East way

East way
	; Wartenberg
Data
length	approx. 240 km
location	Germany, ; Baden-Wuerttemberg , ; Black Forest
Supervised by	Black Forest Association
Markers	Black-red vertically divided diamond on a white background;
Starting point	Pforzheim ; 48 ° 54 ′ 0 ″ N , 8 ° 43 ′ 0 ″ E
Target point	Schaffhausen ; 47 ° 42 ′ 0 ″ N , 8 ° 38 ′ 0 ″ E
Type	Long-distance hiking trail
Height difference	648 m
The highest point	Near Hondingen ( 921 m )
Lowest point	Pforzheim ( 273 m )
Level of difficulty	light
season	Spring to autumn
Viewpoints	Zavelstein Castle , Wanne , Randen

Map with all coordinates: OSM | WikiMap

The Ostweg is adjacent to the western route and the middle one of the three north-south long-distance hiking routes through the Black Forest . It leads from Pforzheim to Schaffhausen . The approximately 240-kilometer high trail was laid out in 1903 and has been maintained and looked after by the Black Forest Association ever since . His sign is a black and red diamond on a white background.

Day tours / stages

First stage: Pforzheim - Bad Liebenzell

Overview

Distance: 25 km
Walking time: approx. 6 hours

Place / sight	Distance (km)	Height (m above sea level )	Further information
Pforzheim copper hammer	0	254	Starting point of the three Black Forest high altitude trails Westweg (Pforzheim - Basel ), Mittelweg (Pforzheim - Waldshut ) and Ostweg (Pforzheim - Schaffhausen )
Pforzheim-Würm	4.0	327
Liebeneck castle ruins	3.0	340
Hamberg	4.0	484	District of Neuhausen
Steinegg Castle	1.5	391
Neuhausen	4.5	482
Monbachbrückle	1.5	450	Entrance to the Monbach valley
Bad Liebenzell	6.5	333

Directions

The starting point is the copper hammer south of Pforzheim. The path initially runs parallel to the road into the Würmtal and then climbs up to the right via the Würm district of Pforzheim back into the valley. At a forest car park, the path crosses a wooden bridge and continues to the Liebeneck ruins. You continue through the Würmtal to Hamberg, which you leave via Schlossstrasse. After a chapel it goes past the ruin Steinegg to Neuhausen. Then the hike on the Monbachbrückle leads into the Monbachtal. The Monbach flows into the Nagold. At the confluence, the path goes to the right and parallel to the railway line to Bad Liebenzell.

Second stage: Bad Liebenzell - Oberhaugstett

Overview

Distance: 21 km
Walking time: approx. 5 hours

Place / sight	Distance (km)	Height (m above sea level)	Further information
Bad Liebenzell	0,0	333
Wolfsschlucht	3.0	380	at Ernstmühl
Hirsau	2.0	341	District of Calw monastery ruins
Calw	3.5	347
Zavelstein	6.0	585	District of Bad Teinach-Zavelstein Castle ruins with a lookout tower
Bad Teinach	1.0	391	District of Bad Teinach-Zavelstein
Liebelsberg	3.0	614	District of Neubulach
Oberhaugstett	2.5	569	District of Neubulach

Directions

Hirsau monastery ruins

After leaving Bad Liebenzell, the path leads to Wolfsschlucht near Ernstmühl and then to Hirsau, a suburb of Calw, with its monastery ruins from the 11th century. Calw itself is then reached via the Hirsauer Wiesenweg. Via Inselgasse and Lederstraße, it goes over the market square and Salzgasse out of the city to the Gimbelstein rock massif and on to the Zavelstein hiking home, which is located near the Zavelsteiner Krokuswiesen nature reserve. In Zavelstein, the route leads over Staufer Strasse and Krokusstrasse to the castle ruins. Then the hike goes steeply down to Bad Teinach. At the church, the path leads to the right into Badstrasse, past the Kurhaus and through the spa facilities uphill to Liebelsberg. Shortly before the site there is a water tower that is also used as a lookout tower. A paved path then leads from Liebelsberg to Oberhaugstett, which can be reached via the Am Schleifberg road .

