Rennsteig - Stage 5 - Limbach – Steinbach am Wald
Trail records – Stage 5:
Hiking Trail: Rennsteig
Stage: 5. Limbach – Steinbach am Wald
Continent: Europe
Region: Central Europe
Countries: Germany
Length: approx. 30.3 km
Altitude: approx. 617m – 859m
Duration: approx. 10.5 Std.
Peak travel season: May to September
Start: Limbach
End: Steinbach am Wald
Pano tour photos: Sep. & Oct. 2011
Elevation curve – Stage 5:
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The 5th stage is again a little over 30 kilometers long. Overall, it goes a bit more downhill (ratio of 519 m ascent to 643 m descent), with shorter but steeper uphill passages and long stretches that lead slightly downhill.
The stage starts steeply uphill through nature. But soon you are within earshot of the noisy federal highway 281 until the bigger town of Neuhaus am Rennweg. A lot of forest idyll follows thereafter until the last quarter of the stage which leads you closer to the busy Frankenwalstraße („Franconian Forest High Road“) – the last few kilometers even right next to it.
On the trail you cross the former German-German border to Bavaria. (In the last stage it goes back to Thuringia.)
There are slightly fewer shelters, and some are too small to sleep in. There also seems to be a camp option now: the camping space Trekkingplatz Frankenwald Kobach, around km 28.7, which did not exist back when I did the tour (info-website frankenwald-tourismus.de).
Several snack bars and rests invite you to take a break. But due to the length of the stage, you shouldn’t stay too long. Due to the length you should carry plenty of water with you, especially in summer.
Level of difficulty:
Easy to hard – due to the length of the stage (almost like the first stage), physically challenging and very demanding.
Provisions:
Due to the length, it is particularly important to take enough water with you, as well as enough food. There are comparatively fewer restaurants on this stage. It is all the more important to ask them in advance whether they are really open if you depend on them. On this stage there are also various supermarkets to stock up on the most important things.
Snack bars, restaurants & shopping:
Grill / Snack bar in the town Neuhaus am Rennweg: Baran Döner – around km 7.0 (Google link also in pano)
Bank Sparkasse Sonneberg with ATM – around km 7.0 (Google link also in pano)
Lidl supermarket in Neuhaus am Rennweg – around km 7.1 (Google link also in pano)
Schutzhütte (Tische und Bänke mit Rückenlehne) – around km 10.1
next to a Shopping centre (Google link also in pano) with the supermarkets Edeka and Aldi (Google links also in pano) as well as the bus stop EKZ – Neuhaus am Rennweg (Google link also in pano) with the buses 705, 706, 807, A3 – public transport website ovg-son.de
Guesthouse & restaurant: Berggasthof am Brand – around km 15.5 (Google link also in pano), website thueringen.info
Restaurant & guesthouse Gasthaus und Pension am Rennsteig – around km 18.4 (Google link also in pano), website gasthaus-am-rennsteig.de
Snack bar Imbiss Kalte Küche – around km 19.3 (Google link also in pano)
Restaurant Gaststätte Frankenwaldhütte – around km 25.0 (Google link also in pano) with big parking lot
Shelters:
Stage 5 does offer shelters, but many are smaller and rather of a shelter to protect against rain. There are also a few shelters large enough to stay overnight. (There is also a new camping area: the Trekkingplatz Frankenwald Kobach (Google link also in pano), which did not exist back when I did the tour.)
Only maybe a shelter – around km 2.6 (I am not certain if this is really one. If you have a present info on that, please write me a message so I can update it.)
Small shelter – around km 3.4
Shelter with table an benches – around km 4.4
Very small shelter, narrow bench outside the hut – around km 8.9
Shelter, tables and bench (next to a main road across a shopping centre and a bus stop) – around km 10.1
Rather a just roof than a shelter – around km 11.4
Shelter, table and benchen, big parking lot – around km 12.9
Shelter Clemens Major Schutzhütte with a wide view over the country, table and benches – around km 17.3 (Google link also in pano)
Camping ground Trekkingplatz Frankenwald Kobach
– around km 28.7 (Google link also in pano) – did not exist when I did the tour, info-website frankenwald-tourismus.de
Worth seeing:
Summer training track for cross country skiing – around km 1.0
Sandberg (Google link also in pano), admittedly not really interesting – around km 1.3
View on a dam Aussicht auf die Talsperre, it actually did not come to my attention on my tour, I can only assume that there are less trees now (Google link also in pano) – around km 1.5
Tourist-Information Neuhaus am Rennweg (directly at the train station) – around km 7.3 (Google link also in pano), website neuhaus-am-rennweg.de
Vantage point Aussichtspunkt (Google link also in pano) – around km 15.4
Resting ground Rastplatz Schleifenwiese – around km 20.7 (Google link also in pano) – former border between East- and West-Germany, the Rennsteig leads shortly for approx. half a kilometer through Bavaria and later deeper into Bavaria.
