Best gravel cycling in Freiburg
These are 3 of my favourite roads for gravel cycling in the black forest and Freiburg, including one bonus mystery tour.
Follow the Dreisam to the Rhine
Alt-Schauinsland
Roßkopf & co.
The mystery tour
We are spoiled for choice living in Freiburg. We have access to amazing road cycling, beautiful gravel paths, and technical MTB trails - there is something for everyone!
For me, gravel cycling is a chance to get more off the beaten track, and get deeper into nature.
The following are some of my favourite so far, but I still think one of the best parts of gravel cycling is that it can be more of an adventure - that’s why I included the mystery tour as well.
Follow the Dreisam to the Rhine
You can find the route here: https://www.komoot.com/tour/1098203073
The Dreisam flows right through Freiburg, and leads to the river Rhine, on the border of France and Germany.
There is a beautiful gravel path that follows the Dreisam almost the entire way to where it meets the Rhine. A lot of people use this route for commuting and bike touring - since there are almost no cars. (A few times you have to cross over busy roads to rejoin the path on the other side).
The route is very flat, and can easily be made shorter or longer based on what you feel like.
Note: in the summer, this path, especially along the Rhine, is very popular. Don’t expect to be breaking speed records along here - you’ll be sharing the path with bike-tourers, hikers and dog walkers. If you’re looking for a faster ride in the summer, be sure to go early in the morning to beat the crowd (and the heat).
Good places to stop en route:
Breisach am Rhein - food, ice cream, cold drinks
Zur Limburg - quick and easy food stop just over half way through the tour.
Fun factor: 4 out of 5.
Fitness required: 3 out of 5. This route can easily be adjusted, and there are some chances to take a train.
2. Alt Schauinsland
Komoot link: https://www.komoot.com/tour/1098242534
If you’re a cyclist in Freiburg, you know about the climb and descent that is Schauinsland already…
But this is an alternative route, with much more gravel that i’ve been using for training.
You start off with a beautiful gravel ascent in the black forest behind Wiehre, towards Horben. This trail winds and climbs its way through the forest; you’ll see many MTB groups on the same route here, making their way to the Hexen trail.
Horben is a good place for a drink stop, and one of my favourite views in the area.
From there, keep climbing towards Gaiersnest and the top of Schauinsland, this is pretty steep, but the views and the quiet roads are worth it.
The road stops before the actual peak, but since we’re on gravel bikes, you can actually keep going to the very top - well worth it for the personal achievement!
On the way down, you get a taste of what the road descent is like, before switching back on to the alternative gravel path. Both are very fun, the road is faster of course - so pick whichever one you feel like on the day.
The gravel paths from the bottom of Schauinsland are some of my favourite. Especially around Waldrestaurant St Valentin - which is a great place to stop. Just watch out for hikers around here, they are probably also heading to/from St Valentin!
Fun factor: 4 out of 5.
Fitness level: 5 out of 5. This is a tough route with a lot of elevation. You may need to walk some parts.
3. Roßkopf & co
Komoot link: https://www.komoot.com/tour/1098984407
This is a much shorter route compared to the others i’ve suggested, but here the idea is just to use it as a starting point.
Getting more into ‘the spirit of gravel’ and adventure that I talked about in the intro, once you’ve reached Roßkopf, just take whatever paths you feel like, for however long you want.
You can’t really go wrong, there are some dead ends, and some muddy paths, but that’s all part of the fun.
Be sure to include a visit to Waldrestaurant St. Ottilien for food and drink.
Those looking for a longer ride should definitely continue along to Sankt Peter, and enjoy the fast road descent back to Freiburg from there.
Fun factor: 4 or 5.
Fitness level: 3 and up, you decide how hard it is.
4. The mystery tour
So, as I said already - part of the fun of having a gravel bike is that you can go anywhere you want. And some days, this is what I enjoy doing the most. No set route, no GPS to follow - you just set off and see where you end up.
I really really encourage you to give this a go when visiting Freiburg and cycling in the black forest. You’ll have it all, climbs, gravel, roads, villages, rivers, fun…
And you’ll always be able to find a restaurant, cafe or petrol station to refuel.
Fun factor: 5 out of 5.
Fitness: you decide.
I would happily be your guide on any of the routes above, or a new, customised one. Or, if you’d like to take on a mystery tour, just let me know by sending an email to hello@dowoowoo.com. (Tours are highly customisable and designed for maximum fun - let’s just have a good bike day!)
Happy graveling!