Third stage: Oberhaugstett - Pfalzgrafenweiler

Overview

Distance: 22 km
Walking time: approx. 5.5 hours

Place / sight	Distance (km)	Height (m above sea level)	Further information
Oberhaugstett	0,0	569
Buhlerwaldstern	4.0	618
Wait	1.5	600	District of Altensteig
Berneck	3.5	455	District of Altensteig
Altensteigdorf	1.5	558	District of Altensteig
Altensteig	1.5	444
Cabbage sawmill	3.5	470
Zinsbachmühle	3.5	530
Büchelesbrunnen	1.0	630
Pfalzgrafenweiler	2.0	636	Intersection with the Gäurandweg

Directions

Oberhaugstett is left via Martinsmooser Strasse; the path goes past Wart to the castle and to Berneck. Other destinations are Altensteigdorf, Altensteig, the Kohlsägmühle, the Zinsbachmühle and the stage destination Pfalzgrafenweiler.

Fourth stage: Pfalzgrafenweiler - Freudenstadt

Overview

Distance: 18.5 km
Walking time: approx. 4.5 hours

Place / sight	Distance (km)	Height (m above sea level)	Further information
Pfalzgrafenweiler	0,0	636
Russian bush	0.5	650
Findelhütte	3.0	659
Fox drive	1.0	713
Hauser's hayloft	1.5	693
At the Glattbächle	0.5	695
Obermusbach	2.0	660	District of Freudenstadt
Untermusbach	1.5	680	District of Freudenstadt
Valley of the Aunbach	1.0	632	District of Freudenstadt
Frutenhof	1.0	670	District of Freudenstadt
Haldenberg	2.5	670	Wittlensweiler sports field
Freudenstadt	2.5	728	Intersection with the Mittelweg Pforzheim – Waldshut

Directions

Pfalzgrafenweiler is left via Christoph-Decker-Straße. After nine kilometers the path reaches Obermusbach. From there, the hike continues along Kälberbronner Strasse, Klosterstrasse and Mühlhaldenstrasse to Untermusbach. Here it goes on over the Mühlhaldenstraße, past the sports field, over the Merzenbergstraße and the Müllerstraße to the village. Then past Frutenhof and Wittlensweiler to Freudenstadt. In the city the path leads past the cemetery to the city station. Then it goes over the Musbacher Straße and the Stuttgarter Straße to the market square.

Fifth stage: Freudenstadt - Alpirsbach

Overview

Distance: 21.5 km
Walking time: approx. 5 hours

Place / sight	Distance (km)	Height (m above sea level)	Further information
Freudenstadt	0,0	728
Friedrichsturm / Kienberg	1.5	799
Kohlberg	4.5	730
Vogteiturm	1.0	740	Observation tower
Sand meadow	1.0	752
Adrionshof	1.0	724
Schömberg	3.5	744	District of Loßburg
Alpirsbach	9.0	441	End point of the Gengenbach – Alpirsbach crossing

Directions

After the market square, the route in Freudenstadt goes over Loßburger Strasse, Straßburger Strasse, Lauterbadstrasse, Friedrich-Ebert-Strasse and Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse to the Friedrichsturm on the Kienberg. Then the route leads past the Vogteiturm to the Adrionshof in Ödenwald. A large forest clearing is reached about two kilometers later. Continue along the edge of the forest and along the road to Schömberg, which you leave through Reinerzauerstraße and Altenburgstraße. After two kilometers in the Hardt forest district , the route leaves the road on a narrow path. After the Heilenberger Hut, the trail descends very steeply in places to Alpirsbach, which can be reached via the Forchenweg.