Public transport:
At the start of the stage you find the Bus stop Limbach (Google link also in pano) with the buses 501, 508, 50103 and H1, public transport websites ovg-son.de and taxi-ilchmann.de
In the town Neuhaus am Rennweg – around km 7.3
Train station Neuhaus am Rennweg (Google link also in pano),
train RB 41 – public transport website sued-thueringen-bahn.de
Bus stop: Neuhaus am Rennweg, Zentralhaltestelle (Google link also in pano) buses 302, 313, 405, 406, 407, 501, 508, 510, 705, 771, 801, 807, 50103, A2, A3, H1 – public transport websites kombus-online.eu, lww.de, ovg-son.de, taxi-ilchmann.de
Bus stop Neuhaus am Rennweg, Hirsch – around km 8.4 (Google link also in pano) buses 705, 706, 807, A3 public transport website ovg-son.de
Bus stop EKZ – Neuhaus am Rennweg (Google link also in pano), buses 705, 706, 807, A3 public transport website ovg-son.de
Bus stop Spechtsbrunn, Bauersachs – around km 18.4 (Google link also in pano) Busse 510, 706 – public transport websites lww.de und ovg-son.de
Accomodation at the stage’s start in Limbach:
Apparently you only find directly at the trail in Limbach the guesthouse that accommodated me: the Rennsteig-Pension „Trautwein“ (Google link also in pano), website rennsteig-pension-trautwein.de.
According to Google there is an alternative about 350 meters north in the village Alsbach: Pension Alsbachberg (Google link) Website thueringen.info/alsbachberg
Accommodation at the stage’s end in Steinbach am Wald:
Rennsteighotel (Google link also in pano), website hotelrennsteig.de
Alternative accommodation in Steinbach am Wald (Booking.com-Link)*
Accommodation along the trail:
Wanderhütten am Rennsteig – around km 5.4 (Google link also in pano)
Rennsteighotel Herrnberger-Hof (in Neuhaus am Rennweg) – around km 6.5 (Google link also in pano), website rennsteighotel.de
There are several options in Neuhaus am Rennweg of different categories (Booking.com Link)*
Wanderherberge Waldschlösschen – around km 7.7 (Google link also in pano), website waldschloesschen-ernstthal.de
Gasthof & Hotel Hirsch – around km 8.4 (Google link also in pano), website hirsch-rennweg.de
Guesthouse & restaurant Berggasthof am Brand – around km 15.5 (Google link also in pano), website thueringen.info
Guesthouse & restaurant Gasthaus und Pension am Rennsteig
– around km 18.4 (Google link also in pano), website gasthaus-am-rennsteig.de
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rsd-168
> Start of the 5th Stage in Limbach
> Accomodation: Rennsteig-Pension „Trautwein“ (Google link also in pano), website rennsteig-pension-trautwein.de, to see the front follow the blue arrow
> Also end of the 4th stage (link in pano)
> Steeper uphill on a wide gravel path
Rennsteig – Etappe 5 – Pano rsd-169
> My accommodation (end 4th stage / start 5th stage) in Limbach: Rennsteig-Pension „Trautwein“ (Google link also in pano), website rennsteig-pension-trautwein.de
According to Google there is an alternative about 350 meters noth in the village of Alsbach: Pension Alsbachberg (Google link), website thueringen.info/alsbachberg
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-1
> Continue straight ahead uphill
> Narrower, somewhat rocky dirt road
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-4
> Narrow forest path, earthier, stonier and with roots, steeply uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-7
> Narrow seat
> Keep right, very bumpy, rooty and steep uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-9
> Continue on a slightly wider and more level path
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-10
> Continue straight ahead
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-11
> Continue straight ahead, uphill less steep
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-12
> Continue straight ahead
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-13
> Table and bench with backrest, with a view over the field
> Continue to the left, flat on a smooth tar path
> Caution: cross-country skiing summer training track
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-14
> Slightly steeper uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-16
> Sandberg (Google link also in pano) – not really interesting I have to admit
> Narrow seat
> Slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-17
> Continue straight on the uneven forest path overgrown with grass
> Narrow bench in the shade
> More uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-18
> Continue straight ahead, steeper uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-19
> Narrow seat, slightly downhill
> Around here it is said to have a view on a dam Aussicht auf die Talsperre (Google link also in pano), it did not occur to me during my tour though, maybe there are less tress now
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-22
> Stony, slightly steeper downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-23
> Continue straight ahead, more uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-25
> Narrower, sandy, partly more roots and more downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-27
> Slightly left, continue to follow the sandy path
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-29
> Only maybe a shelter – I’m not sure if that’s really one. If you have any current information on this, please send me a message.
