During a family trip to Freiburg im Breisgau in Germany, you should plan to spend at least one full day at Steinwasen Park. It’s one of the most popular family attractions in the Black Forest. This mountain theme park combines funfair rides with an Alpine zoo where you can see lynx, ibex and other mountain animals in a natural setting. The mix of an amusement park and a wildlife park may sound surprising, yet it works perfectly. It makes Steinwasen Park an ideal destination when travelling with children of all ages, including toddlers. Add breathtaking mountain scenery to the experience and you get unforgettable views from the chairlift or, for thrill-seekers, from the high-speed Alpine Coaster racing down the slope.
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Why Visit Steinwasen Park with Kids and Family
One of the best reasons to add Steinwasen Park to your Black Forest itinerary is its clear focus on families travelling with young children. This family theme park near Freiburg im Breisgau offers a safe and welcoming environment. Here, little ones can play, explore and connect with nature, far from the crowds and sensory overload of large commercial theme parks.
What truly sets Steinwasen Park apart is its simplicity combined with a breathtaking alpine setting. You’ll spend most of the day surrounded by forest, fresh mountain air and wide open views instead of queues and artificial scenery.
The chairlift is one of the main highlights, taking you up to enjoy panoramic views over the valley. From there, you follow a gentle downhill path where you discover animals along the way. The experience feels more like a woodland walk than a traditional zoo visit.
Steinwasen Park is genuinely child-friendly, with rides and attractions suitable for every age group. This is not a theme park built around screens and special effects but a nature-based park where you can see animals native to the Black Forest living in spacious, natural enclosures.
The result is a relaxed and authentic experience that feels completely different from places like Disneyland and, for that reason, even more appealing. Play areas and rides are carefully designed with younger children in mind, allowing everyone to enjoy the park at a comfortable pace.
The Bunny Hop ride and the Canoe Trip quickly became our favourites and were enjoyed again and again throughout the day. If you are travelling with a toddler or young child, this park is the kind of destination that turns a simple family outing into a truly memorable experience.
Top Things to Do at Steinwasen Park
Steinwasen Park is a theme park unlike any other, especially when compared to classic amusement parks. Its most distinctive feature is its location, set in a breathtaking alpine landscape in the heart of the Black Forest. Here, rides and attractions are scattered along mountain paths rather than grouped into artificial themed areas.
A chairlift connects the lower part of the park with the more adventurous rides, such as the summer toboggan run, the Alpine Coaster and the inflatable tubing slides, offering a scenic alternative to walking through the Alpine Zoo.
As soon as you enter, you reach the area designed for younger children, with gentle rides suitable for all ages and a large wooden adventure playground with a suspension bridge. Near the entrance there is also an indoor area for bad weather days, perfect when it rains or temperatures drop.
Steinwasen Park is essentially divided into two overlapping areas: the Alpine Zoo and the amusement park. In several points the two blend together, as the chairlift, the toboggan runs and the Alpine Coaster pass directly over the animal enclosures. At first this feels unusual, yet it quickly becomes part of the experience. Spotting wild boars roaming below you from the chairlift is especially memorable.
The Alpine Zoo is home to animals native to the Black Forest that you rarely get the chance to see so closely in the wild. Marmots, ibex, lynx, deer and chamois live in spacious enclosures set within their natural mountain habitat. You walk along forest trails with alpine wildlife just a few metres away, in a setting that feels far more natural than a traditional zoo.
Inside Steinwasen Park you will also find a 218-metre-long suspension bridge, one of the longest of its kind. During our visit, we chose to focus on the animals and child-friendly rides, as my son was still under three, but there are plenty of activities for older children as well.
Alpine Zoo and Wildlife Experiences
One of the most memorable features of the Alpine Zoo at Steinwasen Park is the opportunity to observe animals at close range. The setting feels wonderfully natural. Seeing a deer or an ibex just a few steps away is a powerful experience. The same is true for marmots, which are usually spotted only from far away during mountain walks.