Sixth stage: Alpirsbach - Schramberg

Overview

Distance: 19 km
Walking time: approx. 5.5 hours

Place / sight	Distance (km)	Height (m above sea level)	Further information
Alpirsbach	0,0	441
Rötenbach	1.5	420	District of Alpirsbach
Adelsberg	1.0	518
Miss Berg	2.0	530
Wooden plane	3.0	583	Friends of Nature House
Brandsteig- Schänzle	1.5	690	Roman road station
Customs House	1.5	720
Aichhalden	2.5	716
Paradise Court	3.5	670
Schramberg	2.5	424

Directions

In Alpirsbach, the path leads through a residential area and a park to Ambrosius-Blarer-Platz . From there the hike goes over the market square, the Marktstrasse, the Kinzigbrücke and further over the Gutleutweg above the city to the Rötenbach district. After the village of Fräulinsberg and the wood level settlement with a house for friends of nature, an ascent on the asphalt road to the Brandsteig follows. There it goes right to the customs house and then along the former Baden-Württemberg border and on to Aichhalden. The center of the village is reached via the Alterweg. From there the route leads down the Schramberger Weg and Auf der Wanne out of town . After about three kilometers of asphalt road, the path turns right at Gasthof Waldeslust onto a hiking trail. From the Paradieshof, which is on the left of the path, it goes partly steeply downhill to Schramberg.

Seventh stage: Schramberg - Villingen

Overview

Distance: 27.5 km
Walking time: approx. 7 hours

Place / sight	Distance (km)	Height (m above sea level)	Further information
Schramberg	0,0	424
Table neck	2.5	720	District of Schramberg
Benedictine height	1.0	798
Hardt	1.5	800
Mönchhof	2.0	794
Lindenloch / Glasbachtal	2.0	760
Albblick / Martinsweiler	1.5	770	Crossing with the crossroad Rottweil – Lahr
Waldau ruins	1.5	737	Cultural monument Hof Beck
Koenigsfeld	2.0	761	Crossing with the Rottweil – Lahr crossroad
Mönchweiler	5.5	801
Spa garden Villingen	5.5	721	Crossing with the Black Forest-Jura-Bodensee-Weg
Villingen	2.5	704

Directions

Albert Schweitzer House in Koenigsfeld

The Ostweg runs in Schramberg on Obermühlhofweg, Oberndorfer Straße, Hauptstraße, Berneckstraße, Seilerweg to the right of the brook, again Berneckstraße and Falkensteinstraße. After a steep ascent, you reach the Tischneck settlement. In the municipality of Hardt, the hike takes you along the Obertischneckweg, St.-Georgener Straße, Oberhardtweg and Römerweg to the edge of the forest. Passing Martinsweiler and the Waldau ruins, it goes to Königsfeld. From Martinsweiler to Königsfeld, the path runs parallel to the Rottweil – Lahr crossroads . In Königsfeld, the path leads past the Albert-Schweitzer-Haus and over Luisenstrasse to Zinzendorfplatz in the center of the village. From there it goes over Friedrichstrasse and through the spa gardens into the forest towards Mönchweiler. Shortly before that, the path runs through a nature reserve. In Mönchweiler the hike leads to the center of the village and from there via Mühlenstraße with an underpass to Waldstraße. Before Villingen, the Ostweg runs on a hiking trail above the railway line in Brigachtal . Villingen is reached via the spa area. The path goes past the chapel at the Kurpark and after the Brigachbrücke, which is crossed, along the Brigach to the Upper Gate.

Eighth stage: Villingen - Sunthausen

Overview

Distance: 16.5 km
Walking time: approx. 4 hours

Place / sight	Distance (km)	Height (m above sea level)	Further information
Villingen	0,0	704
Observation tower tub	2.5	777
Bertholdshöfe	1.0	758	Intersection with the Black Forest-Jura-Bodensee-Weg
Holzkönig	1.0	748	Former natural monument
Pole moss	2.5	710
Schwenninger Moos	1.0	706	Nature reserve
Bad Dürrheim-Kurhaus Hüttenbühl	2.0	700
Forest cafe	2.0	795	Lookout point
Hirschhaldehütte	2.0	759	Small refuge
Sunthauser See	2.0	707
Sunthausen	0.5	706	District of Bad Dürrheim

