Our drive to Triberg ended up being one of the better travel days of our Black Forest trip, not because of one single stop, but because the route had a little bit of everything.
The plan was simple: drive through the Black Forest, stop at Lake Titisee, continue toward Triberg, visit the cuckoo clock shops and see the waterfall.
On paper, that sounded like a reasonable day trip. In practice, it was one of those days where the stops worked well together, and the drive was part of the experience.
Driving Through The Black Forest
The drive to Triberg gave us a good look at what makes the Black Forest such a popular part of Germany.
There were forested hills, small towns, open views and plenty of winding roads. It was scenic without feeling difficult or overly remote. We were also lucky to have clear weather, which made the views much better than they would have been on a gray or rainy day.
This wasn’t a drive where we had to make many stops to appreciate it. Much of the scenery was visible from the road, and the route itself became part of the day instead of just a way to get from one attraction to another.
Stopping At Lake Titisee
Our first stop was Lake Titisee.
If you know the Black Forest region, then you’ve probably heard of Lake Titisee. However, I’ve already said that I didn’t do much research before the trip, so I was going in blind. When we arrived, it reminded me of a local tourist town on a lake, with the usual setup. There are shops, restaurants, boat rides and places to walk along the water.
It felt like a place where locals and regional visitors come for the day, or even a weekend, rather than a destination built for international tourists.
That made it interesting in a different way from most of the places we’d visited. We didn’t need a full day there, but it was a good stop to break up the drive.
A Scenic Overlook Along The Way
After leaving Lake Titisee, we continued toward Triberg and stopped at a scenic overlook.
Scenic overlooks in the U.S. can be hit-or-miss, and the same was true in Germany. However, this was one of the best views we had during the drive. From the overlook, you could see the hills, valleys, forests and open fields that make this part of the Black Forest so photogenic.
Triberg And The Cuckoo Clock Shops
Triberg was supposed to be the Black Forest stop of the day.
The town has cuckoo clock shops, woodcarving shops, restaurants, souvenir stores and the types of buildings most visitors probably expect to see in this part of Germany. It’s touristy, but that’s also part of the reason people go there.
This was definitely more of a tourist destination, as evidenced by the House of 1000 Clocks. It has the “look here!” vibe that is universal. While we didn’t shop there, the over-the-top exterior alone makes it worth a look.
Instead, we headed to a smaller shop down, or more accurately up, the road. Did I mention the town is very hilly, with steep walks even on the main street?
Inside this shop, the walls were filled with cuckoo clocks in every size and style. Some were simple, while others were much more detailed, with carved animals, houses and moving parts. To top it off, many of the clocks are carved and put together on the premises. Others are from local artists who place their work for sale.
We were on the fence about getting a cuckoo clock during the trip, but when we saw them, our decision was made, and we placed an order. Since the items are handmade, it still hasn’t arrived, but we’ve found a place on the wall where it will be a reminder of the trip.
Even if you’re not buying a clock, the craftsmanship is interesting to see, and there are plenty of other items you can pick up as a souvenir.
Visiting The Triberg Waterfalls
The other major reason to visit Triberg is the waterfall.
The Triberg Waterfalls are often marketed as Germany’s highest waterfalls, although that claim depends on how you define and measure waterfalls. Either way, this isn’t a stand-and-look-at-it type of attraction. A trail follows the water through the forest, with multiple cascades and viewing areas along the way.
There are stairs and inclines, so it does require some walking, but it was manageable if you’re in decent shape. What’s nice about these types of waterfalls is that you get a different perspective at each landing.
What makes the waterfall a main part of a visit to Triberg is how close it is to town. You can go from the main street with the clock shops and restaurants to a wooded waterfall trail without needing to drive somewhere else.
That made Triberg feel like a complete stop: a tourist town, a bit of Black Forest tradition and an outdoor attraction all in one place.
There are plenty of places to eat, including places to get a slice of Black Forest cake, along with a great deal of touristy stops as well. We didn’t stick around too long, except for a stop at the local supermarket to browse the aisles. I did pick up some Doritos and Oreos to compare them to the ones from home. And yes, they did taste different.
Final Thought
Our drive to Triberg was a good reminder that not every travel day needs one major attraction to be worthwhile.
Lake Titisee was a pleasant stop along the water. The scenic overlook gave us one of the best views of the day. Triberg delivered the cuckoo clocks, wood carvings and waterfall that people associate with the Black Forest.
But the reason the day worked so well was that none of it felt disconnected. The drive, the lake, the overlook and Triberg all fit together as one Black Forest day trip.
For us, it was one of the better drives of the trip, and a good way to see several different sides of the region without trying to do too much.
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