Circular hike - Doktor Wald-Weg - Thuringian Forest
The DR WALD Forest Trail – Wellbeing for Body and Soul
Taking a walk in the forest is pure relaxation. Not only that: it is good for your health. It strengthens the immune system, boosts the metabolism, reduces stress, presents an opportunity to slow down and invigorates all the senses.
The DR WALD Trail invites you to enjoy the relaxing and beneficial health effects of the forest.
The 13 km long circular trail between Stützerbach, Frauenwald and Schmiedefeld passes through the middle of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Thuringian Forest.
The Route:
The DR WALD Forest Trail – Wellbeing for Body and Soul
Taking a walk in the forest is pure relaxation. Not only that: it is good for your health. It strengthens the immune system, boosts the metabolism, reduces stress, presents an opportunity to slow down and invigorates all the senses.
The DR WALD Trail invites you to enjoy the relaxing and beneficial health effects of the forest.
The 13 km long circular trail between Stützerbach, Frauenwald and Schmiedefeld passes through the middle of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Thuringian Forest.
You can join the trail at Stützerbach, at Rennsteig railway station or from the hikers’ car park there. At weekends, you can reach these via rail: the Rennsteigbahn runs from Erfurt directly via Ilmenau to Rennsteig railway station.
If you are starting from Hüttenplatz in Stützerbach, the route leads out of Stützerbach past the Kneipp facility. Passing through biologically diverse pastures and wetland meadows in the Busselbach Valley, the route descends via the Panorama Trail into the Gläser Valley and along the Path of Tranquillity past the wildlife habitat protection area into the idyllic Rote Grund. The DR WALD Trail twice crosses the path of the Rennsteig, one of Germany’s most famous ridgeway trails.
Heading onwards through protected mountain pastures and moorland with important plant species (such as arnica, rare orchids, sphagnum mosses and cotton grass), and after a brief detour to the watercourse of the Rennsteigteich, you reach one of the highest-lying railway stations in Germany, Rennsteig station, where the inn of the same name offers a welcome opportunity for a break.
Continuing through the Göpferbach Valley and following the course of the Lengwitz, the trail heads back towards Stützerbach.
15 wayside points and resting places strategically placed along the trail invite you to relax and immerse yourself in the forest and engage your senses. Dr Wald benches, sky loungers and a sky swing provide opportunities to unwind, to let your gaze wander and breathe in your surroundings.
Picnic areas at Stützerbach Kneipp Park, at various points along the Panorama Trail, at the Massenmühle in Gläsertal and at the Schwarzwasser rest area, provide opportunities to take a break.
The circular route can be experienced in different ways – as a day trip spent forest bathing at your leisure, or as a vigorous hike (4 hours with breaks) or as shorter 3.5 km or 6 km long circular routes. You can also take a pleasant 4.9 km or 6.7 km relaxed walk between the Rennsteig and Stützerbach railway stations.
“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.”
John Muir, naturalist and philosopher, 1838–1914
Note: The DR WALD Trail is a sustainable regional development project for National Natural Landscapes funded by the Free State of Thuringia. The DR WALD Trail was established in 2021-2022 and is a joint project by the cities of Ilmenau and Suhl.
Concept: StadtStrategen. Office for integrative urban and regional development. Design: Anke Heelemann. Photo: Thomas Müller
Author’s recommendation
Round off your trip with a visit to the Kneipp facility and AtemWeg in Stützerbach.
Track types
Rest stops
Gasthof "Zum Reifberg"Thüringer Waldlokal
Safety information
Safety informationPlease be aware of typical forest and countryside hazards and observe any notices and instructions given by ThüringenForst and their staff.
Tips and hints
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
Stützerbach – Panorama trail – Gläsertal - Massenmühle – Roter Grund - Rennsteig – Schwarzwasser - Rennsteigteich - Rennsteig station – Göpferbachtal – Massenmühle Gläsertal – Stützerbach
Note
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
Public transportAccessible by train and bus.
You can reach Stützerbach and the Rennsteig railway station or Rennsteig junction can be reached by bus from Ilmenau (line 300 IOV) or from Suhl/Schmiedefeld. To plan your journey, please use this link to the Deutsche Bahn journey planner:
Journey to Stützerbach am Rennsteig
Just enter your desired travel date and where you are travelling from.
Getting there
Getting there by carFrom the A71, take exit 16 (Ilmenau West) and continue on the L3004 towards Ilmenau. Follow the road through the town and continue on the L3004 towards Stützerbach and from there via Papiermühlenstraße to the Haus des Gastes, and via the Papiermühlenweg to Hüttenplatz car park.
Alternatively, coming from the south on the A71, take exit 19 (Suhl/Zellah-Mehlis) and continue via Suhler and Gothaer Straße on the L1140 towards Schmiedefeld. Drive through Schmiedefeld until you reach the L3004 junction towards Ilmenau. At Rennsteig junction (L3004/L2632/L1141) turn onto the L1141 towards Rennsteig Bahnhof / Frauenwald. After 850 m, turn right onto the hikers’ car park at Rennsteig railway station.
Alternatively, coming from the south on the A71, take exit 19 (Suhl/Zellah-Mehlis) and continue via Suhler and Gothaer Straße on the L1140 towards Schmiedefeld. Drive through Schmiedefeld until you reach the L3004 junction towards Ilmenau. At Rennsteig junction (L3004/L2632/L1141) turn onto the L1141 towards Rennsteig Bahnhof / Frauenwald. After 850 m, turn right onto the hikers’ car park at Rennsteig railway station.
Parking
Please use the car park at Hüttenplatz (Google-NAV Punkt) or at Rennsteig railway station (car park - Google-NAV Punkt)Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
Author’s map recommendations
Book recommendations for this region:
Recommended maps for this region:
Equipment
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Sturdy shoes
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Rainwear
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First aid kit
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GPS device or smartphone
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Sufficient fluids to drink
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Seat cushion
Localization
Statistics
- 13 Waypoints
- 13 Waypoints
Questions and answers
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Photos from others