Our tour starts at the Kniebis/Alexanderschanze parking lot, right next to the abandoned Hotel "Alexanderschanze".

We follow the signs towards Hildahütte. A short, stony path leads us directly into the deep forests of the Black Forest. We soon leave the path and follow a forest road, which leads us to another hiking parking lot after about 15 minutes.

An overview map informs us about the possible destinations in the immediate vicinity. We follow the signs towards Hildahütte and Teufelskanzel, which will be our two destinations. The wide forest path leads us through an area scarred by Storm Lothar in 1999, where nature has been successfully regenerating for many years. The still-young trees and wild berry bushes lend the fresh Black Forest air a very special fruity note on hot days.

We follow the "new high-altitude trail" for about 20 minutes until we can finally glimpse the Rench Valley . Soon the forest opens up, revealing a magnificent view across the entire Rench Valley all the way to the Rhine Plain. We continue along the well-maintained forest road for another 30 minutes until we reach Graseck, where, weather permitting, we can watch paragliders launching. The view now extends to the Kinzig Valley and the Brandenkopf , one of the highest peaks in the surrounding area (recognizable by the wind turbines and radio mast on its summit).

After a short rest, we continue along the path.

After another 25 minutes, the path forks. A signpost points the way to the Hildahütte. We turn left and after about 200 meters, keep right (follow the red diamond!). The path then leads us directly to the picturesque shelter. A bench and a fire pit offer a perfect place to rest.

Anyone whose fitness, time, and enthusiasm for hiking haven't yet been satisfied shouldn't miss the next section of the Westweg trail. A narrow, almost alpine path, requiring a minimum level of sure-footedness, leads from the Hildahütte through a densely overgrown forest. The path, which is partly stony, partly sandy, and only gently ascending, leads us in a wildly romantic and adventurous manner to a major fork in the trail. It's not uncommon to encounter long-distance hikers on these trails, fully laden with gear, who have embarked on the Westweg from Pforzheim to Basel. They are usually delighted to have a brief chat and are happy to share their experiences so far.

At the fork in the path, we follow the signs towards "Teufelskanzel" (Devil's Pulpit). We keep to the right and follow the path until we reach the Blitzhütte (Lightning Hut) after about 10 minutes. It's a very well-maintained and preserved shelter, one of many along the Westweg trail.

Those wishing to admire the "floating rocks" of the Devil's Pulpit should continue along the path for another 5 minutes. An adventurous trail over rocks and steps, including a wooden staircase, leads directly beneath the suspended rocks of the Devil's Pulpit. Below the wooden staircase is a small grassy area offering a fantastic view of the entire, mystical-looking rock formation.

From there we begin our return journey. Caution! The path to the Devil's Pulpit is not recommended in wet conditions. Steep slopes and slippery rocks require 100% sure-footedness.

The return route to the starting point leads us again via the Blitzhütte to the Hildahütte and from there to the Kniebis/Alexanderschanze parking lot.