Why this road
The fastest route takes about 10 minutes less, but it runs lower and misses the point. The High Road stays on the crest: dark fir forest, open heath on the tops, and every few kilometres a gap in the trees where the land falls away to the Rhine plain and, on clear days, the Vosges in France. At the Mummelsee you are right under the Hornisgrinde, the highest peak of the northern Black Forest, and around the Ruhestein and the Schliffkopf you drive through the Black Forest National Park.
The route
- ABaden-Baden
Leave the spa town to the south through the Lichtental valley and follow the signs for the B500.
- 1Bühlerhöhe
The road has climbed onto the ridge. The first views open up to the west, with the Rhine plain far below.
- 2Mummelsee
A small dark lake right by the road at the foot of the Hornisgrinde, with a hotel, boats and a short path around the water.
- 3Ruhestein
A pass and crossroads with the national park visitor centre. From here the road runs through the Black Forest National Park.
- 4Schliffkopf
One of the best viewpoints on the road, at just over 1,000 m, with open heath and a wide view west.
- 5Kniebis
The road leaves the ridge and heads east down towards Freudenstadt.
- BFreudenstadt
The end in a town known for its huge market square, a good place for dinner.
Stops worth it
Thirty minutes for a walk around the lake. If you want more, the climb up the Hornisgrinde takes about half an hour more each way.
Fifteen minutes on the heath above the car park, ideally in the evening when the sun sets over the Rhine plain.
Light and the best time
The views on the High Road look west, on your right as you drive south. That makes it an evening drive: in the late afternoon the sun sinks over the Rhine plain and the Vosges, the forest glows and the haze in the valley turns gold. Leave Baden-Baden around 5 pm in spring and autumn, later in high summer, so you are at the Schliffkopf for the last light. In the morning the views are often hazy, and the western slopes lie in shadow.
May to October is best, with June for long evenings and October for autumn colours and clear air. The road is open all year and kept clear in winter, when it becomes a snowy ski area road, so you need winter tyres then. Summer weekends bring lots of motorbikes and day trippers, weekday evenings are quietest. Fog and low cloud are common, check the weather.
By vehicle
Lovely with the roof down: smooth curves, forest air and the sunset at the end. It gets cool quickly up here in the evening.
Popular with riders, with long sweeping curves. Large parts have speed limits and police checks are frequent, so ride it as a scenic road, not a racetrack.
Easy driving all the way, good road and plenty of car parks.
Fine with a camper. The road is wide, and there are large car parks at the Mummelsee and the Ruhestein.
Good to know
No tolls. Car parks at the Mummelsee and some viewpoints are paid. In winter you need winter tyres, and the road can be busy with skiers. Fuel up in Baden-Baden or Freudenstadt, there is little on the ridge. Watch out for deer and other wildlife at dusk.
Route checked against OpenStreetMap on 2 November 2026. Roads, closures and rules change: always check before you go and follow local signs.
Questions
How long does the Black Forest High Road take?
About 1 hour 15 of pure driving from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt, only about 10 minutes more than the fastest route. With stops at the Mummelsee and the Schliffkopf, plan an afternoon or evening.
Is the Black Forest High Road open in winter?
Yes, the B500 is open all year and cleared in winter. You need winter tyres, and there can be delays in heavy snow.
Where are the best viewpoints on the B500?
The Schliffkopf, the open stretches around the Hornisgrinde and the lookouts near Bühlerhöhe, all with views west over the Rhine plain.
Is there a toll on the Black Forest High Road?
No, it is a normal federal road and free. Only some car parks cost money.