Needle Gin Path

Hiking trails & Routes

Needle Gin Path

Moderate

4.4

(121)

458

hikers

Needle Gin Path

03:04

10.3km

320m

Hiking

Discover the new Needle Gin Trail in Oppenau. The approximately 10-kilometer-long themed trail leads from the train station toward Vorderbühlhof and continues along narrow paths up to Kalikutt. From there, the route offers magnificent views back to the starting point. Along the way, hikers will learn a wealth of interesting facts about the origins of Needle Gin from the Black Forest.

The opening of the Needle Gin Trail will take place on July 12th from 2:00 p.m.

Author's Tip
Along the trail, there are various information panels about the gin production process at Bimmerle. A small hut near Börsgritt with a drinks station invites you to rest, and the mountain hotel restaurant "Kalikutt" offers a variety of cocktails made with Needle Gin (closed Mondays and Tuesdays). The hotel is also certified as a quality host for Hiking Germany and caters to the special needs of its hikers. A refrigerator is available for snacks and various Needle Gin and Tonics.

Needle Gin snack bag At Vorderbühlhof, a Black Forest snack bag with farm-made products, including one Ready-to-drink can of Needle Gin and Tonic of your choice – also non-alcoholic – can be purchased during the farm shop's opening hours (Mon-Sat from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.), to match the theme trail.

by Nationalparkregion Schwarzwald

Last updated: July 15, 2025

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Naturpark Schwarzwald Mitte/Nord

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

843 m

Kimmig Farm Shop

Highlight • Rest Area

Chic little shop, pay attention to the opening times!

Translated by Google •

Tip by

919 m

Wild Bee Information Board on the Needle Gin Trail

Highlight • Structure

1.64 km

Needle Gin Wooden Sculptures

Highlight • Structure

Beautiful wood carving

Translated by Google •

Tip by

2.85 km

Hermann's Spring

Highlight • Natural Monument

Drink fresh spring water from a natural source - refreshing and tasty.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

3.26 km

Höllwegle Forest Path

Highlight • Trail

Beautiful narrow path

Translated by Google •

Tip by

3.52 km

Holiswald Viewpoint and Wildlife Enclosure

Highlight • Viewpoint

Residential development above Oppenau. Now with a new covered and wind-protected bench from which you can enjoy the view of the valley. Fallow deer can be observed in the adjacent game reserve.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

5.28 km

Hotel & Restaurant Kalikutt

Highlight • Restaurant

The Kalikutt mountain hotel is not only a beautiful hotel with a wonderful view, but also offers the hiker a spacious, beautiful restaurant with Black Forest specialties, local drinks, and a great atmosphere. If you want to eat Black Forest gateau, you should do it here.

Showing Translation

Tip by

5.40 km

St. Joseph's Chapel, Kalikutt

Highlight • Religious Site

This chapel in Kalikutt is dedicated to Saint Joseph, the nursing father of Jesus Christ. Like Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, he is a man on the threshold from the Old to the New Testament. Joseph was from the house of David, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. He was a carpenter by trade and the fiancé of the Blessed Mother Mary.
The feast day of Saint Joseph in the saints calendar is on March 19th, and on May 1st the church celebrates the feast of "Joseph the Worker".

Translated by Google •

Tip by

6.61 km

Treyers Black Forest Needlepoint Shelter

Highlight • Mountain Hut

Very nice break area with fridge and drinks

Translated by Google •

Tip by

10.2 km

Needle Gin wooden barrel

Highlight • Trail

The Needle Gin trail is an approximately 10-kilometer long premium themed trail in Oppenau in the Black Forest. It was opened in July 2025 in cooperation with the local Bimmerle distillery and is dedicated to nature, wild bee ecology, and regional gin production from fir needles.

Showing Translation

Tip by

10.3 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.62 km

1.49 km

1.31 km

936 m

Surfaces

4.45 km

2.42 km

1.49 km

1.36 km

564 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Friday 9 October

15°C

8°C

36 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

July 12, 2025,Eröffnungswanderung Needle Gin Pfad

Today we went to Oppenau for the inaugural hike of the Needle Gin Trail. Everything was superbly organized, and the food was absolutely fantastic!

There were a few road trips, but with three refreshment stations along the way, it was simply fantastic!

Showing Translation

July 5, 2025,Needle Gin Pfad

The Needle Gin Trail starts at Oppenau train station. The Gin Trail initially leads along the Renchtalsteig to the Hugenhöfe farms. The tour now continues steadily uphill, following the Renchtalsteig signs to the Vorderbühlhof farm and its farm shop. After a few meters, the trail reaches Bühlmatt, where it continues uphill to the right, following the yellow diamond sign. After …

Showing Translation

August 31, 2025,Needle Gin Pfad Oppenau

A very beautiful and varied circular hike with fantastic views, natural paths through moss-covered forest, and lovingly designed rest areas. We skipped the short detour to the Kalikutt Inn today due to the large number of visitors.

Showing Translation

July 31, 2025,Needle Gin Pfad Schwarzwald

I had hoped for a bit more from this tour. There's a bit of writing here and there about the production of gin, but you can only try it at the Kalikutt Mountain Hotel (they also serve delicious cakes and a tasty sausage salad 😂). This hike doesn't really score highly for its great trails either. There's a short stretch …

Showing Translation

July 9, 2025

Discover the new Needle Gin Trail in Oppenau. The approximately 10-kilometer-long themed trail leads from the train station toward Vorderbühlhof and continues along narrow paths up to Kalikutt. From there, the route offers magnificent views back to the starting point. Along the way, hikers will learn

Translated by Google •