The Schwarzwaldhochstraße — the B500 between Baden-Baden and Freudenstadt — is one of Germany’s oldest tourist routes and still one of its finest drives. For about 60 km it follows the crest of the northern Black Forest, mostly between 800 and 1,000 m, with the Rhine valley and the Vosges opening up to the west.
Along the way are historic hotels, ski slopes, a summer toboggan run, the Black Forest National Park and, almost exactly halfway, the Mummelsee. It is as popular with motorcyclists and cyclists as with drivers, and it is the backbone of every itinerary on this site.
Top things to do at Black Forest High Road (B500)
Stop at the viewpoints
Lay-bys and car parks along the ridge — around Bühlerhöhe, Hundseck, Unterstmatt and Seibelseckle — look out over the Rhine plain. The late-afternoon light, with the Vosges silhouetted in the west, is the best of the day.
Ride the Mehliskopf toboggan run
The Mehliskopf leisure area, about 10 km north of the Mummelsee, has a summer toboggan run of roughly a kilometre, a climbing park and, in winter, some of the longest ski runs in the northern Black Forest.
Walk from Ruhestein or the Schliffkopf
South of the lake the road passes the national park visitor centre at Ruhestein and the Schliffkopf, where the Lotharpfad trail climbs through a forest flattened by the 1999 storm and now regrowing on its own.
How to get to Black Forest High Road (B500)
- From Baden-Baden: follow the signs for the B500 from the town centre; the Mummelsee is about 30 km (40–45 minutes) along the road.
- From Freudenstadt: about 20 km north to the lake, via Kniebis and Ruhestein.
- Without a car: buses run along the High Road, and several guided day trips from Strasbourg and Frankfurt drive it for you.
Insider tips
- Drive it north to south in the morning and south to north in the afternoon to keep the sun behind you on the viewpoints.
- In winter the road is kept open, but snow tyres are essential and conditions change quickly above 900 m.
- The B500 is a busy motorcycle route on summer weekends — take the bends carefully and use the lay-bys for photos.
Best tours & tickets for Black Forest High Road (B500)
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Black Forest High Road (B500) and the rest of the Black Forest:
Small-group day trip from US$245 From Strasbourg: Black Forest and Baden-Baden Day Trip
The best-reviewed way to reach the Mummelsee without a car. An English-speaking guide takes a small group across the Rhine to Baden-Baden, then climbs the Schwarzwaldhochstraße with photo stops before a proper break at the lake for lunch, cake and a walk along the shore.
- Guided stroll through Baden-Baden and the Lichtentaler Allee
- Viewpoints over the Rhine valley on the Black Forest High Road
- Free time and lunch at the Mummelsee
Private day trip from US$512 per group From Strasbourg: Black Forest Day Trip with Lake Mummelsee
Your own vehicle for up to four people and a relaxed pace: Baden-Baden in the morning, the Black Forest High Road at midday, lunch and Black Forest cake at the Mummelsee, then down the Baden wine route to the flower-hung village of Sasbachwalden. An audio guide in English, French or Spanish fills in the stories.
- Private car or van with pickup in Strasbourg
- Baden-Baden, the High Road and a long stop at the Mummelsee
- Wine-village finale in half-timbered Sasbachwalden
Private tour from US$905 Frankfurt to Black Forest, Baden-Baden & Freiburg by Car
A private driver and a flexible itinerary through the Black Forest, Baden-Baden and Freiburg. Because the route is yours to shape, it is one of the few ways to include the Schwarzwaldhochstraße and a stop at the Mummelsee on a day out of Frankfurt — just ask when you book.
- English-speaking driver, pickup anywhere in Frankfurt
- Route tailored to you — ask for the High Road and the Mummelsee
- Baden-Baden and Freiburg on the same day
