Gimpelstein Viewpoint above Calw
A short but rewarding hike through the Calw city forest leads to the Gimpelstein — a rugged Buntsandstein sandstone outcrop that rewards you with a sweeping panorama over Calw's rooftops and the green ribbon of the Nagold valley stretching into the Black Forest. It is the kind of view that makes you want to stay until the light turns gold.
The Hike Up
The trail begins right at the Marktplatz, climbing via the Salzgasse into the Calw city garden — a beautifully kept park established in 1871 that offers its own elevated views of the town's rooftops and the forest beyond. From the garden, a well-marked forest path winds upward through mixed woodland over stone steps and roots to the Gimpelstein rock.
The ascent is gentle enough for most walkers and takes around 30–45 minutes at a relaxed pace. Along the way, the path passes the Calw city forest's 'path of poems', where lines from Hermann Hesse's works are engraved into wayside boards — a literary flourish that makes the climb feel like a pilgrimage.
What Awaits at the Top
The Gimpelstein itself is a cosy sandstone perch that frames a fantastic view over Calw and deep into the Nagold valley — a patchwork of red rooftops, the silver thread of the river, and dark forest hills rolling to the horizon. It is an ideal spot for a packed lunch and a long, unhurried look.
Continuing along the black-red lozenge trail of the Ostweg, walkers can extend the loop past the historic Calw scaffold — a stone pedestal bearing a replica sword, used as an execution site until 1818 — before looping back into town through the forest.
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