Short answer
Feldberg is the highest mountain in the Black Forest and one of Germany's biggest ski areas outside the Bavarian Alps, with 16 runs and 14 lifts. Children start out in the fenced Kinderland areas at Seebuck and Grafenmatt, where ski school takes children from the age of three. The pistes sit between just 950 and 1,450 metres, so the snow is far less reliable than in the Alps. Feldberg works best as a couple of ski days on the drive south.
Quick facts
- Country / region
- Germany, Baden-Württemberg (Hochschwarzwald)
- Ski area
- Feldberg · Seebuck, Grafenmatt and Fahl, plus partner areas such as Todtnauberg, Belchen, Menzenschwand and Altglashütten
- Altitude (village – top)
- 1,277–1,493 m above sea level
- Pistes
- 33 km
- Lifts
- 14
- Season
- December – March when there is enough snow; varies a lot from winter to winter
- Train
- Train to Freiburg, the Höllentalbahn to Titisee (about 1 hr) and bus 7300 up to Feldberg
- Price level
- ●●●●● (1 = cheap, 5 = expensive)
Family rating
3,8 / 5
- Beginner slopes Two fenced Kinderland areas with magic carpets, three more magic carpets in the lift system and plenty of short, gentle slopes. A good place for the very first day on skis.
- Distance from accommodation to lifts Feldberg-Ort sits right by the slopes, and from the multi-storey car park you walk straight to the ticket offices at Seebuck and Grafenmatt.
- Calm for families Quiet evenings in small villages. On sunny weekends the slopes and the car park get crowded, since Freiburg and Basel are close by.
- Snow reliability The pistes lie between roughly 950 and 1,450 metres, and only just under a third can be covered by snow cannons. The season has got shorter and the snow often arrives late.
- More than skiing Cross-country trails from the summit, sledging, winter walks, the Feldbergturm with views towards the Alps, and Titisee a short drive away.
The rating is our overall assessment for families with children based on the criteria above – not a paid placement.
Where does the family start in Feldberg?
| Place | Suits | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Thoma Kinderland at Seebuck | Children aged 3–5 trying skis for the first time | Bambini courses with no more than five children per group, no lift pass needed |
| Kinderland at Grafenmatt | Children aged 4–10 on a beginners' course | Two magic carpets, a ski carousel and a slalom course; meeting point at the Feldberg-Hebelhof bus stop |
| Seebuck and Grafenmatt | Children who can manage a lift and a snowplough turn | Short runs, four fun slopes and the longest run, Wiesenquelle, at about 3 km |
| Panoramaloipe | Families who want to try cross-country skiing | An easy 4.4 km trail from the Haus der Natur or the car park |
The lift pass is also valid in the partner areas around Feldberg, so on a day with thin snow cover you can try one of those instead.
For a Swedish family driving through Germany, the Alps are a long way off. Feldberg in the Black Forest is one of Germany's biggest ski areas outside the Bavarian Alps, and the mountain sits in the country's south-west corner, close to the Swiss and French borders. There are slopes closer to Sweden, in the Harz and the Sauerland, but on the way south Feldberg is the first place that feels like a proper ski resort.
Be clear about one thing from the start: Feldberg is no substitute for a week in the Alps. It is a low-mountain area, and the snow decides everything. But as a couple of ski days on the way down to Switzerland or France, or as a first ski weekend for small children, it works very well.
One mountain with lots of small slopes
The skiing is concentrated on Feldberg's eastern slopes around Seebuck and Grafenmatt, with the Fahl area on the other side. In total there are 16 runs and 14 lifts: three chairlifts, eight drag lifts and three magic carpets. The longest run, Wiesenquelle, is about three kilometres. On top of that there are four fun slopes.
The lift pass is also valid in a string of partner areas nearby, such as Todtnauberg, Belchen, Menzenschwand and Altglashütten. Together they have more than 50 lifts. For families this mainly means you have backup plans, not that you will get round them all.
The lifts run from 9 am to 4.30 pm every day. On Christmas Eve they close at 3 pm.
Kinderland and ski school – the age limits
Feldberg is genuinely good for the very youngest. Two ski schools have their own fenced children's areas:
- Wintersportschule Thoma at Seebuck runs Bambini courses for children aged 3–5 who have never been on skis. The groups are small: no more than five children. The meeting point is the school's office at the foot of the Seebuck slope, a quarter of an hour before the start.
- Schneesport Thoma at Grafenmatt runs beginners' courses for children Ages 4–10 in a Kinderland with two magic carpets, a ski carousel and a slalom course. The office is by the Feldberg-Hebelhof bus stop.
In both schools' Kinderland areas the children need no lift pass. That saves money over the first few days, when the children are only riding the magic carpet anyway. There are more schools around Seebuck and Grafenmatt, including some for snowboarding. Ask the school directly about nappy rules and lunch.
The lift pass has its own category for the youngest, Schneezwerg, which in the 2026/27 season covers children born 2021–2024. After that come two children's categories and a youth pass. It is not free for the little ones. Buy online, where the price is recalculated daily and gets lower the earlier you book. The family package requires everyone to live in the same household, and you need to be able to show this.
The snow – what you need to know
Feldberg is 1,493 metres high, but the pistes only lie between roughly 950 and 1,450 metres. Only just under a third of them can be covered by snow cannons. In cold winters with plenty of snow it is lovely, but it has become more common for the snow not to arrive until some way into January, and for cover to be thin or the ground bare around Christmas. By March it can already feel like spring.
So plan Feldberg flexibly. Don't make ski days here the only goal of your trip. If you have a car, book accommodation with free cancellation or choose a place where you can stay an extra night if the snow is good. Check the snow report the week before, and have a plan B with sledging, a winter walk or activities without skiing.
The summit is bare and exposed to the wind. The Feldbergbahn up to Seebuck sometimes closes in strong winds, so dress the children for wind even when the sun is shining in the valley.
Cross-country skiing from the summit
Cross-country skiing is Feldberg's strong point, and it needs less snow than the pistes. Several trails start at the car park, the Feldberger Hof and the nature centre Haus der Natur:
- Panoramaloipe, 4.4 kilometres, is easy and suits children who have tried cross-country skiing before.
- Köpfle-Loipe, 3.3 kilometres, is intermediate and starts opposite the car park.
- Gipfelrundloipe, 8 kilometres, goes over the summit and is for experienced skiers.
A short drive away is the cross-country centre at Notschrei, with trails of several lengths and equipment hire. Across the whole Hochschwarzwald there are around 900 kilometres of groomed trails. If the Hochschwarzwald Card is included with your accommodation, you can borrow cross-country gear for free from the participating shops.
Getting to Feldberg
By car you take the A5 to the Freiburg-Mitte exit, the B31 through Freiburg to Titisee and then the B317 up to the pass. From Freiburg it takes about 50 minutes. Coming from the east via the A81, turn off at Geisingen or Bad Dürrheim. The multi-storey car park at Seebuck has around 1,200 spaces and leads straight to the ticket offices. If you have used the lifts that day, you get a discount on the parking fee. Never park along the roadside at the pass – cars get towed there.
If you want to break up the journey from Sweden, there are tips on ferries, stopovers and journey times in car, train or plane to the ski resort. Feldberg is well placed as a last stop before Switzerland, and from there it is a few hours' drive on to resorts such as Engelberg or Laax-Flims.
By train, you travel to Freiburg and change to the Höllentalbahn towards Titisee or Bärental. The train runs once an hour and takes about an hour. From there, bus 7300 runs every hour up to the Feldberger Hof stop. With the KONUS guest card from your accommodation, the bus is free. The route through Europe by rail, step by step, is described in train to the Alps – how it works.
Feldberg or the Bavarian Alps?
Feldberg suits a first ski weekend with your three-year-old, cross-country skiing, and families who are driving past anyway. If you are staying a whole week in Germany, Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen are safer bets, with alpine altitude and more kilometres of piste. If you are carrying on south, you will find comparisons among the ski resorts in Switzerland and France's ski resorts.
Beginner families will get the most out of ski trip for beginners. Add extra windproof layers for Feldberg's bare summit when you go through the ski trip packing list.
Before you book ski days in Feldberg
Frequently asked questions
Is Feldberg good for small children?
Yes. Both Seebuck and Grafenmatt have fenced Kinderland areas with magic carpets, and the ski schools take the youngest in small groups. The slopes are short and easy to keep an eye on, so it is simple to keep track of the children.
From what age do the ski schools take children?
Wintersportschule Thoma at Seebuck runs Bambini courses for children aged 3–5, with no more than five children per group. Schneesport Thoma at Grafenmatt runs beginners' courses for children aged 4–10. In both schools' Kinderland areas the children don't need a lift pass.
Do small children ski free in Feldberg?
No. The youngest have their own Schneezwerg category, which in the 2026/27 season covers children born 2021–2024. After that come two children's categories and a youth pass. It is worth buying online, where the price gets lower the earlier you book.
Is the snow reliable in Feldberg?
Less so than in the Alps. The pistes lie between roughly 950 and 1,450 metres, and just under a third can be covered by snow cannons. In good winters it is lovely, but cover can be thin around Christmas. Check the snow report before you build ski days into your itinerary.
Can you go cross-country skiing in Feldberg?
Yes. Several trails start at the car park and the Haus der Natur, including the easy Panoramaloipe of just over four kilometres. Notschrei, a short distance away, has a large cross-country centre, and across the Hochschwarzwald there are around 900 kilometres of trails.
How do you get to Feldberg without a car?
Take the train to Freiburg and the Höllentalbahn on to Titisee, about an hour. From there, bus 7300 runs every hour up to Feldberg. With the KONUS guest card from your accommodation, the bus is free.