> Tables and benches with backrests
> Continue straight ahead, keep left along the country road
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-30
> Small seating
> Continue straight ahead, then short left right combination
> Slightly downhill on coarser gravel
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-31
> To the right, slightly uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-32
> Parking „Sandwieschen“ (Google link also in pano)
> Table and benches with backrest
> Slightly downhill on gravel
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-33
> Table and benches with backrest
> Continue straight ahead, steeper uphill
> Narrow, stony forest path
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-35
> Turn left, continue on the path, less steep
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-37
> Very small shelter
> Continue straight ahead, slightly uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-38
> Slightly downhill, path becomes earthier
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-40
> Continue on a wider gravel path, more uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-41
> Table and benches under a small roof
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-42
> Continue straight ahead on a soft, earthy forest path, slightly uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-43
> Shelter, table with benches
> Slightly firmer path with narrow car strips and grass in the middle
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-44
> Softer, earthier, more uneven, slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-47
> Turn semi left between the trees
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-48
> Very uneven with roots, partly muddy
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-49
> Hikers‘ parking Wanderparkplatz (Google link also in pano)
> Semi left, more overgrown by grass
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-50
> In between this and the next pano there should be an accommodation to the right behind the trees: the hikers‘ huts Wanderhütten am Rennsteig (Google link also in pano)
> Continue semi right, on a firmer gravel path, slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-52
> Briefly on a wide, passable gravel road and immediately turn semi right onto a narrow path
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-53
> Uneven, narrow, soft forest path, with roots, slightly uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-55
> Table and benches under a small roof
> Continue straight ahead, diagonally across the country road
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-56
> Wide passable gravel road, flat and level
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-58
> Continue straight ahead on smooth asphalt
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-59
> Table and benches with backrest under small roof
> Continue straight ahead
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-60
> Accommodation Rennsteighotel Herrnberger-Hof (Google link also in pano), website rennsteighotel.de
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-61
> Semi left on the pavement along the road, steeper uphill
> Half way to the next pano on the left there is the turkish snack bar / grill Baran Döner (Google link also in pano)
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-62
> Bank Sparkasse Sonneberg with an ATM (Google link also in pano)
> Keep straight ahead at the roundabout
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-63
> Half way to the next pano on the left there is a Lidl supermarket (Google link also in pano)
> Continue straight through the town
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-64
> Continue on the left side of the road
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-65
> Continue left of the hedge on a narrow, soft gravel path
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-66
> Train station Neuhaus am Rennweg (Google link also in pano),
train RB 41 – public transport website sued-thueringen-bahn.de
> Central bus station: Neuhaus am Rennweg, Zentralhaltestelle (Google link also in pano), buses 302, 313, 405, 406, 407, 501, 508, 510, 705, 771, 801, 807, 50103, A2, A3, H1 – public transport websites kombus-online.eu, lww.de, ovg-son.de, taxi-ilchmann.de
> Continue on the pavement along the road
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-67
> Tourist-Information Neuhaus am Rennweg (Google link also in pano), website neuhaus-am-rennweg.de
> Continue left of the hedge on narrow gravel path
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-68
> Turn left, continue on pavement, slightly downhill
> Half way to the next pano: hikers‘ guesthouse Wanderherberge Waldschlösschen (Google link also in pano), website waldschloesschen-ernstthal.de
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-70
> Turn right, steeper uphill, continue on pavement
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-71
> More flat
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-72
> Keep straight ahead
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-74
> Restaurant & hotel Gasthof & Hotel Hirsch (Google link also in pano), website hirsch-rennweg.de
> Bus stop Neuhaus am Rennweg, Hirsch (Google link also in pano), buses 705, 706, 807, A3, public transport website ovg-son.de
> Turn semi left
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-75
> Table and benches
> Leaving town, continue on level gravel path, slightly uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-76
> Slightly uneven dirt road, slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-77
> Very small shelter, narrow bench at the hut
> Continue right on the field path along the forest
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-79
> Bench with backrest, slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-80
> Bench with backrest, more flat
> Uneven, more rocks and grass
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-82
> Benches with backrest
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-83
> Follow the path to the right, slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-84
> Shelter, tables and benches with backrest
> Shopping centre with supermarkets Edeka and Aldi (Google links also in pano)
> Bus stop EKZ – Neuhaus am Rennweg (Google link also in pano), buses 705, 706, 807, A3, public transport website ovg-son.de
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-85
