Erzgrube: Nature and Water at Nagold Dam

Erzgrube connects Nagold Dam with trails through the surrounding countryside: you can swim or enjoy various water sports by the water, while the Kingfisher Trail and a longer circular hike offer different ways to explore the area. This makes the place appealing if you want to combine lakeside outings with time spent hiking.

Forebay and Water Sports

Erzgrube lies directly beside the forebay of Nagold Dam. The area around the dam includes a 650-hectare protected landscape. There are various ways to spend the day at the lake: you can swim in the forebay, and sailing, windsurfing, rowing, kayaking and fishing are also possible. There are, however, restrictions on where and when these activities are permitted. Swimming is limited to the forebay. Sailing and windsurfing are permitted only on the main lake and from 1 April to 30 September. If water sports are part of your travel plans, take these rules into account when choosing your travel dates.

From a Short Nature Trail to a Longer Loop

The Kingfisher Trail at Nagold Dam is an easy nature trail about 500 metres long. It starts at the Kingfisher Information Pavilion and passes a biotope, an insect hotel and viewing platforms. The trail also includes a water play area for children with an approximately 100-metre-long miniature Nagold River. This brings nature observation and water play together along a short route. The trail offers a different kind of outing from a long hike, without requiring you to plan a whole circular route.

For a longer day of hiking, consider the moderately difficult 12.1-kilometre circular hike. It starts in Erzgrube on Seestraße and combines views of Nagold Dam and the Nagold Valley with the Große Tannen nature reserve, protected forest and dam. The Kingfisher Trail and the water playground are also stops along the route. Unlike the short nature trail, this tour involves a considerably longer walk and is rated moderately difficult. This gives you a chance to decide in advance which type of hiking day best fits your travel plans.

Getting Around and Finding Accommodation

There are six public and two private parking areas in the Nagold Dam area. There is a viewing tower at the information pavilion; public toilets are located at the Nagold inlet and at parking areas 2, 4 and 6. Public transport options associated with the hiking route include VGF bus route 7787 and the Freudenstadt–Seewald leisure bus. Check the timetables and the current status of the facilities before travelling.

For water sports, the relevant section of the lake matters, and for sailing and windsurfing, the time of year also plays a role. On the hiking trails, you can choose between a short, easy nature trail and a longer, moderately difficult loop. First decide which outings matter most for your trip; this will help you tailor your accommodation search to your plans for each day.

Discover more destinations: Dornstetten, Pfalzgrafenweiler, Seewald, Glatten, Horb am Neckar, Reinerzau, Schopfloch, Freudenstadt

Go to the main travel overview: Freudenstadt.