Triberg Waterfalls, Multiple waterfalls in Black Forest, Germany

Triberg Waterfalls is a multi-stage cascade in the Black Forest that drops a total of 163 meters over seven rock steps. The Gutach River forms these steps, surrounded by dense mixed forest with firs, beeches and ferns.

The waterfalls became accessible to travelers in the mid-19th century through the construction of the Black Forest Railway, making the site one of the region's first excursion destinations. By around 1850, the first inns and paths for visitors from the cities appeared.

The falls' water powered Triberg's electric street lighting in 1884, the first such system in Germany. Above and below the main falls the gradient still drives small hydroelectric plants. Around 500,000 visitors come each year, and the site has long shaped the town's tourist economy.

Five different entrances lead to the waterfalls, with the main entrance within walking distance from the center of Triberg. The paths vary in steepness and require sturdy footwear, as many sections run over stairs and damp wooden walkways.

The falls are lit until 22:00, so evening visits are possible; in winter they can freeze and remain partly walkable. Above the main falls a small, very old hydroelectric plant uses the gradient, and power from the falls also fed Triberg's electric street lighting, installed in 1884 as the first in Germany.