The Elz has its source to the west of Schönwald in the area of St Martin's Chapel and is located directly on the Westweg. The actual source is hidden and inaccessible in the forest. After flowing through the Farnberg, a high valley with meadows and moors, the young Elz plunges over the Elz Falls into the Prechtal and on through the Elztal into the Upper Rhine Valley before flowing 121 kilometres into the Rhine.