The platform's floor is constructed from local Douglas fir timber sourced from the surrounding forests.
The structure is designed to mimic the shape of a tree root or a branch extending from the slope.
The Ellbachsee below is one of the smaller cirque lakes in the Northern Black Forest, characterized by its acidic, nutrient-poor water.
The platform was constructed as part of the 'Nationalpark-Region Schwarzwald' tourism infrastructure development project.
The Aussichtsplattform Ellbachseeblick is a cantilevered steel and wood viewing platform extending over the edge of the Ellbachsee cirque in the Black Forest. Opened in 2020, the structure projects approximately 10 meters out from the slope, providing a vantage point 600 meters above sea level. It offers a direct overlook of the Ellbachsee, a glacial lake formed during the last Ice Age. The platform is designed to provide unobstructed views of the surrounding Black Forest National Park landscape without the need for high fencing. Access is primarily gained via local hiking trails that connect to the Kniebis area. The site is a key feature of the 'Baiersbronner Seensteig' long-distance hiking route.
From the very tip of the cantilevered platform looking down toward the lake and the surrounding valley walls.
Wear sturdy hiking boots, as the approach paths involve uneven forest trails.
Combine your visit with the 'Ellbachseepfad' circular hike for the best perspectives of the lake.
Bring binoculars to observe birdlife and the textures of the forest canopy from the platform's elevation.
Do not attempt to access the platform via steep, unmarked shortcuts down the cirque wall; stay on marked trails.
Maintain silence to observe local wildlife; do not leave trash in the forest areas.
