Todtnauer Wasserfall

From Freiburg, it takes a little over an hour by train and bus to reach this beautiful hiking spot. The journey is relatively short, and the trail follows a scenic mountain waterfall, making it a great choice for beginners. Here you'll find Germany's highest natural waterfall, the **Todtnauer Wasserfall**, and the impressive **Black Forest Line** suspension bridge. For €12, you can visit both attractions (€9 for the bridge and €2.50 for the waterfall), and it's definitely worth the price. We recommend allowing 2–3 hours to explore the area. There are two car parks. One is at the bottom of the mountain, where you can visit the waterfall first before hiking up to the suspension bridge. The other is at the top, allowing direct access to the bridge. We preferred parking at the lower car park because it was quieter, and there's a small kiosk at the entrance selling coffee and cake—perfect for relaxing after the hike. The walk begins near Todtnau and takes you through peaceful forest trails filled with fresh mountain air. Before long, you'll arrive at the spectacular Todtnauer Wasserfall, where water plunges nearly 90 metres down the cliff, creating an incredible view. Above the waterfall is the 450-metre-long Black Forest Line suspension bridge. Although the bridge isn't directly over the waterfall, it offers panoramic views of both the falls and the surrounding Black Forest. You can cross it in either direction, entering and exiting from both ends. The bridge is over 100 metres above the ground, and it does sway in the middle—especially on windy days—so even if you're not afraid of heights, you might still find your legs getting a little shaky! Dogs are welcome on the bridge, although some may get scared and need to be carried across, which can be quite a workout. On a clear day, however, the views from the bridge are absolutely stunning. If you're hiking from the waterfall up to the bridge, there are two routes. The left-hand path is steeper, with plenty of stone steps and railings, while the right-hand path is a gentler incline and much easier to walk. It's worth going up one side and coming back down the other to experience both. One important tip: wear proper hiking shoes! They'll help prevent slipping and twisted ankles, especially on the rocky paths. They also make it easier if you'd like to walk down to the shallow stream at the base of the waterfall. Overall, it's an enjoyable and relatively easy hike with beautiful scenery throughout. Even though we aren't particularly afraid of heights, the strong wind made the bridge feel quite wobbly at times. Kids, on the other hand, seemed much braver and happily crossed without even holding the handrails. The bridge itself takes around 20 minutes to cross one way at a relaxed pace. If you're travelling from Stuttgart, the journey is straightforward: * Take a regional (RE) train to Freiburg Hauptbahnhof (around 3 hours). * From Freiburg Hbf, take the S1 or S11 train to Kirchzarten. * Transfer to Bus 7215 and get off at Hangloch. A few transport tips: * Bus 7215 departs in different directions on the hour and half-hour, so be sure to check the destination displayed at the bus stop. * The ticket office is located right next to the bus stop. * The combined suspension bridge and waterfall ticket costs €12. * Your bridge ticket allows re-entry on the same day. * The middle of the bridge can be extremely windy, so hold onto your phone carefully when taking photos. From the far end of the suspension bridge, simply follow the signs downhill to reach the waterfall and continue into Todtnau town. If you have extra time, don't miss the **Hasenhorn Coaster**. A combined cable car and alpine coaster ticket costs €14. The cable car ride to the top takes about 10 minutes, while the alpine coaster is almost 2.9 km long and lasts around 7 minutes. Two people can ride together in one cart. Be aware that queues can get very long—we waited almost two hours. It's best to visit early in the day, and many people choose to head to Todtnau first for the coaster before walking up to the suspension bridge. For the return journey, take Bus 7215 from Todtnau back to Kirchzarten. Be sure to check the timetable in advance, as the last bus is usually before 8:50 pm.