In Oberglottertal, you can plan two circular hikes with different points of focus: one route follows traces of medieval mining and the Urgraben, while the other leads to Hilzingermühle. When choosing, consider not only the distance but also the elevation gain, time required and character of the trail.

Circular Trails with Different Points of Focus

The 10.5-kilometre circular hike follows traces of medieval mining and the Urgraben. You can allow about 3.5 hours for it; the ascent and descent total 350 metres. The route thus combines a specific time estimate with a historical theme that comes to life along the way through the mining traces and the water channel.

The circular hike to Hilzingermühle is 9.1 kilometres long and has 362 metres of ascent and descent. It is therefore shorter than the Urgraben loop, but has slightly more elevation gain. The trail alternates between narrow paths along the Glotter, shady stretches through the forest and sunnier sections. The hikes thus differ not only in their historical focus, but also in distance, elevation profile and route.

Trail conditions on both routes can vary seasonally. On the mill loop, trail surfaces and conditions may also change depending on the season. Check trail conditions before setting out, and take the approximate duration of the 10.5-kilometre loop into account when planning your day.

Hilzingermühle and the Urgraben

Hilzingermühle was built in 1621 and is considered one of the oldest mills in Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald that is still in working order. Its exterior can be viewed at any time. Groups can arrange visits inside the mill while it is operating with the municipality; please arrange such a visit in advance. The mill is therefore a cultural attraction in its own right on the circular hike, while the route also passes narrow paths along the river and through stretches of forest.

The Urgraben also gives the hike a historical connection: along the Oberglottertal Urgraben route, you can see the remains of a medieval water channel and traces of mining. The channel carried water from the eastern slope of the Kandel to mines in Glottertal and Suggental. If you are interested in the connection between water supply and mining, you can view the visible channel remains alongside the mining traces; the loop covers these themes over a distance of 10.5 kilometres.

More Trails in the Wider Glottertal Destination

The wider Glottertal destination has 100 kilometres of marked hiking trails. These include the Glottertäler Discovery Trail, a themed trail around Glottertal with its own trail marker. Along the way, numerous illustrated information boards with engaging text, including content for children, provide information about the surrounding area. The main trail is 6.5 kilometres long, is also suitable for families with small children and can easily be traversed with a stroller.

The Discovery Trail offers several themed variations. The Urgraben variation is a separate, short circular hike of just under eight kilometres that explores mining in Glottertal and the “Urgraben” technical monument. The Glotterbad variation leads to the origins of the historic Glotterbad sanatorium; three themed information boards tell its story from its beginnings in the 15th century to the present day.

The vineyard variation leads through the vines of Eichberg and the heart of the Glottertal wine-growing area, the “Roter Bur” vineyard. It offers views across the valley and shares interesting facts about Glottertal wine. Glottertal lies on the western edge of the Black Forest, 14 kilometres from the university city of Freiburg, in the Breisgau wine-growing area of Baden. The municipality’s territory stretches from the western entrance to the valley at 280 metres to the 1,243-metre-high Kandelberg. Grapes have been grown for centuries at the foot of the Black Forest mountains; on the southern slopes of the foothills of the Kandelberg, vineyards reach an elevation of 500 metres. The vineyards there are among the steepest and highest in Germany.

In the wider Glottertal destination, nature loungers provide places to take a break outdoors and at scenic spots. They can be reached via marked hiking trails. They add opportunities for a rest to the range of trails there, while the Oberglottertal loops have their own points of focus: the mill, water channel and mining traces.

Discover more destinations: Sankt Peter in the Black Forest, Ebringen, Sulzburg, Eschbach, Breitnau, Vogtsburg in Kaiserstuhl, Lenzkirch, Au

Go to the wider travel overview: Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald.