Freiburg im Breisgau
Oberried & Steinwasen
The forest-valley adventure outpost 20 minutes east of Freiburg: Steinwasen Park's adventure rope courses and alpine slide, the animal reserve with deer and chamois, a 218m suspension bridge, and forest trails from the valley floor.
About Oberried & Steinwasen
Oberried is the valley village 20 minutes east of Freiburg on the B31 road into the central Black Forest. It is small (3,000 people), surrounded by pine forest, and its one clear reason to visit is Steinwasen Park, one of the best mid-sized family adventure parks in Germany. Steinwasen combines three things: an adventure-ride park (alpine slide, chair lift, rope courses, water rafting, climbing walls), an animal reserve (red deer, fallow deer, chamois, mountain goats, marmots) spread across 30 hectares of forested hillside, and the Hanging Bridge (a 218-metre suspension bridge over the valley that holds 500 people and sways visibly when you cross).
The park works best for ages 5-15. Adult admission EUR 34, kids (4-14) EUR 30, kids under 4 free. All rides and the suspension bridge are included. Allow a full day: 9:30 AM to 5 PM is the typical open window in summer (April to October), with reduced hours in shoulder seasons and closure from November to March. The park restaurant (Waldhaus) serves a standard family lunch menu (Schnitzel, Wurstsalat, Pommes) for EUR 10-16. For families based in Freiburg, Steinwasen is the half-day-plus option for one of the trip's days: drive out mid-morning, lunch at the park, stay until mid-afternoon, drive back for dinner in the old town. The B31 connection is an easy 25-minute drive with no toll and a large free car park at the entrance.
Things to Do
Top experiences in Oberried & Steinwasen
Sommerrodelbahn Schauinsland
The Sommerrodelbahn Schauinsland is Germany's longest alpine coaster at 2.9 kilometers, snaking down the mountainside from the Schauinslandbahn cable car summit. You'll rocket through hairpin turns and forested sections at speeds you control yourself, with panoramic views over the Black Forest and Rhine Valley between the trees. It's essentially a single-track roller coaster on rails where you brake and accelerate using a simple lever system in your individual sled. The experience starts with a scenic cable car ride to reach the coaster's launch point at 1,220 meters elevation. Once you're strapped into your toboggan-style cart, the track drops through dense forest with banked curves that feel genuinely thrilling when you let off the brakes. The ride takes about 8 minutes if you go full speed, but most people stretch it to 12 minutes to soak in the valley views. You'll hear plenty of delighted screaming from other riders echoing through the trees. Honestly, this beats most theme park coasters because the mountain setting is spectacular and the track length gives real value. Adults pay around 7 EUR per ride, kids 4 EUR, but the five-ride ticket brings it down to about 5.50 EUR each. Skip the overpriced snack bar at the top and bring water instead. The ride shuts down in light rain or high winds, so check weather before making the cable car journey up.
Steinwasen Park
Steinwasen Park is the family adventure and animal park in the forested hills outside Oberried, 25 minutes east of Freiburg on the B31 road. The park combines three things on 30 hectares of hillside: an adventure ride park (alpine slide, chair lift, rope courses, water rafting boats, climbing walls), an animal reserve (red deer, fallow deer, chamois, ibex, marmots, mountain goats, all viewable on marked trails), and the Hanging Bridge (a 218-metre suspension bridge over the valley that holds 500 people at a time and sways visibly when you cross). Adult admission EUR 34, kids (4-14) EUR 30, under 4 free, all rides and the bridge included. Open daily from late March to early November, 9:30 AM to 5 PM in peak season. The park restaurant (Waldhaus) serves a standard family lunch menu (Schnitzel, Wurstsalat, Pommes, EUR 10-16). For families based in Freiburg, the park is the natural full-day excursion for one of a 3-to-5-day trip.
Bikepark Schauinsland
Mountain bike trails and rental facility at the Schauinslandbahn summit with downhill tracks ranging from beginner flow trails to technical expert lines. Bikes rent from EUR 40 per day including protective gear, and a bike school offers half-day courses for beginners. The Schauinslandbahn carries bikes up, so you ride down only.
St. Gallus Kirche Oberried
Historic baroque parish church dating back to the 18th century, featuring ornate ceiling frescoes and a distinctive onion-domed tower. The church serves as the spiritual center of Oberried village and showcases fine examples of Black Forest religious architecture.
Where to Eat
Restaurants and cafes in Oberried & Steinwasen
Gasthaus zur Linde Oberried
RestaurantVillage Gasthaus in Oberried serving traditional Black Forest fare like Schäufele (pork shoulder, EUR 19) and homemade Spätzle in a timber-beamed dining room. The beer garden under linden trees is a quiet retreat from the city, and families arrive after Sunday hikes.
Zastler Hütte
RestaurantMountain hut and restaurant situated at 1,256 meters offering panoramic views of the Zastler valley. Popular hiking destination serving hearty Black Forest fare including homemade Flammkuchen and local beers in a rustic alpine setting.
Gasthaus Sternen Oberried
RestaurantTraditional Black Forest inn located in the heart of Oberried, serving regional specialties and seasonal game dishes. The cozy, wood-paneled dining rooms and terrace offer authentic local atmosphere perfect for experiencing traditional Baden cuisine.
Rinken Hütte
RestaurantScenic mountain refuge located on the Notschrei Pass with traditional Black Forest architecture and home-cooked meals. This working farm hut offers locally produced cheeses and fresh mountain air, accessible via well-marked hiking trails.
Getting Here
Insider Tips
Steinwasen Park day plan
Arrive at 10 AM (opens 9:30 AM). Hit the suspension bridge and alpine slide first while queues are short. Lunch at the Waldhaus restaurant around 12:30 PM (EUR 10-16 per plate). Animal reserve and rope courses in the afternoon. Leave by 4 PM to beat the road-home traffic. Tickets EUR 34 adults, EUR 30 kids; booking online saves no money but does save the entrance queue.
Drive vs tour bus
Oberried is 25 minutes from Freiburg Hauptbahnhof on the B31 with free parking at Steinwasen. Rental car is the easiest option. Bus line 7215 runs from Freiburg to Oberried and Steinwasen but only 4-5 times a day with gaps; feasible but inflexible. If you do not have a car for the Freiburg stay, a taxi return runs EUR 60-80.
Seasonal hours
Steinwasen Park closes from early November to end of March. In shoulder season (April and October) hours shrink to 10 AM - 4 PM and some rides are closed. Peak season (June-August) has full operation. Always check the park website for the current day's hours before driving out: weather closures happen during storms.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Continue exploring
Altstadt (Old Town)
The medieval core of the city: the Munster cathedral (the only German Gothic cathedral to survive the war), the daily market that has run on the square since the 12th century, the Bachle water channels, and car-free pedestrian streets that kids can actually run down.
Wiehre & Lorettoberg
The residential hill quarter where Freiburg families actually live: restored Grunderzeit villas, tree-lined streets, independent cafes, and the Lorettoberg panorama that looks back across the old town to the Black Forest.
Schauinsland & Gunterstal
The mountain escape at the southern edge of Freiburg: the Schauinslandbahn cable car (Germany's longest passenger gondola), the summer toboggan run, the mountain-bike trails, and the summit at 1,284m with views across the Rhine to the Vosges.
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