Kinzig valley is a major valley that runs through the Black Forest in East-Western direction. Geographically it divides the Southern from the Northern Black Forest. The upstream part is narrow and winding, squeezed between rather steep hills - a fine area for hiking if you are not entirely untrained. From Hausach downstream, where the Kinzig unites with the Gutach, the valley is wide with a flat ground. At Offenburg it enters the Rhine plain. In this part the river has been regulated and looks more like a canal, a measure of flood protection but nowadays we know that this measure rather made things worse and is questionable concerning ecology.The valley has always been a major travel route into and through the Black Forest range. Getting around is easy without a car. The Schwarzwaldbahn railway line runs through the valley from Offenburg to Hausach. The upstream part and some side valleys can be travelled on the Ortenau S-Bahn network.To visitors, the Kinzig valley is like a chain of pearls with many pretty small towns and other attractions to see. The source of the river is located in the hills near Lossburg and Alpirsbach abbey.