The main town of the valley is Kirchzarten which incorporates the village of Zarten, a settlement of Celtic origin (Tarodunum).
More than 10 million m3 of groundwater are withdrawn from the whole of the valley every year, a considerable part of which provides drinking water for the city of Freiburg.
For many tourists, the Dreisam valley is mainly known for its hiking and mountain biking trails through the Black Forest.
The Schauinsland hill and the Feldberg, the highest mountain in the Black Forest, are easily accessible from the valley.
The four municipalities of Kirchzarten, Stegen, Buchenbach and Oberried have joined forces to promote the Dreisam Valley touristically.