Explore Luther city Eisenach with its fortress during a stroll through the city.

Short train journey to Hörschel. In accordance with old tradition, this is the trailhead of the Rennsteig trail. The route takes you into the little mountain town of Ruhla, renowned for its historic watch manufacturing tradition. You continue on tranquil paths via the ‚Hohe Sonne’ and reach Ruhla-Ascherbrück. We definitely recommend a detour to the impressive dragon gorge.

Past Ruhlaer Häuschen you walk to mountain Großer Inselsberg, which measures 912 m at his highest point. From there a steep climb is awaiting you, but you will be rewarded with a fabulous view. This popular section leads down to Grenzwiese, Dreiherrenstein and on to Ebertswiese with its mountain meadows and lakes. 

You start at 730 m above sea level and walk comfortable across the Rennsteig through the Thuringia Forest, past Krämerrod and Wachsenrasen, and on to the climatic health resort Oberhof. In the near, the Grenzadler, a centuries-old landmark is awaiting you, today it is marking the DKB-skiing arena. The popular winter sports resort is inviting you for relaxation and offers many wellness treatments for tired legs.

Today the highest point of the Rennsteig is awaiting you. You walk up onto 973 m. The walking tour leads past idyllic meadows with huts and springs, which invite you for a break. Before you reach Frauenwald you pass train station Rennsteig, where special trains go into the nature.

From Frauenwald you pass mountain Großer Dreiherrenstein. The roads from Illmenau, Neustadt, and Allzunah are meeting here. In Neustadt the centre of the Rennsteig is located in the Rennsteig museum. From Thuringia Forest you continue into the Thuringia Schiefergebirge (shale mountains). You cross the Schwalbenhauptwiese and meet a hollow way, which has been formed through elution and usage.

You walk from the Rennsteig lookout to Friedrichshöhe. The village is imbedded in deep Thuringia Forest and well known as smallest independent village of the German Democratic Republic as well as for its absolute silence. A detour to the spring of river Werra is worth is before you continue your tour via Limbach to Neuhaus.

Today you walk to Steinbach. The alpine slide in Ernstthal is inviting you for a ride. Afterwards the tour leads you to Spechtsbrunn. Who wants to learn more about the Thuringia Forest should visit the nature park information centre.

Enjoy the diversified lookouts onto Lauenhain and the slaty fractures of Lehesten for instance during this day. You will be accompanied from landmarks. They are the reason that this path is named “Schönwappenweg”. Presentation boards inform about the region, before you continue along the Rennsteig to Grumbach.

On your last walking tour you visit the hamlet Rodacherbrunn, it is located at the former “Mittlere Handelsstraße” (trading route). Already Napoleon was passing by with a huge army to the battle at Jena and Auerstädt. Past the three “Stephanseichen” (oak trees) you walk down to stage finish Blankenstein.

Welcome to Eisenach, the starting point of the traditional Rennsteig Trail. Make the most of your arrival day to explore the historic city of Luther, with its famous Wartburg Castle, on a leisurely stroll.

A short train ride to Hörschel. According to old tradition, this is where the hike along the Rennsteig Trail begins. The trail leads to the mountain town of Ruhla, with its historic tradition of watchmaking. Following tranquil paths, you’ll pass over the ‘Hohe Sonne’ to reach Ruhla-Ascherbrück. A detour to the impressive Dragon Gorge is definitely worth it.

Today, the trail takes you up the Großer Inselsberg (916 m), one of the most striking vantage points in the Thuringian Forest. From here, the view stretches far across the forested landscape and, on a clear day, all the way to the Brocken in the Harz Mountains. Short climbs are rewarded with magnificent mountain meadows, before a small mountain lake at the end of the route invites you to linger.

From the ‘Neue Ausspanne’, the Kammweg trail takes you through the diverse landscape of the Thuringian Forest to Oberhof. This well-known health resort owes its reputation not least to the successes of its winter sports athletes. After your hike, enjoy a relaxing time at the wellness spa, or visit the fascinating Exotarium and the blooming Rennsteig Garden.

Today you’ll walk via the Schneekopf (978 m) and the ‘Suhler Hütte’ to Frauenwald. Take a relaxing break at the historic Rennsteig railway station before learning some interesting facts about its eventful history at the Bunker Museum, just before you reach your stage destination.

On today’s hiking day, you’ll reach the geographical center of the Rennsteig Trail. Take the opportunity to visit the Rennsteig Museum in Neustadt am Rennsteig. Afterwards, your route takes you to Masserberg, which is idyllically situated in the countryside and lies in the immediate vicinity of the source of the Werra River.

A worthwhile detour today takes you to the Nature Park Information Center in Friedrichshöhe. The village is nestled in the dense Thuringian Forest and is known for its absolute tranquillity, as well as for being the smallest independent municipality in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR). Afterwards, follow the Fairy Tale Trail for a short while to Neuhaus. There, interesting sights such as the town church and the Geißlerhaus await you.

During your hike, the summer toboggan run in Ernstthal invites you to enjoy a ride down the slope. After some tobogganing fun, your hike continues to Spechtsbrunn. If you’d like to learn more about the Thuringian Forest, you can visit the Nature Park Information Center there. You’ll cross the former East-West German border and follow in the footsteps of Martin Luther to the historic village of Steinbach am Wald.

On this stage, enjoy various scenic viewpoints and the impressive historic coat-of-arms stones before reaching Brennersgrün. You'll be treated to numerous fantastic views of the Wetzstein and the varied landscape of the Frankenwald Nature Park. Information boards provide details about the border region before you follow the Rennsteig Trail to Grumbach.

Following the picturesque landscape of the Thuringian Slate Mountains, the final stage of your walking holiday takes you via Schlegel to Blankenstein. There, your tour ends at the famous Rennsteig Trail Fountain and the ‘Hiking Hub’, a symbolic conclusion to the Rennsteig Trail.