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Endurance Hike
· Albtal und Seitentäler
Quality Trail "Wildcat Forest Experience"
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Wildcat trailPhoto: Tourismus und Stadtmarketing Bad Herrenalb, Thomas Stephan/BUND
On Germany's first quality trail "family fun," you follow the footsteps of the wildcat over about 6 kilometers up and down, often along narrow footpaths and stepping stones across a small stream, past ten interactive stations. There you learn all kinds of things about this secret inhabitant of our forests.
Encountering a real wildcat in the forest today is very unlikely. These animals are among the last predators in Europe and are extremely shy. Only with a lot of luck will you get to see them. The Wildcat Forest Experience provides insights into the habitat and dangers these rare animals face. On the exciting trail, you get very close to the wildcat. Over stock and stone, through sometimes wild, sometimes gentler terrain, you follow the marked path to ten experience stations and learn a lot about the wildcat.
Tip for kids: On the forest experience path, children can earn their personal Wildcat Diploma if they pay close attention to all ten stations. Whoever guesses the correct solution word and enters it on the nature park's website can easily print the diploma at home.
Come with family or school class and experience adventurous hours in the wild cat's habitat!
The WILDCAT Forest Experience is an initiative of the BUND State Association Baden-Württemberg e. V., funded by the Black Forest Central/North Nature Park and the municipality of Bad Herrenalb as well as the Härtwig Foundation. The trail was created in cooperation with the city of Bad Herrenalb, the state forest operation ForstBW, and the municipality of Loffenau. It is part of the BUND campaign "Habitat Networking – Networks of Life", funded with EU funds from the LIFE+ financing program.
Author’s recommendation
Don't forget your mobile phone on your tour along the Wildcat Trail!
Because at each station, there's the chance to receive more exciting information about the wildcat via the internet and telephone. These are explained to visitors in a playful way through humorous and engaging dialogues. Simply dial the provided phone number or scan the QR code on the signs and use the mobile audio guide.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Safety information
- Entering the path is at your own risk!
- The Wildcat Forest Experience is not passable – we recommend sturdy footwear and some fitness.
- Walking on the path is prohibited in storm and snow. After heavy rain and in winter, crossing the Alb river may be impossible.
- Children should only visit the path accompanied by adults.
- Please leave only footprints and take your trash home with you.
- A large part of the path runs through the nature reserve "Albtal and side valleys." Special consideration for animals and plants must be observed here: The paths must not be left. Removing plants and disturbing animals is prohibited. Noise must be avoided. Dogs must be kept on a leash.
Tips and suggestions
Tourism and City Marketing Bad Herrenalb
Rathausplatz 11
76332 Bad Herrenalb
Tel: 07083/5005 55
E-Mail: info@badherrenalb.de
Roadbook
At the starting signs in front of the Skiheim Talwiese, we turn 180 degrees and follow the street to the fountain at the edge of the forest. This is where the Wildcat Forest Experience officially begins. We go through the arch and follow the concrete paw prints, which we keep discovering on the forest floor. After about 500 meters, we turn right and follow the forest path downhill until we reach the asphalt road. Here we turn left onto the asphalt road and follow it for about 200 meters until we spot wooden stumps and a sign on the right side. Here we then follow the forest path downhill, cross a gravel path, and then reach the still young Alb river. We cross it like the wildcats (waterproof shoes required!). On the other side of the Alb, we continue to follow the path and first pass a "massage station" and later a skill station. The path leads us to a gravel path. Following the gravel path, we reach the bird meadows, which we circle around. Once back in the forest, we immediately turn right and follow a path downhill. From here, we can repeatedly spot metal wildcats in the trees, so keep your eyes open!
The path leads us to an asphalt road, which we cross and then turn left. The path takes us through the forest landscape to the rock formation at the Knoll Bridge. We cross it and follow the gravel path to the right. After about 100 meters, we turn left onto a forest path again and go uphill. After a right turn, we follow the path until we reach an asphalt road. We turn right onto it and follow it briefly until we turn left again into the forest, follow the path uphill, and meet a gravel path. Here we turn right and follow it past the wildcat bus stop onto the asphalt road back to the starting point, which we can already see from here.
For more information and the Wildcat Forest Experience info flyer, visit the Tourist Info Bad Herrenalb or go to www.badherrenalb.de.
Vogelswiesen
Sandgrube
Felsgruppe
Talwiese
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
- Take the S1 from Karlsruhe main station via Ettlingen to Bad Herrenalb station
- Take the bus (116) from Bad Herrenalb station to Bad Herrenalb Talwiese
Get Timetable to destination
Directions
- Coming from Frankfurt or Basel, take the A5 motorway, exit Ettlingen, then follow the signs.
- Coming from Stuttgart, take the A8 motorway, exit Karlsbad/ Bad Herrenalb, then follow the signs.
- In Bad Herrenalb: Follow the signs towards Oberes Gaistal.
Parking
Parking lot Oberes Gaistal at the Skiheim.Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
- Tourism and City Marketing Bad Herrenalb: Pocket Guide Hiking (D,EN,F)
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Tourism and City Marketing Bad Herrenalb: Wildcat Forest Experience (D,EN,F)
- Tourism community Albtalplus: Guide - 25 hikes through the Albtal
- Tourism GmbH Northern Black Forest: Hiking experience
Author’s map recommendations
- Kompass: Black Forest North - Hiking, Cycling. ISBN: 978-3-85026-654-3
Book recommendations for this region:
Equipment
Bringing a packed snack and good hiking shoes is recommended.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions