recommended route

Rhön Rennsteig Weg RR - Wasserkuppe > Oberhof - Rhön

Long distance hiking trail · Rhoen

Responsible for this content
Rhön GmbH

/ Spielplatz auf der Hohen Geba
Photo: Wolfgang Fallier, CC0, Rhön GmbH
/ Gipfelkreuz auf der Hohen Geba
Photo: Wolfgang Fallier, CC0, Rhön GmbH
/ Schutzhütte auf der Hohen Geba
Photo: Wolfgang Fallier, CC0, Rhön GmbH
/ Schafherde bei Rhönblick
Photo: Wolfgang Fallier, CC0, Rhön GmbH
/ Berg Rhönblick
Photo: Wolfgang Fallier, CC0, Rhön GmbH
/ Pflanze am Berg Rhönblick
Photo: Wolfgang Fallier, CC0, Rhön GmbH
/ Berg Rhönblick
Photo: Wolfgang Fallier, CC0, Rhön GmbH
/ Ehemalige Grenzanlage am Dreiländereck
Photo: Wolfgang Fallier, CC0, Rhön GmbH
/ Frühlingslandschaft am Dreiländereck Hessen - Bayern - Thüringen
Photo: Wolfgang Fallier, CC0, Rhön GmbH
/ Hochrhöner-Sitzbank am Steinkopf bei Kaltensundheim
Photo: Wolfgang Fallier, CC0, Rhön GmbH
/ Alter Baum am Steinkopf bei Kaltensundheim
Photo: Wolfgang Fallier, CC0, Rhön GmbH
/ Ausblick vom Ellenbogen
Photo: Wolfgang Fallier, CC0, Rhön GmbH
/ Noahs Segel auf dem Ellenbogen
Photo: Wolfgang Fallier, CC0, Rhön GmbH

Between the Wasserkuppe in the Rhön and the Rennsteig in the Thuringian Forest, we walk through the most diverse character landscapes of both low mountain ranges in the heart of Germany.

moderate

Distance 98.5 km

27:15 h

2,111 m

2,213 m

949 m

277 m

The hike begins on the Wasserkuppe, the highest mountain in the Rhön and known as an Eldorado for glider pilots and paragliders. We walk over the moor path in the Red Moor to the Heidelstein. From the Strinberg we enjoy the wide view. At the Schwarzen Moor we recommend a detour along the circular hiking trail (approx. 1 hour). After the memorial commemorating the reunification of Germany, we reach Frankenheim, the highest municipality in the Rhön. We continue to the Ellenbogen, the plateau of the Grasenberg and the Alten Mark, and at the latest when we are on the summit of the Geba, it is clear to everyone why the Rhön is also called the "land of open distances". In Utendorf you should definitely try the bread and onion cake from the stone oven. After the fantastic view at the summit of Dolmar, we hike through the vast forest areas of the Thuringian Forest, go up to the Hinteren Thalkopf and down to the village of Christes. The historic Christborn fountain and the basilica from 1443 make the Rhöndorf unique. Real highlights are the views from the Ruppberg and Gebrannten Stein until we finally reach the Rennsteig and the famous winter sports resort of Oberhof.

Author’s recommendation

Both the black and the red moor are home to a large number of rare animal and plant species. A specially set up boardwalk enables insights into the valuable habitat of the nature park.

Author

Katharina Happel

Update: April 26, 2022

Difficulty

moderate

Technique

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Highest point

949 m

Lowest point

277 m

Best time of year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Safety information

Crossing the B 284 between the Fuchssteinen and the Roten Moor,
crossing the ST2286 (Franzosenweg) between Heidelstein and the Schornhecke car park,
crossing the B 285 between Eisenacher Haus and Aschenhausen,
crossing the B19 to Walldorf

The tourist routes of the Rhön are mostly used by other active people (hikers, mountain bikers, cyclists, walkers, riders, cross-country skiers, etc.).

We ask all active nature sports enthusiasts to show consideration for one another. The same applies of course to nature - it is worth protecting. In the Rhön, therefore, nature sports should only be practiced in daylight on designated paths and areas.

Tips and hints

Dieser Wanderweg führt durch die Biosphärenreservate und Naturparke Rhön sowie Thüringer Wald und berührt dabei verschiedene Schutzgebiete. Bitte helfen Sie mit, diese wertvollen Lebensräume zu erhalten, indem Sie die dortigen Hinweise beachten.

www.biosphaerenreservat-rhoen.de

www.biosphaerenreservat-thueringerwald.de

www.rhoen.de

www.thueringer-wald.com

Start

Wasserkuppe (927 m)

Coordinates:

50.497818, 9.933111

DMS

50°29'52.1"N 9°55'59.2"E

UTM

32U 566179 5594398

w3w

///fetches.bandits.pods

Destination

Oberhof

Turn-by-turn directions

Wasserkuppe
Fuchssteine
Rotes Moor (Abstecher)
Heidelstein
Stirnberg
Schwarzes Moor (Abstecher)
Frankenheim
Aschenhausen
Hohe Geba
Stephershausen
Walldorf
Dolmar
Christes
Oberhof

Note

all notes on protected areas

Public transport

Gersfeld station, with line 90 of the LNG to the Wasserkuppe (only Sat, Sun and public holidays)

https://www.lng-fulda.de/de/Fahrplan/

On-Call-Bus 37 to Wasserkuppe; Order at least 30 minutes before published collection time neccessary.

https://www.lng-fulda.de/de/Fahrplan/

Getting there

Wasserkuppe:

North or south via the A7; Leave the A7 at exit 92 (Fulda Mitte), follow the signs to Poppenhausen (Wasserkuppe) and then to Wasserkuppe.
Coming from the west follow the A66; at Eichenzell change to the A7 towards Kassel (north); Leave the A7 at exit 92 (Fulda Mitte), then follow the B458 and L3068 to the Wasserkuppe.
Coming from the east, you can take the A4 to Erfurt and then continue on the A71 to Mellrichstadt. From there you can get to Ostheim - Oberelsbach - Bischofsheim a.d. Rhön and Gersfeld to the Wasserkuppe.

https://www.wasserkuppe.com/anfahrt-wasserkuppe.html

Oberhof:

From Gotha (A4): P + R Ohrdruf
From Meiningen / Suhl (A71): P + R Zella-Mehlis
From Schmalkalden: P + R Steinbach-Hallenberg

https://www.weltcup-oberhof.de/weltcup/vor-ort/anreise/

Parking

Wasserkuppe
Zella-Mehlis P + R possibility (Suhler Straße, 98544 Zella-Mehlis)
Free parking spaces in Oberhof in summer: parking lot Am Wadeberg, parking lot in Gründle, parking lot Am Kurpark
Paid parking spaces in Oberhof in summer: Grenzadler car park. Tambacher Straße car park to Grenzadler https://www.oberhof.de/Info-Service/Anreise-Parken/Parken-im-Sommer
Free parking spaces in Oberhof in winter: Am Wadeberg parking lot, Im Gründle parking lot, Am Kurpark parking lot
Paid parking spaces in Oberhof in winter: City parking lot Oberhof, parking lot Grenzadler, parking lot Tambacher Straße / Zum Grenzadler, parking lot Am Rondell, parking lot Zellaer Straße https://www.oberhof.de/Info-Service/Anreise-Parken/Winterparkplaetze

Coordinates

50.497818, 9.933111

DMS

50°29'52.1"N 9°55'59.2"E

UTM

32U 566179 5594398

w3w

///fetches.bandits.pods

Arrival by train, car, foot or bike

Author’s map recommendations

Wanderkarte „Thüringische Rhön“, 2. Auflage, Maßstab 1:35.000

ISBN 978-3-86116-068-7, Dr. Barthel Verlag

Wanderkarte „Meiningen und Umgebung“, 2. Auflage, Maßstab 1:35.000

ISBN 978-3-89591-135-4 , Dr. Barthel Verlag

Wanderkarte „Suhl, Zella-Mehlis und Umgebung“, 2. Auflage, Maßstab 1:35.000

ISBN 978-3-89591-141-5 , Dr. Barthel Verlag

Equipment

Sturdy shoes
Rain clothes
First aid kit
GPS navigation device or map
Sufficient drinks and provisions (optional)
Sun protection at high temperatures
Camera to capture the beautiful views

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Difficulty

moderate

Distance

98.5 km

Duration

27:15 h

Ascent

2,111 m

Descent

2,213 m

Highest point

949 m

Lowest point

277 m

Multi-stage route Scenic Geological highlights Summit route Refreshment stops available Cultural/historical interest

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