Baumwipfelpfad Schwarzwald — Attraction in Verwaltungsgemeinschaft Bad Wildbad

We are Americans living in Germany and wanted to take a quick day trip to see the Black Forest with 4 children in tow. The Baumwipfepfad (treetop trail) caught my eye in an internet article, and it seemed like a great place to let the kids work off their energy while taking in some spectacular sights.

This elevated, wooden walking path is located between Bad Wildbad and Sommerberg, Germany. We visited on a cooler, autumn day and there was plenty of parking in the lot right across from the well-marked trail entrance. At busier times, it is my understanding that there are multiple parking garages in the town at the bottom of the hill (Bad Wildbad) and a tram for a few Euro per person (search for Sommerberg Funicular Railway).

Along the trail, there are various activity stations. Some are about the forest and local wildlife such as one where you can listen to bird calls and another where you can identify animal tracks. Other activity stations are like mini-obstacle courses where you can walk a narrow plank or cross a rope bridge. (There are all enclosed; there is no danger of falling.) The little breaks were just right to keep my children from becoming bored with the walk.

At the end of the path is a 40 meter (~130 foot) observation tower with 360 degree views of the area. It was stunning. For 2 Euro per person, there is an enclosed spiral slide back to the ground level, but you can also walk if you prefer. Children must be 6 to ride the slide.

There are three things I wish I'd known before we went:

First, dogs are welcome! The website says dogs are not allowed on the wooden path, so we left ours at home. Once we got there, it turned out she could have easily joined us and we could have stayed longer. Dogs may walk on the forest trails, just not the wooden boardwalk. A brochure said there are kennels with water bowls available while owners are on the boardwalk itself.

Secondly, be sure you have coins if you want to ride the slide. The entrance to the slide has a turnstile which opens when 2 Euro are deposited. There is no change machine that we could see. Fortunately, it took small coins as well as whole Euro, so we scraped together enough for everyone to ride, and it was well worth it!

Lastly, we left the parking lot to venture on up into Sommerberg for supper. Turns out the town was within walking distance up a short, paved road. I felt rather silly having moved my car when we could have easily walked as many...

This place is just ok. It's designed very poorly. You first get hit up to pay for a family card price of at least 30€ to just walk on a path in the trees which is quite cute but my goodness, the price. What??!!

So you end up at the spiral slide. No elevator as far as I could see for handicap so good luck person pushing the wheel chair you now get to push it up 10 flights of stairs essentially. And have the chair to somehow claim again later. Also annoying was the adults who are doing all the kid bridges so it would make a massive line so you'd have to watch a goofy adult struggle to do a kid activity while your kids waited for them to finish because of course they're slow and scared. See my video for adults doing kid activities and holding up the line. I think the place needs a reminder that maybe some things are left for kids only lol.

Then you leave. No way to repeat it. 2 euros each ride. Is it not logical to then have a gate so that all the kids can go up there and continually write it as their parents hand them a two-euro coin And run out their energy? Nope. It's once and done. The entire park. Like, that's it. Terrible idea.

So you leave, you see a gift shop. And food. And a massive amazing playground area. Well you just paid a fortune you assume that's included. NOPE! More 30€ minimum. Unreal.

So we pay that and that is fine but it felt like a real shakedown and false advertising.

The worst part is on your way out. You can't even let your kid run up the spiral to do the slide one more time. I think the business probably left 20 euros on the table easily from not letting our party allow the kids to slide, I can't imagine the hundreds and hundreds each day they are leaving on the table. Bizarre. And that's just one family, they could print money.

It was a fine enough stop but I will never return. We saw they have dozens of other locations and when I first started the adventure I took pictures of old locations. Excited for it but after the shakedown and ridiculous cost.. pass.

So I guess you can go if you want.. It's a nice walking area. But it's just really...

⚠️October: Open until 6pm/18:00 BUT they stop accepting visitors at 4pm/ 16:00 ⚠️

Baumwipfelpfad Schwarzwald, located in Germany’s Black Forest region, is a treetop walk that offers visitors a unique way to experience the forest from above. The path is about 1,250 meters long and rises up to 20 meters above the ground, leading to a 40-meter-high observation tower that provides panoramic views of the surrounding forest and landscape. The path is designed to be accessible for people of all ages and fitness levels, with a gentle incline suitable for strollers and wheelchairs.

The walk is educational as well, with information boards along the way explaining the local flora and fauna, as well as the ecosystem of the Black Forest. There are also some fun features like rope bridges and balance elements for those looking for a bit more adventure.

Visitors should plan for at least 1-2 hours to fully enjoy the experience, and it’s recommended to check the weather beforehand, as the path is exposed to the elements. There is a visitor center with amenities such as restrooms and a café nearby, so it’s a good place to stop for refreshments.

The site is open year-round, but hours vary depending on the season, so it’s a good idea to check the official website for opening times and ticket prices before visiting. Parking is available on-site, and there are public transport options to reach the...