Discover Wutach: Trails through the Wutach Gorge

The Wutach Gorge makes a stay in Wutach particularly appealing for hikers: a clear river, rock formations and a diversity of plants and animals bring the experience of nature into sharp focus. When planning, it is not just the distance and walking time that matter, but also the demands of the trails and their seasonal conditions.

Choose hiking routes by time and distance

After taking the bus to Schattenmühle, a five-hour, 12-kilometre hike leads back on foot through the Wutach Gorge. The distance and duration may change if local routes are altered. The hike can be extended by a 1.2-kilometre section through the Lothenbach Gorge; this route detail may also change locally.

For a longer tour, the 118-kilometre Schluchtensteig trail runs from Stühlingen through the Wutach Gorge and continues in the direction of Lenzkirch and Schluchsee. One circular trail is titled “Wutach: Sonnenrain-Wutach Gorge-Ewattingen Circular Trail”. The Ewattingen-Sonnenrain-Wutach Gorge circular trail is listed as 10 kilometres and around 3.5 hours; it heads in the direction of Wutachmühle. Its route details are subject to local changes. Compared with the 12-kilometre hike, this circular route covers less distance and takes less time.

If you are looking for accommodation in Wutach, your preferred hike can be a practical starting point for planning: should a longer gorge hike define your day, or would a shorter circular route fit your schedule better? The distances and walking times provided offer concrete points of comparison.

Plan for the requirements and journey

The trails in the Wutach Gorge are narrow and uneven. Hiking requires fitness, sure-footedness and a head for heights. The trails are not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs. Cycling, mountain biking and horse riding are prohibited in the gorge. It is closed to hikers in winter; check the latest official information before setting out.

Hiking buses connect the main access points to the Wutach Gorge. Train connections are coordinated with services at Döggingen station. As bus timetables are seasonal, it is worth checking connections before travelling.

River scenery, forests and geological layers

Trails run alongside the clear river and past rock formations. The landscape also includes gorge forests and beech forests at higher elevations, which provide habitats for rare Bechstein’s bats and barbastelle bats. The hike therefore takes you not only along a variety of trail sections, but also through different natural habitats.

The high-altitude meadows are also remarkable: they provide a habitat for threatened plant species, including the rare lady’s slipper orchid. Together with the wildlife and forest habitats, they create a diverse picture of nature that can be discovered in several different ways along the route.

The Wutach Gorge is a nature reserve where geological layers dating back several hundred million years are visible. The hiking route is around 30 kilometres long. For anyone interested in how the landscape formed, the tour offers a geological dimension alongside the river, rocks and habitats.

Another activity on the gorge slopes

FlowTrailWutach offers another riding activity on the slopes of the Wutach Gorge. The trail includes jumps, steep turns and bridge structures; there are also options for beginners. It operates seasonally from April to October and runs in dry weather. This adds a choice of activities alongside the hiking trails, while the rules for hiking in the gorge still apply.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Lembach, Höchenschwand, Jestetten, Bonndorf in the Black Forest, Bad Säckingen, Wutöschingen, Wehr, Lauchringen.

Back to the main travel overview: Waldshut.