The Sankenbachsee is a small, dark glacial cirque lake set on a forested shelf above Baiersbronn. The water is cold and tea-coloured from peat. A wooden walkway runs around the shore and gives reflections of the surrounding spruce; in autumn the colours are particularly good. Swimming is not allowed.
It pairs naturally with a visit to the Sankenbach Waterfalls a little further up the same trail. From Freudenstadt drive to the car park near Baiersbronn-Mitteltal and walk in for about 45 minutes through forest. The lake is open year-round; in winter the path may need light snowshoes after fresh snowfall.