Directions

In the Schwenninger Moos

In Villingen the route goes over a concrete overpass over the railway line. Then you leave the city via stairs on Schäfersteig. The path leads past the Wanne observation tower. Then it goes past the Bertholdshöfen in the open field and then in the forest past the former Hölzlekönig natural monument to a game reserve. Shortly afterwards there is a war memorial from the Black Forest Association. The path crosses the street and passes under the Rottweil – Villingen am Kugelmoos railway line and continues to the Schwenninger Moos nature reserve. There you can leave the marked path to go past the source of the Neckar. Back on the marked path, it goes along the district road 5700 and on an overpass over the federal road 27 . Bad Dürrheim is touched on Schwenninger Straße and left again through an industrial park. Past the Hüttenbühl Clinic, the Lourdes Chapel, the Waldcafé and the Hirschhaldehütte, it goes to the Sunthauser See and on to Sunthausen.

Ninth stage: Sunthausen - Geisingen

Overview

Distance: 16 km
Walking time: approx. 4 hours

Place / sight	Distance (km)	Height (m above sea level)	Further information
Sunthausen	0,0	706
Öfingen	5.0	820	District of Bad Dürrheim intersection with the Black Forest-Jura-Bodensee-Weg
Blathaldenhütte	5.0	915	Refuge with barbecue area and viewpoint
Hörnlekapf	1.5	875	Hubertushütte lookout point
Geisingen	4.5	667

Directions

After Sunthausen it goes on a paved path under the Autobahn 81 through to the edge of the forest and then on a hiking trail to Öfingen. There you first cross a holiday village. The town center with the town hall and church can be reached through Haugenrain-Straße and Bühlstraße. Öfingen is left again through Unterzaunstrasse and past the sports fields. After the ascent to a barbecue area, the path leads over open fields above the A 81 to the edge of the forest on Rotmund. After a steep ascent to the Blatthaldenhütte, the path leads past the Hubertushütte on the Hörnekapf and along the Rossberg to the Rossberg hiking car park and then on to Geisingen, which can be reached via the Rossbergweg. The A 81 is crossed under the fire station .

Tenth stage: Geisingen - Achdorf

Overview

Distance: 23 km
Walking time: approx. 6 hours

Place / sight	Distance (km)	Height (m above sea level)	Further information
Geisingen	0,0	667
Wartenberg	2.0	825
Gutmadingen	2.5	673	District of Geisingen
Wendthütte	3.0	859	BBQ area
Lawn meadows	1.5	914
Junction to Hondingen	0.5	921	Highest point on the eastern route
New hut	1.5	835
Hondingen	1.5	720	District of Blumberg
Eichberg	6.0	913	Refuge lookout point
Achdorf	4.5	540	District of Blumberg

Directions

Wartenberg

Geisingen is left on the main street. Shortly after leaving the village, the path turns left, crosses a stream and then turns left again into Mühlenweg. Soon afterwards it goes uphill to the right towards Gutmadingen. Two kilometers after leaving the village, you reach the Wartenberg estate via an asphalt path. The Wartenberg hunting lodge and the Wartenberg castle ruins are near the path. Then it goes steeply downhill on an asphalt route into the Danube Valley . After crossing under the main road and crossing the Danube, the path reaches the Gutmadingen district, which is left via the main road. Steep uphill, mostly on a paved path, it then goes to the Wendthütte barbecue area. Along the Längewiese, on which the Hüfingen telecommunications tower stands next to a wind turbine , the path leads to the highest point on the Ostweg at 921 meters. Then the hike leads partly steeply downhill to Hondingen, which can be reached via the Am Kirchberg road past the cemetery and church. Hondingen is crossed and left uphill over meadows. After a field cross, the path turns left. Soon afterwards it goes down again to Bundesstraße 27 , which is crossed by an underpass. Then the path leads through the forest to the Eichberg. The descent to Achdorf is partly extremely steep, but partly goes almost evenly along the mountain eaves. On the route, the path joins the Freiburg – Lake Constance crossing, which comes from Blumberg.

