On forgotten paths between Himmelreich and Hinterzarten

Right at Himmelreich Station (452 m asl) we ignore the first hiking signpost and walk through Erlenhofstraße and then serpentines up to the Frauensteigfelsen (773 m). From here, the view extends over the Zartener Basin towards Freiburg. We then descend over the Frauensteigsattel towards Pfaffeneck, at the next fork unmarked on the historic hiking trail. It crosses a path and the Frauensteig to the fork between the ruins of Bubenstein and Falkenstein. To the right, dedicated castle enthusiasts can make a detour to the long-forgotten ruin of Bubenstein (Neu-Falkenstein). The descent to the remains of the tower castle is pathless and arduous (465 m). At the Engenbach, we find an old signpost testifying that this path was once marked. Here is the access to the Falkenstein Ruin. The ascent to the two viewpoints to the Hirschsprungfelsen at the entrance to the Höllental is well secured with railings. Its narrowest point is dominated by a stag, a popular photo motif for drivers along the B31. Back at the mountain rescue sign, which primarily targets alpine hikers on the alpine path (T4), we prefer the once red-dot marked trail along the Engenbach. It can be heavily overgrown in summer and leads into the Jakobsweg, which we follow briefly to the right (bench above) and then immediately turn left onto a wide path; we follow the next path joining from the right for 200 meters and then take the left inconspicuous path up to a viewpoint bench. Shortly after, the exemplary marked Querweg Freiburg - Bodensee joins from Nessellachen (960 m). We follow the wonderful path to the right to the junction with a wide gravel path at the location “Posthaldefelsen” - the small detour to the viewpoint into the Höllental is signposted. Another viewpoint is the Kleine Posthaldefelsen with a shelter. In the left curve, we leave the wide path and pass several spring brooks of the Breitnauerbach. “Am Neuhof” the path branches off right “above the Posthalde” to the Kaiserwacht with views to Feldberg and further to the Piketfelsen (1040 m), the highest point on the hike. Past “Am Piketfelsen” we continue straight ahead with views of Breitnau and reach the “Mittlere Ravenna” at the entrance to the scenic Ravenna Gorge. Here, we leave the Querweg Freiburg - Bodensee and descend through the romantic Ravennachlucht to the Hofgut Sternen at the entrance of the Höllental (refreshment possibility). Here the hiking-friendly paths end. Under the B31 and through the Löffeltal, we reach Hinterzarten at the “Löffeltal entrance”, turning left towards “Hinterzarten/Zartenbachweg” and continuing to the “Railway underpass South”. From the location “Bahnhof-Kurhaus” (WC) it is only a few meters to Hinterzarten Station, the endpoint of the hike.