Belchen (Black Forest) Mountain
Prominent Black Forest peak with panoramic Rhine views
A Black Forest peak with well‑marked hiking trails and a visitor road; people come for day hikes, panoramic views across the Rhine valley and seasonal skiing on higher slopes.
Belchen (Black Forest) at a Glance#
Address: Belchen (Black Forest), Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Website: https://www.belchen-seilbahn.de/
About Belchen (Black Forest)#
Belchen is a prominent mountain in the Black Forest region of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, with a summit at roughly 1,414 metres above sea level. It is one of the better-known high points of the southern Black Forest.
Marked hiking routes lead to the summit and are used for seasonal outdoor recreation including panoramic viewing and nature walks. The summit offers wide-ranging views across the Black Forest and, on clear days, distant alpine silhouettes.
Historically the peak has been a local landmark used for traditional navigation and regional recreation; infrastructure for hikers has developed over the 20th century. The site is managed for both conservation and low-intensity tourism.
The mountain sits in the southern part of the Black Forest, within Baden-Württemberg, close to the borders with France and Switzerland and surrounded by forested ridges and valleys. The nearest towns and trailheads are reached by regional roads.
- Elevation: Summit reaches about 1,414 metres above sea level, making it one of the higher peaks in the Black Forest.
- Hiking access: Popular for day hikes with marked trails to the summit that provide broad panoramic views on clear days.
How to Get to Belchen (Black Forest)#
Belchen is accessible from the town of Schönenberg and nearby villages in Baden-Württemberg. The Belchenbahn (cable railway) runs from Schönenberg up the mountain; regional trains to nearby towns plus local buses connect to the base stations.
Tips for Visiting Belchen (Black Forest)#
- Take the Belchenbahn (mountain railway) from Schönenberg for an easier ascent and immediate panoramic views.
- Hike early morning to avoid afternoon cloud buildups that can obscure the summit.
- If planning a longer walk, connect the Belchen with nearby peaks to form a satisfying multi-summit route.
Best Time to Visit Belchen (Black Forest)#
Popular in summer for hiking and in winter for snow sports. Shoulder seasons offer quieter trails and good weather windows.
Weather & Climate near Belchen (Black Forest)#
Belchen (Black Forest)'s climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with cool summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -5°C to 17°C. Abundant rainfall (1880 mm/year), wettest in December, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -5° - 1° | -8° | 169 mm | - | - | 6.7 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -5° - 2° | -8° | 163 mm | - | - | 6.2 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | -3° - 3° | -6° | 148 mm | - | - | 5.9 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | -1° - 6° | -2° | 137 mm | - | - | 4.9 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 3° - 11° | 4° | 150 mm | - | - | 4.5 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 7° - 14° | 10° | 164 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 9° - 17° | 13° | 155 mm | - | - | 4.2 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 10° - 17° | 13° | 132 mm | - | - | 4.1 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 6° - 14° | 8° | 126 mm | - | - | 4.7 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 3° - 10° | 3° | 156 mm | - | - | 5.2 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | -1° - 5° | -3° | 182 mm | - | - | 6.2 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -4° - 2° | -7° | 198 mm | - | - | 6.7 m/s | - | - |