The Notschrei Skiing Trails are a network of trails spanning approximately 40 kilometres. The trails are located on the Notschrei (1,119 m above NHN), which is a pass between the villages of Oberried and Todtnau in the Black Forest. The Notschrei Skiing Trails are also one of the five Biathlon base camps in Baden-Württemberg.
Four skiing trails are located on the Nothschrei:
All four trails are circular tours, which means they all lead back to where the trails started. Due to the various connection possibilities to adjacent trails, the Notschrei Trails can also be used as hiking trails. The hiking trail Schonach-Belchen, which is 100 km long, runs between the Todtnauer Hütte and Hörnle on the Notschrei Trails. All trails are always prepared to be used for classic and skating-technique skiing.
Since 2000, the number of Nordic skiers increased drastically due to global warming and the rising popularity of Nordic skiing. The Stübenwasen Trail is one of the few snow-sure trails in the Black Forest.
In 1975, the association Notschrei-Loipe e.V. was founded by the municipalities Freiburg im Breisgau, Kirchzarten, Münstertal, Oberried, Todtnau, Wieden and the Landesforstverwaltung Baden-Württemberg. Since 1997, around 5.700 private members have joined the club, including the foundation members (retrieved 2018).[1]
The club runs a guest house at the start of the Stübenwasen trail, which offers a bathroom with a shower and a room where skis can be waxed. At the moment, the bedrooms on the second floor are reserved for athletes only. There is a service centre offering skis for rent, a Nordic skiing school and a parking site belonging to the club, all of which are located in close proximity.
The biathlon centre has been the main training location for biathletes from the Black Forest for many years. It is the fifth biathlon centre in Baden-Württemberg, next to the centres in Gosheim, Schönwald, Ulm and Furtwangen. The centre on the Notschrei includes a shooting range for small-bore rifles and is the only one in Baden-Württemberg where national and international competitions are held. The shooting targets work electronically. The centre also serves as a training location during summer. In 2006, people decided to upgrade the centre for 750.000 € (around £657.712/$854.151).
The following regional and national competitions are held at the biathlon centre and the skiing trails on the Notschrei: