Discover the myth of the Rennsteig hiking trail

Length: 168.3 km

Marking: white R

Starting point: Hörschel near Eisenach

Destination: Blankenstein in the Thuringian Slate Mountains

Altitude variation: 196 - 972 m above sea level

Ascent: 2521 m

Descent: 2301 m

Path surface: 50 % near-natural paths, 25 % wide forest trails, 25% asphalt

Difficulty: medium

Source: Regionalverbund Thüringer Wald e.V.

The Rennsteig One of Germany's most beautiful long-distance trails

Rennsteigkarte

Dense forests and sun-drenched meadows, steep slopes and gentle valleys – a trip on the Rennsteig hiking trail let you experience the contrasts of nature. The trail runs from the little village of Hörschel at the Werra River to the upper reaches of the Saale River. Along the ridge of the Thuringian Forest, through the adjoining Thuringian Slate Mountains the trail ends in the northern Franconian Forest in the city of Blankenstein. To finish the 168 kilometres takes experienced hikers about 8 days. Starting in Hörschel, you’ll reach Ruhla after 23 kilometres.

Near Ruhla at the waypoint “Ruhlaer Häuschen” originates the historical boundary path “Rynnestig”. Following the trail it leads you to the stone monument “Glöckner”, a group of granite boulders. An inscription was carved in the granite boulders in 1922, to honour the members of the Rennsteig Club, who fell in World War I. Throughout the era of the former East Germany the Rennsteig was not completely passable as it crosses the inner German border several times. Only the segment “Hohe Sonne” – “Neuhaus am Rennweg” was open to the public. Since it’s officially reopening on 28 April 1990 the Rennsteig trail can be experienced over the entire length again.

The Rennsteig attracts visitors and athletes all year round. Europe`s largest countryside run, the GutsMuths Rennsteig Run, takes place every May.

Rennsteig Houses

There are 6 modern houses along the Rennsteig trail, which offer visitors the possibility to take a break, use sanitary (and barrier-free) facilities, such as toilets and showers, store sports equipment or do small fixes at an repair station. E-Bikers can charge the batteries of their bikes easily at an integrated e-bike charging station. In the wintertime it is also possible to wax your skis. These Rennsteig Houses are located directly on the Rennsteig trail.

Locations: Tambach-Dietharz, Oberhof, Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig, Neuhaus am Rennsteig, Lehesten Brennersgrün

Rennsteig-Leiter - Access paths to the Rennsteig

Discover the side valleys of the Rennsteig trail by taking one of the 44 Rennsteig-Leitern, which literally means "Rennsteig-Ladders". Those are meant figuratively. Most of those paths are quiet steep, so it appears, that you could place a ladder in a side valley to climb up to the Rennsteig trail or down in the valley. By using these ladders, visitors can experience magnificent hikes aside of the Rennsteig trail with various lengths and difficulties. They are marked with a yellow R on white ground.

The Rennsteig-Ladder in Ruhla is located at the park “mini-a-thür”. The Rennsteig trail will be reached after a 2 kilometre climb.

Brief history of the Rennsteig

Markierung des Rennsteiges

The first mentioning of the “Rynnestig” was in 1330, although some hints of its existence date back till the 9th century. Throughout the middle ages, the Rennsteig functioned as a boundary path between different Franconian and Thuringian duchies. Therefore you can still find about 1,300 historic boundary stones along the Rennsteig. In 1830 the cartographer Julius von Pläncker hiked along the Rennsteig in its now known length of 168.3 kilometres and described and mapped his journey. Since then the Rennsteig became the famous long-distance trail as it is still today. Throughout the era of the former East Germany the Rennsteig was not completely passable as it crosses the inner German border several times. Since it’s officially reopening on 28 April 1990 the Rennsteig trail can be experienced over the entire length again.