The park is also home to red deer and fallow deer, easily recognised by their impressive antlers. Their presence at Steinwasen Park actively supports conservation, as new young are born every year. The true symbol of the park, however, is the Eurasian lynx, now one of the rarest animals in the Black Forest. In the Middle Ages, lynx lived throughout German forests and played a vital role in keeping wildlife populations in balance.
Other animals you may encounter include wild boars, mouflons, marmots and raccoons. When we visited, there was no traditional petting zoo. There was instead an area dedicated to domestic animals such as guinea pigs, which younger visitors especially enjoyed.
I love that my son can discover animal species and learn about the natural world in such a direct and engaging way. As both a parent and a travel blogger, mixed feelings also come naturally. In these places, in fact, animals do not live in complete freedom. This is an important and sensitive topic for many families.
At Steinwasen Park, as in many modern wildlife parks in Germany, a strong commitment to animal welfare is clearly visible. You can clearly see that the focus here is not only on fun, but also on respect for wildlife and environmental education.
Alpine Coaster and Toboggan Rides
Among the most popular attractions at Steinwasen Park you will find the Coasterbahn Alpine Coaster and the Berg-Rodelbahn toboggan run. Both start from the upper area of the park and let you speed downhill through the forest on a one- or two-seater sled.
You can also control your own speed along the way. For both rides, children can take part from the age of three when accompanied by an adult. Or from eight years old if riding on their own.
Scenic Cable Car Ride in the Black Forest
To reach the starting point of the Alpine Coaster and the top of the Alpine Zoo trail, you can take the chairlift. Despite having no problem flying in a light aircraft during turbulence, I have to admit that chairlifts are not really my thing.
Riding up and facing a 111-metre height difference definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone. Even so, it was absolutely worth it. Seeing the Black Forest from above and spotting wild boars below, with my son happily waving at them, turned out to be a truly special experience.
Suspension Bridge with Panoramic Views
At Steinwasen Park you will also find one of the longest rope bridges in Germany. This impressive suspension bridge hangs 30 metres above the ground and stretches for 218 metres across the valley. If you are fascinated by rope bridges but not too keen on extreme heights, there is also a second suspension bridge in the children’s adventure area, suitable for everyone.
Rides and Play Areas for Toddlers and Younger Children
During my visit, I loved Steinwasen Park mainly for its wide range of attractions designed for younger children. Some rides, for safety reasons, are reserved for older children and adults. Even though we spent the entire day in the park from opening time until closing, we never felt we had enough time to see everything.
The first must-do ride for younger visitors is Bunny Hop, a cheerful carousel with little rabbits jumping around giant carrots. Children can ride on their own or together with a parent. Another favourite is the Canoe Trip, suitable for all ages, where you float along a water course in log-shaped canoes. My son tried it first with me and then happily went on his own. Children can paddle, but a gentle current keeps the canoes moving along the route.
Just a short walk from the toddler rides, you will find two different play areas. The first is a castle-themed playground with climbing structures and swings. The second is a mini adventure park with small suspension bridges. In front of the castle there are also the only paid attractions in this area: a small go-kart track and a digger ride.
Beyond these outdoor attractions, Steinwasen Park also features several indoor areas, mainly used during bad weather. Luxis Kinderland is a large indoor play area for children aged 0 to 14, perfect when the weather is less inviting. There is also Ice World (Eiswelt), a small Winnie-the-Pooh cartoon cinema and an Inuit-themed zone. They offers additional activities when you want a break from the outdoor rides.
Attractions for Adults and Older Kids
Older children and adults will find an even wider choice of attractions. Although we did not manage to explore the entire park in one day! For that reason, planning your time well is essential if you want to experience everything Steinwasen Park has to offer.
Among the attractions designed for children aged four and above, RiverSplash is one of the most exciting. This ride sends you sliding down from a height of around 20 metres (65 feet) on large round inflatables, guaranteed to delight thrill-seekers.
Another major attraction is Gletscherblitz, which translates roughly as “Glacier Lightning”. It’s a roller coaster reaching speeds of up to 28 miles per hour (45 km/h) and running straight through the Ice World area.
