Hiking in winter is one of our favorite things to do in Germany! The trails are much less crowded, the air is crisp and the views are impeccable! If going on a winter hike in Germany isn’t on your list yet, get ready to add the following winter hikes to it right now!
This is our list of our 10 favorite winter hikes in Germany:
Drachenschlucht (Dragon Gorge) in the Thüringer Wald:
- Length: 3 km or 11 km
- Duration:1.5 hrs or 3.5 hrs
- Parking: Hohe Sonne parking lot
- Trailhead: At parking lot
This is the first time we discovered that Germany has slot canyons! We’ve heard it can get pretty crowded in summer, so we are very happy we picked winter to come explore. It’s a unique place that you’ll have to see with your own eyes. Mossy green walls, narrow paths, pointy icicles and little waterfalls is what makes this trail so special.
There’s a few different routes available to experience the Dragon Gorge.
Breitachklamm in the Bavarian Alps
- Length: 5 km
- Duration: 2 hrs
- Parking: Breitachklamm parking lot
- Trailhead: At parking lot
We loved this one! It is a very challenging hike as the gorge gets very slippery in winter. So make sure to wear the right shoes and take it slow. It’s a breathtaking hike with frozen waterfalls and crystal clear mountain water. After hiking through the gorge for a about 2 km, you get to hike through a beautiful snowy forest that will lead you back to the parking lot. We highly recommend this one!
Klösterle Schleife in the Black Forest
- Length: 8.3 km
- Duration: 3 hrs
- Parking: ‘Vor Burgbach’ parking lot
- Trailhead: At parking lot
This is by far our favorite hiking trail in the Black Forest. It really shows the beauty of the forest by taking you to our favorite waterfall—the Burgbach waterfall. The cool thing about this trail is that you’ll find a ‘Schnappsbrunnen’ at the base of the waterfall. It’s a small hut filled with local drinks such as beer, wine, schnapps, but also apple juice, water and more! So grab a drink and keep toasty warm, but make sure to leave no trace and take all trash with you! There will be more of these Schnappsbrunnen along the way while you get to take in the most amazing Black Forest views.
If you are looking for more hikes in the Black Forest, check out our blog post about the 6 best hikes in the Black Forest.
Bleidenberger Ausblicke in the Moselle Valley and Hunsrück
- Length: 12.8 km
- Duration: 4 hrs
- Parking: Alken parking lot Siebenfußfälle
- Trailhead: At parking lot
This hike offers so many amazing views of so many different landscapes: the gorgeous Moselle Valley, the Thurant castle and the Hunsrück mountains. It definitely doesn’t get boring. It’s a challenging hike as the elevation changes are pretty steep, but it’s worth the effort for sure! It’s a great winter hike as it keeps you warm, engaged and takes you to so many great places that look just as beautiful in winter!
Tatzelwurmweg in the Moselle Valley
- Length: 7.4 km
- Duration: 3 hrs
- Parking: At Lennigstraße 45 in Kobern-Gondorf
- Trailhead: At parking lot
Not many people know about this hike even though it’s absolutely gorgeous. We are a little biased because we live in the area and to be honest, the likelihood of snow is slim, but we’ve had quite a few snow days which is why we’d like to add this hike to the list. It’s a great hike for everyone who loves to explore off the beaten path. Great valley views, beautiful forests, lots of up and down and an awesome castle to explore!
We highly recommend checking out the entire Moselle Valley, if you have time! For that you should look into our Moselle Valley road trip tips!
Teuflische Acht in the Eifel
- Length: 6 km
- Duration: 3 hrs
- Parking: Besucherzentrum Teufelsschlucht Ernzen
- Trailhead: At parking lot
This is probably our favorite hike in the southern part of the Eifel. This trail will lead you through a maze of massive rock formations and slot canyons. We never thought we would find a place like this in Germany, but here it is! Make sure to wear appropriate winter attire as it can get slippery walking down into the canyon.
The Bastei Bridge in the Erzgebirge
- Length: 2 km
- Duration: 1 hr
- Parking: At the Bastei parking lot
- Trailhead: At parking lot
A short, but very rewarding hike that can be extended with ease. Walking on top of these massive sandstone formations is a truly unique experience. The Bastei Bridge, which connects some of the gigantic natural pillars is an absolute eye-catcher and a must-visit when in Germany. If exploring the Bastei Bridge and its surroundings isn’t enough for you, we highly recommend walking down to the bottom of the pillars. It’s amazing!
Monrealer Ritterschlag in the Eifel
- Length: 14.7 km
- Duration: 5 hrs
- Parking: Monreal car park at the train station
- Trailhead: At parking lot
This is a long, but not too challenging hike. It’s beautiful to see the landscape of the Eifel glistening in the sunshine as the morning frost is sitting on top of the grass. Not only does the landscape look absolutely stunning in winter, the small town of Monreal will make you feel like you’ve entered a fairytale. It’s the perfect end to this hike as you can warm up in one of the cafes and enjoy a hot winter drink and a delicious cake.
Paradiestal in the Fränkische Alb
- Length: 11.4 km
- Duration: 3 hrs
- Parking: Parking lot at B22
- Trailhead: At parking lot
On this trail, you will see many rock formations while wandering through the gorgeous paradise valley. The forest and nature in this valley are absolutely stunning. It’s the perfect winter hike as there are not many ups and downs, so you don’t need to worry about slippery paths. Just enjoy this gorgeous hike.
Heidehimmel in the Eifel
- Length: 9.3 km
- Duration: 3 hrs
- Parking: Car Park Heilquelle
- Trailhead: At parking lot
In winter, this trail transforms into one of the most beautiful winter wonderlands we’ve ever seen! The Eifel views are absolutely stunning and the trail will take you through a variety of landscapes like dense forests and open heather fields. A must-do trail for any hiker!
Eibsee loop in the Bavarian Alps
- Length: 7.2 km
- Duration: 2 hrs
- Parking: At lake entrance
- Trailhead: At parking lot
The Eibsee is one of Germany’s most beautiful lakes which is why we don’t recommend coming here in summer! Late winter is the perfect time to visit as the crowds will be small. The lake looks absolutely stunning around that time as it is halfway frozen revealing all kinds of beautiful colors. It’s a super easy hike and can even be done with a stroller!
You’re done hiking or you just want to go visit a cute wintery German town? Then check out our posts about the 10 best places to go in winter in Germany and the best winter tours to take in Germany!
If you’re looking for even more hiking inspiration, we highly recommend getting our ‘Germany Hiking Map’ or our ‘Ultimate Germany Travel Map’ by clicking the respective banner below.
Our Interactive Maps of Germany
About the Authors
Ryne and Denise Cook: We’ve lived in Germany for quite a while now (Denise her whole life) and absolutely fell in love with the stunning landscapes, castles, cute towns and amazing hikes. We truly believe winter is a magical time to visit Germany!
