Todtnau Waterfall Hike

The short hike to Todtnau Waterfall is hard to beat. Tucked between the towns of Todtnau and Aftersteg, this waterfall plunges nearly 97 meters, making it one of the most impressive natural sight in Germany’s Black Forest. But the waterfall is only the cherry on top to a beautiful hike. You will also get to walk through the forest, and enjoy beautiful panoramic views over the valley.

TODTNAU WATERFALL - WHY IS IT SO SPECIAL?

The Black Forest (Germany) is full of beautiful waterfalls, so what makes Todtnau Waterfall so special?

It’s the tallest natural waterfall in Germany. Todtnau isn’t just another pretty cascade, it holds the title of the highest natural waterfall in the country. With a drop of 97 meters split over two dramatic tiers, the sight and sound of the water tumbling down the rocky cliff is absolutely mesmerizing.
It is powered by the Stübenbach stream. The waterfall owes its beauty to the Stübenbach, a mountain stream that flows steadily all year. If you visit in spring, when the snow from the Feldberg peaks melts, you’ll see the falls at their most powerfull.
To reach it, you can enjoy a beautiful hike through beautiful and shady Black Forest trails and viewpoints, where you can stop and soak in the scenery.
During winter, part of the waterfall freezes creating a beautiful natural ice shimmering sculptures.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE HIKE

HOW DO YOU REACH THE TRAILHEAD?

The trailhead of this hiks is located in the small town of Todtnau, next to the St. Johanes der Taufer church. However, the first 800 meters of the hike is just walking uphill through a street until you exit the town. It is possible to skip this part and just park outside Todtnau. I have linked both parking lots in the map at the end of this blog.

Parking – The parking lot for this trail is not that big, but there is plenty of spots to park within Todtnau. If the parking is full, just drive through the streets nearby and you will easily find a parking spot.

Book your rental car with Rentalcars.com.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

The Todtnau Waterfall hike is a very easy hike so you don’t really need any specific equipment. However, the following things can make your hike more enjoyable.

Hiking shoes. Hiking shoes with a good grip are always recommended when hiking, especially it has recently rained.
Weather appropriate layers. You never know which weather you are going to get when hiking. Layers will help you be prepared for all kinds of weather.
GPS App like AllTrails. The trail is very well marked and almost impossible to get lost. However, it is always better to be safe and have a way of always staying on track.
Camera or phone. You will not want to leave with taking plenty of photos of this waterfall.

HIKE STATS

Trail Start/End – Park in the square in front of St. Johannes der Taufer church. Alternatively, park just outside Todtnau (both parkings linked in the map)

Distance – 4,5 km

Elevation Gain – 280 m

Level – Moderate

Route Type – Loop trail

Estimated Time Needed – 2 hours. You’ll have plenty of time to relax and enjoy the views.

Best Time To Visit – Spring or Fall, to get the most favorable weather conditions and fewer crowds.

HIKE MAP

I always use the AllTrails App during my hikes. The app has a GPX map that can help you stay on the right trail during your hikes. For this hike, we followed the Todtnau Waterfall Trail.

TODTNAU WATERFALL HIKE - STEP BY STEP GUIDE

Reaching the waterfall

The first part of the hike until you reach the waterfall is quite straight forward. Once you’ve parked the car in front of St. Johanes der Taufer church, you need to follow the road uphill until you reach the end of Todtnau town (approximately 800 meters). If you’re tired, or short on time, I definitely recommend that you skip this part and park your car directly at the end of the town. I have marked the alternative parking lot, on map at the end of this blog.

As soon as you reach the end of the town, you will enter a forested path that will lead you all the way to Todtnau waterfall. This trail is quite even and well-maintained, so it is very easy to follow. I even saw some people with strollers doing this trail.

Halfway through this park, you will start to hear the waterfall in the distance, and will also see the huge Black Forest Line Suspension Bridge hanging right in front of the waterfall.

Todtnau waterfall

Soon enough, you will reach the base of Todtnau Waterfall. The view of the water falling through the rocks is quite impressive. You will want to spend some time here, just admiring the waterfall.