Similar in style but slightly slower is the Spacerunner, a bobsleigh-style ride that reaches almost 25 miles per hour (40 km/h). In addition to rides, Steinwasen Park also features a laser game area with 3D glasses, another option for indoor fun.
Steinwasen Park Visitor Guide: Practical Tips and Essential Information
When visiting Steinwasen Park, you may want to avoid bringing a pushchair or children’s wagon. Many attractions start and finish in different areas of the park. The chairlift is another limitation. Folded pushchairs are not allowed on board due to the lightweight structure. Plus, you won’t be able to handle them on the chairlift, in addition to a child.
You will notice that German parents often use children’s wagons instead of pushchairs and usually travel in larger groups. This makes it easier for one adult to look after bags and equipment while the others enjoy the rides with the children.
Apart from this practical consideration, the park is generally quite accessible despite its mountain setting. There are very few staircases along the main paths. So, even if you decide to bring a light pushchair, you can still move around the park without major difficulties.
Food Options and Picnic Areas
When it comes to food, Steinwasen Park offers both a snack kiosk and a sit-down restaurant. We chose the kiosk as we wanted a quick lunch and get straight back to the rides. The queue was quite long, but service was efficient, as you would expect in Germany. Eventually our pretzels and sausage rolls turned out to be very good.
I somehow ended up ordering a currywurst, most likely due to a pronunciation mishap. At least it became one of those travel moments you do not plan yet never forget. If you are not familiar with currywurst, you can learn more about this iconic street food in my guide to what to eat in Munich.
The Steinwasenstube restaurant is located on a terrace above the park entrance and looked very tempting. Sadly, passing right in front of the Bunny Hop ride to reach it meant it stood no chance with my son. He was far more interested in rabbits than in lunch plans.
If you prefer bringing your own food, you will be glad to know that the park also has several picnic areas with tables, perfect for stopping for a relaxed meal surrounded by nature.
Tickets and Opening Hours
Ticket prices for Steinwasen Park are €24 for adults and children aged 12 and over. Children aged 4 to 11 pay €20, while entry is free for younger children. Opening hours are usually daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Although the park has a winter closure that changes each year. It is always a good idea to check the official website before planning your visit.
You can buy tickets for Steinwasen Park either online or directly at the ticket office on arrival. Staff speak English and park maps are also available in English, making it easy to find your way around. To avoid queues, I recommend to book your tickets online, especially during weekends and school holidays.
At the time of writing, tickets are not available through the main booking platforms I normally use. It can be slightly inconvenient if you are organising a road trip or multi-stop holiday. Having all reservations stored in one place on platforms like GetYourGuide or Viator is usually very handy when travelling. Purchasing tickets directly from the official website may require a little extra planning.
How to Get to Steinwasen Park
You can reach Steinwasen Park either by car or by public transport. You can visit the park even without a car. The bus stop Oberried (Breisgau) / St. Wilhelm Steinwasen is close to the entrance.
However, travelling by car is by far the most convenient option. Driving gives you more flexibility with timing and makes the journey easier, especially if you are travelling with children. A free car park is available right in front of the entrance, which is another good reason to choose this option if you are on a road trip through the Black Forest.
Steinwasen Park
Steinwasen 1
79254 Oberried
Final Thoughts on Visiting Steinwasen Park
In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend visiting Steinwasen Park if you are travelling in the Black Forest with children, even very young ones. This unique theme park combined with an Alpine zoo offers the perfect mix of nature, animals and family-friendly attractions.
Steinwasen Park is ideal for spending a day in the mountains, surrounded by fresh air, forest trails and panoramic views, while children enjoy rides designed for different age groups. The relaxed atmosphere makes it stand out from large commercial parks and creates a more authentic and enjoyable experience for families.
From wildlife encounters to scenic chairlift rides, every moment feels special. If you are looking for a family day out near Freiburg that combines fun and nature, Steinwasen Park is definitely worth adding to your itinerary. Feel free to share your experience in the comments, I would love to hear from you.
