Herzogenhorn nature trail

From the Krunkelbach hiking car park we follow the marked nature trail. At the beginning, the path takes us through the Krunkelbach peat bog to the Krunkelbach saddle. In the high-altitude spruce forest, an old boundary stone recalls the historical districts of Bernau-Hof and Bernau-Dorf.

At the Great Wachtenkessel on the eastern slope of the Herzogenhorn, avalanches regularly occur in winter – a natural hazard that has already cost ski tourers their lives. In the tall grass flora we discover golden-yellow arnica, bright foxglove, and the rare Turk's cap lily.

Through a beech stand over 140 years old, we reach the core zone of the Herzogenhorn nature reserve with its tall herb vegetation, where the poisonous but impressive blue monkshood can be found. Just before the so-called Glockenführe, our path with the blue lozenge turns left. It leads us through a sea of blueberry bushes past the monument to Turnvater Jahn.

At the forest edge, the path again turns left towards the Herzogenhorn. At the summit (1,415 m above sea level), the second-highest mountain in the Black Forest, we enjoy a wide panoramic view – from the nearby Feldberg in the north to the Alpine range, which impressively appears on the horizon in föhn weather. The simple wooden summit cross is visible from afar.

Back at the location "Schwedenschanze", a still well-recognizable baroque fortification recalls the unsuccessful defense against French troops after the Thirty Years' War.

At the location "Allmöser", we turn left to the sources of the Bernauer Alb at about 1350 meters altitude. They are colloquially called "Allmöser".

On the descent, we follow the path over the "Obere Hofmättle" towards the "Gerstenfelsen" through the so-called "Braunseggenried". Along a near-natural commercial forest of spruce and beech, we reach another spring hollow with rich flora. Shortly before re-entering the forest, the viewpoint "Hofmättle" opens up a view over all of Bernau with its eleven districts.

At the location "Gerstenfelsen", we meet the access path from Bernau-Hof. Before the Weidfeld beech tree, we turn left to the striking rock massif, colloquially called "Gerstenfelsen". At the charcoal site, traces of a former charcoal pile are still visible. Over the Roßrücken, we finally return to the starting point of our route.

To conclude, the Krunkelbach hut invites us to stop in a rustic atmosphere.