Schauinsland from the cable car valley station

The walk starts from the car park at the valley station of the Schauinsland cable car, at the edge of Horben and about 20 minutes from the centre of Freiburg by tram and bus. It climbs through forest on paths and forest roads, crossing under the cable car and over the mountain road, to come out on the open pastures near the top station. A last short rise leads to the summit at 1,284 m and its wooden viewing tower. Return the same way.

It is 12.1 km there and back with 800 m of ascent; allow about 6 hours. The grade is Hard, for the long, sustained climb: the ground itself is easy, half on forest tracks and half on paths.

From the tower the view runs over the Rhine plain to the Vosges, across the Black Forest to the Feldberg and, on a clear day, to the Alps.

The cable car runs every day from 9 am and is the usual way down for those who have had enough: a single cost €12 in 2026. In winter the upper paths are under snow and ice. Parking at the valley station is free for 30 minutes and then €2 for the day. From Freiburg take tram 2 to Günterstal and bus 21 to the valley station.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.