miles (110 km), and countless breathtaking views – hiking in the Murg Valley in the North of the Black Forest in Germany is a wonderful experience. Nature lovers have been enjoying the Murgleiter Trail from the town of Gaggenau to the Schliffkopf Mountain since the route’s opening in 2011. This long-distance hike was awarded the title of "Premium Trail" for good reason. Get ready for an adventure through the spectacular Black Forest nature.

In this Collection, you will hike the Murgleiter Trail in five stages. Following rooty paths that lead deep into the forest, through thick greenery, you will witness the diversity of nature in the region. Varying in length from 10.5 to 15.5 miles (17 - 25 km), each stage includes a good amount of climbing. The Black Forest is Germany’s highest low mountain range and, as such, the trail often heads uphill. You can expect to climb at least 2,296 feet (700 m) each day through almost Alpine conditions in places.

Does this sound like a lot to you? Well, it is. You can be very proud of yourself even if you only complete one stage of this long-distance hike. But, you probably won’t notice your aching legs as you power up almost 12,500 feet (3,805 m) over the five days. There’s simply far too much spectacular nature to discover along the way.

As you hike, you will find small huts serving regional delicacies and impressive lakes that are perfect to stop for a break. You can expect breath-taking views over wild valleys, as well as historic villages alive with culture. You will roam mystical gorges, windy moors, and rocky peaks. The Black Forest is known for its incredible diversity which you will find in abundance along the Murgleiter Trail.

Located in the border triangle with Switzerland and France in southwest Germany, the Black Forest is easily accessible from all over Europe, whether you are travelling by car or public transport. You also have plenty of accommodation choices such as holiday rentals and hotels in each of the stage destinations.

here are also accommodation possibilities between your daily stages. Several pensions and hotels in the individual stage towns will gladly accommodate you. For more information, visit schwarzwald-tourismus.info/planen-buchen/uebernachten (you can translate the page into English, click the ‘translate’ button on the top-left). You can take a bus to the nearest train station from Schliffkopf, the end destination.

More and more people want to explore and experience the impressive nature in the Black Forest — whether by hiking, by cycling or on a mountain bike. But we as humans are only guests here in the Black Forest — and the animals and plants are our hosts. That's why #RespectForNature is mandatory for all nature lovers, because only with respect we'll preserve the Black Forest in its beauty for our descendants.

You can find out more about the #respectfornature initiative on our profile page komoot.com/user/schwarzwaldtourismus or at respekt-schwarzwald.info.