Nestled on a sunny plateau above the Höllental valley lies one of the Black Forest's most famous winter sports resorts: Hinterzarten. Few other places combine winter sports history, a unique moorland landscape, and a spectacular scenic location so impressively. Hearing the name Hinterzarten, one probably thinks first of ski jumping – but this health resort has much more to offer than its world-famous ski jump.
In this article you will learn why Hinterzarten became a ski jumping stronghold, what the largest moorland complex in the Black Forest is all about and how you can best use the place for a trip to the neighboring Höllental.
The story of a winter sports stronghold
From the Kirchwald ski jump to the Adler ski jump
The Hinterzarten Ski Club was founded in 1923 and built the Kirchwald ski jump, the town's first ski jump. However, it quickly proved too small, so just a year later a new, larger facility was built on the grounds of the "Adlerwirt" inn: the Adler ski jump. The ceremonial opening jump took place on the then 60-meter hill on February 24, 1925 – the beginning of a success story that continues to this day.
Georg Thoma and the great ski jump records
The Adlerschanze ski jump has been rebuilt and enlarged several times. In 1935, it even served as a training facility for the athletes competing in the 1936 Garmisch Olympics, and the legendary Norwegian Birger Ruud set a hill record here with a jump of 71 meters. It wasn't until the next reconstruction in 1965 that the exceptional Black Forest athlete Georg Thoma managed to improve the record to 82 meters. Thoma, who in 1960 became the first German ever to win Olympic gold in Nordic combined, remains the town's most influential sporting figure and was later even awarded honorary citizenship of Hinterzarten.
The Adler ski stadium today
The former Adlerschanze ski jump has long since become a complete ski jumping center. Between 2004 and 2005, three additional youth jumps in the K15, K30, and K70 categories were added, allowing young athletes to train directly on site. The large normal hill, now known as the Rothaus-Schanze, underwent extensive modernization between 2019 and 2023, before the Ski Jumping World Cup returned to Hinterzarten in 2023. As an official Olympic training center for ski jumpers and Nordic combined athletes, the facility is used for training on approximately 180 days a year and, thanks to its mat- and water-covered tracks, is ready for jumping year-round. The highlight of the sporting calendar is the long-established FIS Summer Grand Prix in August, which has been held in Hinterzarten since 1982.
The Black Forest Ski Museum in Hugenhof
Those interested in the history behind the records will find the perfect complement to a visit to the ski jump at the Black Forest Ski Museum in the historic Hugenhof, which has been open to visitors since 1997. The exhibition documents how skiing began in the Black Forest as early as 1891 and traces the path to sporting legends like Georg Thoma. Visitors can now even virtually follow in his footsteps: A VR application developed in cooperation with Europa-Park allows guests to experience a ski jump up close at the Adler Ski Stadium.
To this day, ski jumping remains an integral part of Hinterzarten's sporting life: Talented young ski jumpers from the local ski club train at the Adler Ski Stadium, and competitions at the national and international levels are held here regularly. Anyone wishing to see the impressive ski jump for themselves can visit the stadium outside of training and competition times and get a sense of just how steep and impressive a ski jump appears up close.
The Hinterzarten Moor – a natural gem
Besides winter sports, Hinterzarten offers a completely different, much quieter attraction: the Hinterzarten Moor. Covering an area of approximately 70 hectares, it is one of the largest contiguous moorland complexes in the entire Black Forest and is considered one of the best-preserved raised bogs in Europe. A wooden boardwalk leads right through the nature reserve, allowing visitors to experience this unique, sensitive landscape without disturbing it. Wild orchids even bloom along the path in early summer, while numerous information panels provide fascinating insights into the moor's rare flora and fauna.
Raised bogs like this one develop over millennia when dead plant remains decompose only incompletely under damp, oxygen-poor conditions, slowly building up into peat. This makes them valuable archives of landscape history and, at the same time, extremely sensitive ecosystems, which is why visits are deliberately restricted to the designated boardwalk.
Hiking, cycling and winter sports for guests
Even outside of major competitions, Hinterzarten is a popular destination for active vacationers year-round. In summer, numerous hiking and mountain biking trails start directly from the village, including those leading towards Feldberg and Titisee. In winter, the region around Hinterzarten transforms into an extensive network of cross-country ski trails, while toboggan runs and groomed winter hiking trails cater to families and those seeking a more leisurely experience. This diversity makes Hinterzarten a place where top-level sports and relaxed active holidays coexist naturally.
Gateway to Hell Valley
Hinterzarten lies above the famous Höllental (Hell Valley) and is considered by many to be its true gateway to the Black Forest. From here, the legendary Höllentalbahn railway descends into the approximately 9-kilometer-long valley, lined with rock faces up to 600 meters high, to Freiburg – one of Germany's most spectacular railway lines. The Höllental can also be explored by car or on foot from Hinterzarten, for example, along the historic Jägerpfad (Hunter's Path) through the narrowest point of the valley, the Hirschsprung (Deer Leap).
Practical tips for your visit
How to Arrive
Hinterzarten is located directly on the B31 between Freiburg and Donaueschingen, making it easily accessible by car. Even more convenient is the train: the Höllentalbahn railway connects Freiburg directly to Hinterzarten via the steepest incline in the German rail network. Those wishing to combine their trip with a swim in the nearby lake will find further tips for the immediate area in our article about Lake Titisee .
Best time to travel
In winter, Hinterzarten transforms into a true winter sports center with international competitions at the ski jump, while in summer the village serves as a starting point for hikes through the Höllental valley and to the Hinterzarten moor. Those wishing to experience the orchid bloom in the moor should plan their visit for early summer.
Vacation in Hinterzarten
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Frequently asked questions about Hinterzarten
Why is Hinterzarten known for ski jumping?
Hinterzarten has been home to a ski club since 1923 and the Adlerschanze ski jump since 1925. Today, the town is an Olympic training center for ski jumpers and Nordic combined athletes and hosts international competitions such as the FIS Summer Grand Prix.
Who is Georg Thoma?
Georg Thoma is a Black Forest athlete from Hinterzarten who in 1960 was the first German to win Olympic gold in Nordic combined and in 1966 set a hill record of 82 meters on the Adlerschanze.
What is the Hinterzarten Moor?
This is a roughly 70-hectare raised bog nature reserve, part of the largest bog complex in the Black Forest. A boardwalk leads through the area, allowing visitors to experience the rare flora and fauna.
Is it possible to visit the ski museum in Hinterzarten?
Yes, the Black Forest Ski Museum in Hugenhof has been open since 1997 and shows the history of skiing in the Black Forest since 1891.
How do you reach Hinterzarten by train?
The Höllentalbahn connects Freiburg directly with Hinterzarten via the steepest ramp of the German rail network and is part of the route between Freiburg and Donaueschingen.
