Kunstpfad am Mummelsee
Seebach, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
The Kunstpfad am Mummelsee is a sculpture trail around a glacial lake in the northern Black Forest, where wooden carvings along the shore illustrate the region's…
What it's like here
The Kunstpfad am Mummelsee is a sculpture trail around a glacial lake in the northern Black Forest, where wooden carvings along the shore illustrate the region's most famous folklore. The Mummelsee sits at 1,036 metres on the Schwarzwaldhochstraße (Black Forest High Road), ringed by spruce forest with the Hornisgrinde rising behind. The circuit is short and flat—roughly twenty minutes—making it accessible to most visitors, and it costs nothing to walk.
The sculptures themselves are weathered and mossy, which works well with the material and setting. They draw on the legends of the lake: tales of a lake king and water nymphs that have been told in the Black Forest for centuries. The carvings appear at intervals as you move along the shore path, right at the water's edge. The Mummelsee itself is dark and small, and the whole spot has a quietly atmospheric quality—less a dramatic mountain lake than an intimate, forested cirque that rewards a slow walk.
This is a well-established stop on the High Road, so the car park and the lakeside hotel fill quickly during summer weekends. The path is unsurfaced in places, but the flatness means it works for families and anyone wanting a short outing without much elevation. You can combine it with a climb up the Hornisgrinde if you want views over the Rhine plain, or visit the nearby Allerheiligen Waterfalls.
In winter, the Schwarzwaldhochstraße can close due to snow, as the area is also a winter sports destination. Food and drink are available at the hotel restaurant by the lake. Photography is welcome, and there are parking and toilet facilities on site. The trail itself is open at all times and free to walk.
Highlights
- Wooden sculptures illustrating the Mummelsee legends of a lake king and water nymphs
- A flat twenty-minute circuit path right at the water's edge through spruce forest
- The Mummelsee itself, a small glacial cirque lake at 1,036 metres
- Views of the Hornisgrinde, the northern Black Forest's highest point, rising behind the lake
- Rowing boats available on the lake in season
Good to know
The trail is free and open at all times. Parking at the lake is paid and gets busy in summer and at weekends. The Schwarzwaldhochstraße can be affected by snow in winter. The path is flat but unsurfaced in some sections. A hotel and restaurant operate at the lakeside. Winter conditions may restrict access; check locally before visiting in colder months.
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Questions people ask
How long does the walk take?
About twenty minutes around the lake on the flat.
What do the sculptures represent?
The carvings illustrate the legends of the Mummelsee, involving a lake king and water nymphs—the best-known folklore of the northern Black Forest.
Is there a charge to walk the trail?
The trail is free. Parking at the lake is paid.
Attributes & facilities
Experience
Features
Time
Last verified: September 7, 2026