Sankenbach Waterfalls, Natural monument waterfalls in Baiersbronn, Germany.
Sankenbach Waterfalls is a cascade southwest of Baiersbronn in the Black Forest, where the Sankenbach stream drops more than 40 metres over the headwall of the Sankenbach cirque. The main fall is formed by the Eck'scher Horizont of the Lower Bunter Sandstone. Below the falls, the stream feeds the Sankenbachsee, a small lake that was once nearly silted up and has been restored by damming.
The waterfalls formed through water erosion in sandstone layers within the Black Forest geology over many centuries. The current rock formations and cascades developed from this slow geological process.
The name Sankenbach refers to the stream that feeds the falls; the water drops over the headwall of the Sankenbachkessel, a cirque in the Lower Bunter Sandstone. Below the main fall the stream feeds the Sankenbachsee, a small cirque lake that had almost silted up and was restored by damming. The falls and their surroundings are protected as a 4.8-hectare natural monument.
The site is accessible by marked hiking trails that wind through the forest to reach the falls. Water flow varies with the season, so visiting after rainy periods offers a more impressive view.
A manually operated sluice gate on the upper footbridge allows visitors to temporarily increase water flow for a more dramatic view. This interactive feature lets people observe and photograph the falls at different water volumes.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,878 contributors worldwide.