Some of Gütenbach’s distinctive local attractions include a hike into the upper Teichschlucht Gorge, a high-altitude circular hike offered in three versions, and the Balzer Herrgott. These attractions give your stay a clear focus: hiking and a natural landmark. The wider Schwarzwald-Baar district adds its own trails, transport topics and local traditions.

Hiking in Gütenbach

One hike leads from the Felsenkeller on the L173 at the entrance to Gütenbach into the upper Teichschlucht Gorge. It initially follows the signs for the Schwarzwald-Kaiserstuhl-Rhein cross-country trail—a red diamond on a yellow background—crosses the Teichbach below the wastewater treatment plant and reaches the Zweitälersteig at the Teichschlucht trail signpost. The named points mark the route: from the start at the village entrance, along the trail markers and across the stream, to the Teichschlucht signpost. Another option is the circular hike over the heights around Gütenbach, offered in three versions. The Teichschlucht hike focuses on its described route and waypoints, while the high-altitude loop offers a choice of three versions.

The Balzer Herrgott

The Balzer Herrgott is a figure of Christ attached to a willow beech and almost completely engulfed by its trunk over a period of about 100 years. What makes it special is the connection between the figure and the tree: the trunk not only supports the figure of Christ but also shapes its appearance. The Balzer Herrgott is one of the natural attractions that invite visitors to Gütenbach.

Schwarzwald-Baar district: regional highlights

In the wider Schwarzwald-Baar district destination, a 2.5-kilometre circular trail loops around oval-shaped Kirnbergsee lake and crosses the dam. Kirnbergsee is part of a Flora-Fauna-Habitat site, and rare plants grow near the shore. The 109-kilometre, cross-border WasserWeltenSteig premium hiking trail also runs entirely through the Schwarzwald-Baar district on the German side. It leads from Germany’s highest waterfalls in Triberg to the Rhine Falls near Neuhausen. For regional hike planning, a 2.5-kilometre loop and a 109-kilometre trail offer very different distances.

The Wutachtalbahn railway and the Move fare network are two distinct points of reference for getting around the Schwarzwald-Baar district. The Wutachtalbahn runs between Lauchringen and Hintschingen and serves the district between Blumberg-Zollhaus and Riedöschingen. The Move fare applies to all local buses and trains in the Schwarzwald-Baar, Tuttlingen and Rottweil districts. Check the fare conditions before travelling, as they may change.

Local traditions are another regional highlight: in December 2014, the Swabian-Alemannic Fasnet carnival in the Schwarzwald-Baar district was added to Germany’s national UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Carnival in the Schwarzwald-Baar district lasts six days, from Schmotziger Dunnschtig to Ash Wednesday. In addition, an admission ticket to Germany’s highest waterfalls in the Schwarzwald-Baar district also includes entry to the Schwarzwald Museum, Triberg-Fantasy and Triberg-Land.

Discover more destinations: Villingen-Schwenningen, Hüfingen, Königsfeld Im Schwarzwald, Bräunlingen, Neukirch, Triberg Im Schwarzwald, Bad Dürrheim, Kappel.

View the wider travel overview: Schwarzwald-Baar district.