Schwarzwaldhochstraße (B500)

The Schwarzwaldhochstraße is one of Germany’s classic mountain roads, following the B500 through the northern Black Forest between Baden-Baden and Freudenstadt. Built as a high-level road through the mountains, it combines forested bends, open ridgelines and a succession of viewpoints and landmarks over roughly 60 kilometres. For generations of riders, the road has been one of the defining motorcycle routes in southwest Germany.

The riding is fast and flowing rather than intensely technical. The B500 winds continuously through the forest with a mixture of sweeping bends and tighter corners, while the road regularly opens onto higher sections with views across the Black Forest and, in clear conditions, towards the Rhine plain. The elevation remains modest compared with major Alpine roads, but the combination of rhythm, surface and changing gradients makes the route enjoyable on almost any motorcycle.

Its appeal comes from the balance between accessible riding and genuinely scenic mountain terrain. There are enough corners to keep the bike moving, enough elevation to give the road a distinct mountain character and enough landmarks to make the relatively short route feel varied. Mummelsee, Ruhestein and the high ridges around Schliffkopf provide natural points to pause without taking away from the road itself.

The Schwarzwaldhochstraße does not need extreme altitude or dramatic exposure to earn its place among Germany’s great riding roads. Its strength is simpler: a well-known mountain road where the riding and scenery work together.

The Schwarzwaldhochstraße can become busy, particularly at weekends and during good-weather periods, with motorcycles, cars, cyclists and tourists sharing the road. Weather can also change quickly at the higher elevations, and fog is common in the Black Forest. Several viewpoints and attractions provide places to stop, but riders should avoid treating the B500 as a race track. Local restrictions and temporary closures can affect individual sections, so check current conditions before setting out.

The Ride Beyond route begins in Baden-Baden, where the B500 starts climbing into the northern Black Forest. The road quickly leaves the urban environment behind and begins its steady ascent through dense woodland, with the character of the ride changing noticeably as the elevation increases.

The central section contains the landmarks that define the Schwarzwaldhochstraße. The road passes Bühlerhöhe before reaching Mummelsee, one of the best-known stops on the route, and continues towards Ruhestein and the high ground around Schliffkopf. The highest sections sit at just over 1,000 metres, giving the route its strongest mountain-road character.

From the high Black Forest, the B500 continues south through Alexanderschanze before gradually descending towards Freudenstadt. The final section remains wooded and curving, with the road eventually leaving the higher terrain as it approaches the town.

For Ride Beyond, the Schwarzwaldhochstraße is best ridden for its rhythm rather than its extremes. Keep the pace smooth, use the viewpoints when the landscape opens up, and let the Black Forest provide the backdrop to a classic German motorcycle road.