> Follow the narrow flat gravel path to the left
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-86
> Turn sharp right
> On asphalt, slightly uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-87
> Turn left, cross the train tracks
> Slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-88
> Turn left immediately after crossing the tracks
> Along the railway tracks on a narrow path
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-89
> Turn semi right, continue on a narrow path along the main road
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-90
> Follow the main road halfway to the right
> Stronger uphill then slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-91
> Semi right, continue on a narrow path
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-92
> Table and benches with backrest
> Stronger uphill, narrow uneven forest path
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-93
> Turn right onto a wide passable gravel road
> Slightly uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-94
> Bench with backrest
> Turn left
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-95
> Turn semi right
> Continue on a narrow path overgrown with grass
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-97
> Small canopy rather than a shelter
> Table and benches
> Steep uphill on a wider, stony forest path
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-100
> After a short downhill part turn right
> Softer forest path, more uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-101
> Follow the forest path halfway to the left
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-102
> Slightly rougher, more roots, slightly uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-104
> Bench with backrest
> Turn right
> Wide, drivabel gravel road, slightly uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-105
> Turn left, back on uneven, soft forest path, slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-108
> keep left
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-109
> Continue semi left on drivable level gravel path, slightly uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-110
> Shelter, table and benches with backrest
> Large free parking (Google link also in pano)
> Continue straight ahead
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-111
> Continue straight ahead on soft forest path, slightly uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-112
> Keep semi left, very bumpy with roots, more uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-113
> Stony path, briefly downhill, then steeper uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-115
> Softer, more uneven with roots, slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-116
> Semi left on a wider path
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-117
> Continue straight ahead, a little flatter
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-118
> Small shelter Laubeshütte (Google link also in pano)
> Table and benches with backrest
> Continue to the left
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-119
> Easy up and down stretches
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-121
> Table and benches
> Slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-123
> To the left, continue on a wide, drivable, coarse gravel path, more steeply uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-124
> At the fork to the right, more downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-125
> Turn right, slightly uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-127
> Continue straight ahead, slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-128
> Vantage point Aussichtspunkt (Google link also in pano)
> Table and bench with backrest under small roof
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Pano rse-131
> Restaurant & guesthouse Berggasthof am Brand (Google link also in pano), website thueringen.info
> Continue on flat asphalt
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-133
> Turn right
> Soft uneven meadow path
> Table and benches with backrest
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-134
> Stronger uphill through the forest, more roots
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-137
> Continue straight ahead on a narrow forest path
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-138
> Continue straight ahead out of the forest
> Wider dirt road, steeper descent
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-139
> Shelter Clemens Major Schutzhütte (Google link also in pano)
> Wide view over the country
> Table and benches with backrest
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-141
> Bench with backrest
> Wide view over the country
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-142
> Table and bench with backrest
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-143
> Continue straight ahead
> Steeper downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-144
> Continue right further on the pavement along the road
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-145
> Accommodation & Restaurant: Gasthaus und Pension am Rennsteig (Google link also in pano), website gasthaus-am-rennsteig.de, Booking.com-Link
> Bus stop Spechtsbrunn, Bauersachs (Google link also in pano), buses 510, 706 – public transport websites lww.de and ovg-son.de
> Turn left, steeper uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-146
> Turn left into the smaller street
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-147
> Turn right at the fork
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-148
> Continue straight ahead, end of asphalt path
> Wider gravel path, further uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-149
> Narrow bench
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-151
> Slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-152
> Narrow seat
> Semi right across the country road
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-153
> Straight across the country road
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-154
> Snack bar Imbiss Kalte Küche (Google link also in pano)
> Turn left across the country road
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-155
> Continue left of the large car park
> Straight ahead on level asphalt
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-157
> Back into the forest, slightly uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-161
