The fairy-tale scenery of Germany’s Black Forest surrounds travelers as they make their way up the elevated wooden boardwalks of the Black Forest Treetop Walk. The beginning of the trail lies nestled along Sommerberg (Summer Mountain), which overlooks the southwestern town of Bad Wildbad.
The trail stretches 1,250 meters, rising up to 20 meters above ground, leading visitors through forests of beech, fir and spruce trees. Along the route, several interactive learning stations provide information about the plants and animals found in the area.
Toward the end of the trail, travelers will notice a unique wooden spiral-shaped structure curling up to the top of the trees. It’s an observation tower where, at 40 meters high, visitors can take in the beautiful view from atop the forest canopy.
The tower was designed by Josef Stöger, an architect known for timber designs with organic shapes. He has built several similar towers and emphasizes accessibility. The Black Forest Treetop Walk has no stairs and a maximum incline of 6 percent, making it welcoming to wheelchair users.
If the spiral shape twisting above the trees wasn’t strange enough, the tower also features a 55-meter tunnel slide that follows its spiral shape, allowing visitors to speed to the bottom.
There may be other treetop walkways in Europe, but none of them have a giant slide in their wooden spiral observation tower.