Eleventh stage: Achdorf - Stühlingen

Overview

Distance: 16.5 km
Walking time: approx. 4.5 hours

Place / sight	Distance (km)	Height (m above sea level)	Further information
Achdorf	0,0	540	Crossing with the Freiburg – Bodensee crossing. Crossing with the Schluchtensteig
Flaming anger With Our Lady	4.0	575	Nature reserve crossing with the Schluchtensteig
Pedestrian bridge over the Wutach	2.5	505	Flüheweg through the Wutach Valley
Gasthaus Wutachschlucht	1.5	500	Former Lausheim-Blumegg stop of the disused Wutachtalbahn (Sauschwänzlebahn)
Former wheat station	4.0	471	Station of the disused Wutachtalbahn (Sauschwänzlebahn) crossing with the Schluchtensteig
Cat hole	1.0	530
Stuehlingen	3.5	501	Crossing with the Schluchtensteig

Directions

Achdorf is left via Blumberger Straße. At the end of the village the path turns right. After about two kilometers on a paved county road, turn right onto a hiking trail high above the Wutach . The Ostweg and the Schluchtensteig come together again below the Wutachflühren hiking car park, which is not on the way. The hike goes past the Sturzdobel and the Mannheimer Felsen through the Wutachflüh nature reserve. Below the Wutach Bridge of the Sauschwänzlebahn called Wutachtalbahn, the Wutach is crossed on a steel pedestrian bridge. Then the route leads along the Wutach to the Gasthaus Wutachschlucht, where it meets the Sauschwänzlebahn again at the former Lausheim-Blumegg train station. The route continues on the same route as the Schluchtensteig to the Weizen train station and the main headquarters of the Sto company . There, Ostweg and Schluchtensteig separate. The Ostweg goes about 300 meters along the railway line, then at an acute angle back to Gate 3 of the Sto company and from there through the forest to Stühlingen. The center of Stühlingen with the Gasthaus Krone can be reached via the streets Sommerhalde and An der Steig .

Twelfth stage: Stühlingen - Schaffhausen

Overview

Distance: 19 km
Walking time: approx. 5 hours

Place / sight	Distance (km)	Height (m above sea level)	Further information
Stuehlingen	0,0	501
Stühlingen border crossing	1.0	450
Schleitheim	2.5	467
Strickhof	2.5	580
Schleitheimer Schlossranden	2.0	901	Schleitheimer Randenturm
Zelgli	1.0	865
Bräunlingsbuck	2.5	778
Chlosterfeld	2.0	655
Schaffhausen	5.5	400

Directions

Schleitheim

Stühlingen is left via Hauptstrasse and Bahnhofstrasse. After the Stühlingen train station, the hike leads to the end of Bahnhofstrasse and then sharp left and then right across the Swiss border onto the path to Schleitheim. From Rebhaldenweg, continue half right through Hölderlinstrasse, then right into Schwarzwaldstrasse and further left through Bahnhofstrasse and Adlerstrasse into the center of the village. From the parish hall the route leads over the parish hall square and then over the bridge through the Randenstrasse and after the church twice left out of the village. Where the path ends in a straight line, turn right and then left again towards the Strickhof, which is located on the edge of the forest. About half a kilometer afterwards, the last and at the same time one of the steepest climbs on the east path up to the Schleitheimer Schlossranden with the Schleitheimer Randenturm begins . Shortly thereafter, the path leads past a refuge that is open on weekends. Schaffhausen is then reached via an approximately eleven kilometer descent.

literature

Reinhard Distel and Heinz R. Wittner: Hiking guide Black Forest high trails . 7th edition, Ostfildern 1997, ISBN 3-8134-0213-4 , pp. 111-141

Web links

Black Forest hiking service : Web application of the Black Forest Association to visualize the Black Forest hiking trails in Google Maps with various overlays (route network, signposts, accommodations, ...)
GPS hiking atlas Germany : Complete tour description with current GPS data and digital hiking map