> Stronger uphill
> Continue straight ahead
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-162
> Resting ground Rastplatz Schleifenwiese (Google link also in pano) – former border between East- and West-Germany, Rennsteig leads for about 500 meters shortly through Bavaria (or Franconia to be more precise)
> Table and benches with backrests under a small roof
> Continue straight ahead, more uphill, slightly uneven forest path
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-165
> Continue straight ahead, slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-167
> To the right, continue on flat smooth asphalt path
> Bench with backrest, back in Thuringia
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-168
> Continue straight ahead, more downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-169
> Continue straight ahead, slightly uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-170
> Place of contemplation with a large cross, border crossing to Bavaria (respectively Franconia)
> Bench with backrest
> Continue straight along the road
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-171
> Restaurant Gaststätte Frankenwaldhütte (Google link also in pano)
> Large hikers‘ car park
> Turn left, cross the country road
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-172
> After crossing the country road, continue on an uneven field path, slightly downhill into the forest
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-173
> Wide and somewhat uneven gravel road, slightly uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-174
> Turn semi left onto a somewhat rocky forest path overgrown with grass, slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-175
> Out of the forest, continue on dirt road overgrown with grass
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-177
> Very uneven forest path, steep uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-178
> Cross the gravel road, continue on flatter forest path
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-180
> Camp option: Trekkingplatz Frankenwald Kobach (Google link also in pano) – did not exist at the time of my hike, info-website frankenwald-tourismus.de
> Straight ahead, uneven dirt road, slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-181
> Very uneven narrow forest path, rocky and criss-crossed with roots, more downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-182
> Table with benches
> Softer path steeper uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-183
> Continue straight ahead (keep left)
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-184
> Continue straight ahead
> Steep uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-184
> Straight ahead, cross the drivable path
> Continue flat on uneven path across large clearing
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-189
> Continue straight ahead, slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-190
> Turn right, continue on drivable gravel road, slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-191
> Turn semi left onto narrow, uneven forest path, more steeply uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-193
> Turn semi left onto drivable gravel road, slightly uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-194
> Turn semi left onto uneven forest path, slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-195
> More uneven and softer, more uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-196
> Narrow, firmer trail, longer ups and downs
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-198
> Softer forest path, more downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-200
> Continue to the right, longer slight ups and downs
> Wider forest worker’s path, earthy soft and furrowed
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-203
> Continue straight, soft forest path, slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-205
> To the left, continue on wide passable gravel path, slightly uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-207
> Turn semi left into the forest, narrow forest path
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-208
> Continue straight ahead slightly downhill on narrow forest path
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-209
> Very bumpy, soft with lots of roots, more downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-210
> Stronger uphill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-212
> Higher grass
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-213
> Earthy, soft forest path, slightly downhill
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-216
> Tight bend to the right, more up and down
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-218
> Continue to the right, flat, wide, level, drivable gravel path
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-219
> Table with narrow benches
> Turn right
> Flat further on tar road
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-220
> Cross the country road and turn left
> Continue on flat asphalt road right along country road
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-221
> Cross country road diagonally to the left
> Slightly downhill on wide gravel path
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-222
> Continue to the right, again in the direction of the country road
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-223
> Cross the country road, from here approx. 1.5 km on an asphalt road flat further along the busy country road
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-224
> At the roundabout straight ahead into the village
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-225
> Follow the footpath along the road to the stage’s destination Steinbach am Wald
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-226
> Bank Sparkasse with ATM (Google link also in pano)
> Continue straight ahead
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-227
> Supermarket has moved to the end of town (Google link also in the pano)
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-228
> End of the 5th stage in Steinbach am Wald
> Accommodation Rennsteighotel (Google link also in pano), website hotelrennsteig.de, the hotel ist the closest to the trail, alternative accommodation in Steinbach am Wald (Booking.com-Link)*
> Blue arrow to see the back / entrance
> Link to the 6th (and last) stage also in pano
Rennsteig – Stage 5 – Panorama rse-229
> Hotel & restaurant entrance