An outdoor wonderland of heather-speckled moors, glacial cirque lakes, deep valleys, mountains and near-untouched coniferous forest, the Black Forest National Park, which finally got the seal of approval (national park status) on 1 January 2014, is the Schwarzwald at its wildest and untamed best. Nature is left to its own devices in this 100-sq-km pocket of forest in the northern Black Forest, tucked between Baden-Baden and Freudenstadt and centred on the Schwarzwaldhochstrasse (Black Forest High Road), the Murgtal valley and Mummelsee lake.
Hiking and cycling trails abound, as do discovery paths geared towards children. Stop by the information centre in Seebach for the low-down and to pick up maps. Details of guided tours and online maps are also available on the website.