Todtnau waterfall, is divided into two different drops, with the bottom one taking approximately 2/3 of the fall and top one just 1/3. From the viewpoint at the base of the waterfall, you can only see the bottom drop.

On the left of the waterfall, there is wooden long chair were you can lie down and enjoy the view. If you manage to find this chair empty, I highly recommend that you take a break here. It was quite relaxing to listen and watch the water falling.

The Top Tier of Todtnau Waterfall

Once you’re ready, it is time to starting walking up some endless stairs to reach top tier of Todtnau Waterfall. I’m not going to lie, there are a lot of stairs, but it is not as difficult as it might look from the bottom. As you ascent, you get to enjoy the waterfall from different angles as well as the valley.

At the top, your efforts will be rewarderd with the top part of the waterfall. This part is shorter but what it lacks in height, it compensates in water volume!

The Return Through The Forest

After admiring the waterfall, it is time to start the return to the parking lot. However, instead of retracing your steps, just follow the trail that goes to the left of the valley viewpoint. You will find yourself walking down a trail on the edge of some rocky cliffs with excellent views (don’t worry, it is totally safe).

If you keep following this trail, you will soon enough enter a dense forest trail that will guide you all the way back to the beginning of Todtnau town. From here, it is just a short 800 meters walk back to where you parked your car.

OTHER THINGS TO DO NEARBY

Looking for ideas to do after your hike? Here are some recommendations to complete your day.

Visit St. Johanes der Taufer church. If you parked your car in the center of Todtnau, you should definitely take some time to visit this beautiful and impressive church.
Cross the Black Forest Line Suspension Bridge. Want to add an extra thrill to your hike? Once at the top of Todtnau Waterfall, instead of returning directly to your car, take a short detour and walk to the entry of this suspension bridge. You will get a breathtaking aerial view of the waterfall. Important: Do not do this activity if you’re scared of heights.
Fahler Waterfall. Looking for more waterfalls in the area. Then you can also do a short drive and visit Fahler Waterfall. This waterfall has only a 12-meter drop but it is also quite beautiful to see.
Titisee Lake. Titisee Lake is also a very famous spot in the Black Forest. Here you can enjoy a peaceful stroll next to the water or even rent a boaty and have some fun rowing.

ACCOMMODATION NEAR THE HIKE

Looking for some accommodation near the hike? I get it, after hiking and enjoying the area, you don’t always feel like driving long distances to your accommodation. Here are some hotels I recommend in Todtnau.

Black Forest Hotel Todtnau

Black Forest Hotel Todtnau is a beautiful and comfortable hotel in Todtnau. The hotel is located just next to the trailhead. All rooms are decorated in a rustic way but don’t worry they have all the modern amenities you need.

Photos from Booking.com

Hotel Waldeck

Hotel Waldeck offers a more relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere in Todtnau. It is located just outside the town and has all the facilities you need to make your stay a wonderful one. It even has a pool where you can relax during the warm summer days.

Photos from Booking.com

MAP WITH ALL LOCATIONS

HOW TO USE THIS MAP: Click the star next to the map title to add this map to your google maps account. To view it on your phone while traveling, open Google Maps, click on the menu button and go to “Your Places”, click on Maps and you’ll see this map in your list.

HIKE SUMMARY AND INFOGRAPHIC

CONCLUSION

And that’s it for this week’s blog. I hope you enjoyed it, found it useful, and make you want to include this hike in your next Black Forest itinerary. It is the perfect short hike to do while visiting the Black Forest. It gives an impressive waterfall and beautiful views without a lot of effort.

Have you visited Todtnau Waterfall? Did you like it? I would love to hear from you in the comments section.

DISCLAIMER: Did you know? This blog uses affiliate partnerships. When you click and book or make a purchase through one of my blog posts, I may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting The Travelling Hiker!

TODTNAU WATERFALL HIKE – THE BEST WATERFALL IN THE BLACK FOREST

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