Kandel Pass Road

Black Forest's toughest pass climb, switchbacks from Waldkirch up to 1241m and down to St. Peter.

The L186 over the Kandel is widely called the hardest climb in the Black Forest. From Waldkirch it gains close to 900m in about 12km of tight, tree-lined switchbacks before cresting near the 1241m summit and dropping the gentler east side to St. Peter. It is a long-standing favourite with motorcyclists and the bends are genuinely demanding rather than scenic cruising. Mind the heavy bike traffic on dry weekends, damp shaded hairpins under the trees, and occasional gravel washed onto the road.