Rennsteig - Stage 6 - Steinbach am Wald – Blankenstein (Saale)

Trail records – Stage 6:

Hiking Trail: Rennsteig

Stage: 6. Steinbach am Wald – Blankenstein (Saale)

Continent: Europe

Region: Central Europe

Countries: Germany

Length: approx. 29.1 km

Altitude: approx. 411m – 742m

Duration: approx. 9.5 Std.

Peak travel season: May to September

Start: Steinbach am Wald

End: Selbitzbrücke in Blankenstein (Saale)

Pano tour photos: Sep. & Oct. 2011

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Elevation curve – Stage 6:

Höhenverlauf der 6. Rennsteig-Etappe – Länge 29,12 km – Start bei ca. 600 m, zu Beginn bergauf bis auf ca. 742 Höhenmeter, dann leichte Aufs und Abs, ab der zweiten Hälfte leicht absteigend mit kurzen Aufs und Abs ab Kilometer 20 und stärker abfallend ab Kilometer 26 bis runter auf ca. 410 Meter beim Etappen-Ende – Farbe der Schraffur ist Orange analog zum angezeigten Wegverlauf in der obigen Google Map

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Snack bar / Restaurant

I walked the 6th and last stage almost entirely in the rain. That’s why the quality of the pictures in the pano-tour is sometimes very low, since my mirror attachment was becoming more and more smeared and scratched. Unfortunately, I had to skip a section (around the end of the second third) due to very heavy rain.
On stage 6, the Rennsteig meanders along the Bavarian-Thuringian border at the beginning. The final stage is just a bit shorter than stage 5, but overall more downhill (ratio of 474m climb to 669m descent).

Level of difficulty:
Easy to hard – due to the length of the stage (almost like the first stage), physically challenging and very demanding.

Provisions:
On the way there is only one snack bar directly on the way and very few shelters – and the restaurants do not seem to be open permanently. Therefore, enough provisions and water must be carried along from the start.

Snack bars, restaurants & shops:
Supermarket – around km 0.8 (Google link also in pano)
Restaurant Mareile am Rennsteig – around km 14.4 – nur an ausgewählten Tagen geöffnet (Google link also in pano), guesthouse currently closed, website mareile-am-rennsteig.de
At the end of the stage in Blankenstein (Saale):
Restaurant Gasthaus & Pension Rennsteig – around km 29.0 (Google link also in pano), website gasthaus-rennsteig.de 
Restaurant Wanderstützpunkt – Gaststätte & Touristeninformation – around km 29.0 (Google link also in pano), website blankenstein-am-rennsteig.de

Shelters:
According to my research, there is no shelter listed in Google Maps for the last stage. And there are only very few:
Shelter on the old border strip between East- and West-Germany – around km 5.7, outdoor table and benches with backrests
Shelter – around km 6.3
Shelter – around km 10.0, rustic, small, round with the shape of a tipi
Shelter – around km 14.6

Worth seeing:
Only at the end of the stage and thus the end of the Rennsteig: the beautiful wooden bridge Selbitzbrücke (Google link also in pano) with idyllic view on the Selbitz (confluent of the river Saale).

Public transport:
Bus stop Brennersgrün – around km 8.2 (Google link also in pano). bus 610, public transport website kombus-online.eu
Train station Blankenstein (Saale) – around km 28.9 (Google link also in pano), train RB32, public transport website erfurter-bahn.de

Accommodation at the start of the stage in Steinbach am Wald:
Rennsteighotel (Google link also in pano), website hotelrennsteig.de

Accommodation along the trail:
Rennsteighaus Brennersgrün – around km 8.2 (Google link also in pano), website rennsteig.de/rennsteighaus-brennersgruen
Currently closed: Mareile am Rennsteige – around km 14.4 – restaurant only open on specific days (Google link also in pano), website mareile-am-rennsteig.de

Accommodation at the end of the stage in Blankenstein:
Gasthaus & Pension Rennsteig – around km 29.0 (Google link also in pano), website gasthaus-rennsteig.de

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rse-228
> Start of the 6th stage in the small town Steinbach am Wald
> Accommodation Rennsteighotel (Google link also in pano), website hotelrennsteig.de (closest guesthouse to the trail), alternative Accommodation in Steinbach am Wald (Booking.com link)*
> Blue arrow for rear view / entrance
> Link to the previous 5th stage in pano

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Panorama rse-229
> Hotel & restaurant entrance

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-1
> Slightly downhill on pavement of the main road

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-2
> Continue straight ahead

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-3
> Continue straight ahead, slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-4
> Change the side of the road to use the sidewalk – continue straight at the next roundabout
> Around here should be the new supermarket location (Google link also in pano)

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-5
> Table and benches under small roof
> Turn semi left into the meadow path
> Slightly uphill on a rougher path

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-6
> Steep uphill, soft forest path criss-crossed with roots

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-9
> Bench with backrest
> Semi left on the paved sidewalk
> Slightly downhill along the country road

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-10
> Continue on the paved path, which leaves the main road for a short time, slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-11
> Continue straight ahead, stay left alongside the road
> Slightly stronger downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-12
> After the roundabout (continue straight ahead) slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-13
> Small parking lot with rubbish bin
> Turn sharp right into the forest
> Stronger uphill on a wide dirt road

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-14
> Continue straight ahead on drivable gravel road
> Steep uphill, then longer straight ahead slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-16
> Small bench
> Turn left at the fork
> Steeper uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-17
> The path runs about 1 km along the former German-German border
> It gets flatter

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-19
> Turn semi left onto a narrow path
> Softer with tall grass

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-21
> Stronger uphill, uneven forest path
> Partly muddy, interspersed with roots

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-23
> Continue straight ahead on meadow path
> Flatter, rockier, with short ups and downs

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-25
> Road makes sharp left turn

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-26
> Shelter on the old border strip
> Table and benches with backrest
> Continue straight ahead (left of the hut)
> Slightly uphill, soft forest path with roots

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-29
> Turn right

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-30
> Turn right on wide, drivable gravel road

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-32
> Shelter
> Turn semi right onto narrow forest path
> Slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-35
> Continue straight ahead

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-37
> Continue straight ahead on forest path
> Steeper uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-39
> Stronger downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-40
> Stronger uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-41
> Continue straight towards the entrance to Brennersgrün

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-42
> Table and benches under a small roof
> Slightly downhill through the village on the main road

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-43
> Accommodation Rennsteighaus Brennersgrün (Google link also in pano), website rennsteig.de/rennsteighaus-brennersgruen
> Bus stop Brennersgrün (Google link also in pano), bus 610 – public transport website kombus-online.eu
> Stronger uphill on asphalt

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-44
> Tables and benches under small roof
> Continue on grass left along the road

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-45
> Bench with backrest
> Turn semi left onto a soft uneven forest path, slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-48
> Turn sharp left onto wide, drivable gravel road
> The hike leads through Bavaria

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-49
> Longer slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-51
> Continue straight ahead on narrow forest path

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-52
> Keep left, steeper uphill
> Very soft forest path, loamy with roots

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-54
> Continue straight ahead on forest path

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-56
> Continue straight ahead, a bit flatter

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-57
> Rustic round shelter in the shape of a tipi, less space
> Continue straight ahead on forest path, more downhill
> Back in Thuringia

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-60
> Turn Semi right, on wide slightly overgrown path, flatter

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-61
> Turn left, continue on wide drivable gravel road

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-62
> Continue straight ahead

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-63
> Cross the street, continue straight ahead

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-65
> Continue halfway to the right
> Overgrown path across an open field

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-68
> Cross the street, continue straight ahead

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-69
> Table and benches under a small roof
> Soft forest path with roots, more uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-71
> Narrow path, a bit rocky, slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-72
> Path becomes softer again with roots, slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-74
> Continue straight ahead on uneven path

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-75
> Semi right, cross wide forest path, continue on soft forest path

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-76
> Semi left, cross wide forest path, continue on uneven forest path with roots, steeper downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-78
> Narrower, firmer with stones, slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-79
> Continue straight ahead on drivable gravel road

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-81
> Continue straight ahead

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-82
> Turn left, continue on grass/sand along the road

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-83
> Snack bar Mareile am Rennsteige – only open on selected days (Google link also in pano), accommodation currently closed, website mareile-am-rennsteig.de

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-84
> Shelter
> Left of the country road, turn semi left into narrow forest path, slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-85
> Turn right, cross the country road

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-86
> Semi left into forest path, slightly uphill
> Soft, uneven and full of roots

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-87
> Continue straight ahead, more uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-88
> Flat to slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-89
> Semit left on wide level gravel path, slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-90
> Slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-92
> Continue straight ahead

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-93
> Continue straight ahead, slightly uphill
> Due to heavy rain, approx. 4.3 km no photos / detailed description, approx. at km 19.1 sharp right (to the south) then in a long south-east semicircle around a gravel pit, then at approx. km 21.1 sharp right (east) to the village Schlegel (Rosenthal am Rennsteig) – see the map above for the route

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-94
> Re-entry (after 4.3 km) of the pano tour / detailed description – interruption of the documentation due to heavy rain
> Table and benches with backrest
> Slightly downhill on a field path overgrown with grass

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-95
> Cross the country road semi left

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-96
> Slightly uphill, overgrown field path

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-97
> Bench with backrest and view over the field
> Slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-99
> Table and benches with backrest

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-100
> Slightly stronger downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-101
> Table and benches with backrest

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-102
> Semi left on asphalt in the village, slightly downhill
> Caution: no sidewalk next to the road

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-103
> Turn semi right, slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-104
> Continue straight ahead (keep slightly to the right)

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-105
> Follow the course of the road to the left

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-106
> Semi left on a path overgrown with grass

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-107
> Continue straight ahead, more uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-108
> Table and benches with a small canopy
> Continue on overgrown dirt road, slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-109
> Continue straight ahead, more uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-110
> Bench with backrest and view over the field
> Rather flat

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-111
> Continue on grass path right along the country road, more downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-113
> Table and benches with backrest

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-115
> Continue straight ahead (right along the country road)

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-117
> Slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-118
> Parking lot Rastplatz Wegespinne (Google link also in pano)
> Tables and benches

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-119
> Continue straight ahead, right of the country road
> Narrow gravel path on grass, more downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-120
> Straight ahead, slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-121
> Semi right (2 meters steeply up)

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-122
> Directly left, continue on a passable path, slightly uphill
> Short section not directly next the road

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-124
> Tables and benches under small roof

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-125
> Continue straight ahead, dirt field path right along the road

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-126
> Small round plate with local distances
> More downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-127
> Continue straight ahead, slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-129
> Narrowing forces you to change road sides

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-130
> Keep right
> Narrowing forces you to change road sides
> Partly on asphalt

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-131
> Continue on the left side of the road

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-132
> Narrow field path with gravel alongside the road, slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-135
> Tables and benches with backrest (without shade)
> More downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-136
> Continue straight on overgrown narrow footpath along the road

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-137
> Turn right onto the dirt road, rather flat

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-138
> Follow the dirt road that bends to the left, slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-139
> Turn left

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-140
> Turn right, continue right along the country road on a trail, more downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-141
> Bench with stone wall as backrest under trees
> Turn left onto the gravel road

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-144
> Public old tap with drinking water
> Continue straight ahead on gravel, slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-145
> Continue straight ahead (keep right)

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-146
> Cross the street, continue straight ahead, steeper downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-147
> Continue straight ahead, more downhill on asphalt

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-149
> Train station Blankenstein (Saale) (Google link also in pano), train RB32, public transport website erfurter-bahn.de
> Turn semi left 

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-150
> Flat on pavement along the tracks 

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-151
> Restaurant & accommodation Gasthaus & Pension Rennsteig (Google link also in pano), website gasthaus-rennsteig.de
> Turn sharp right, cross train tracks, back on the other side, steeper downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-152
> Restaurant & tourist information Wanderstützpunkt – Gaststätte & Touristeninformation (Google link also in pano), website blankenstein-am-rennsteig.de
> Turn left (cross the street) between the houses, slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-153
> Turn right, continue flat on asphalt road
> Large public parking

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-154
> Information boards for the Rennsteig
> Semi left, slightly uphill towards the bridge

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-155
> Tables and benches with backrest (without shade)
> Rennsteig info board on the, typical Rennsteig signpost hung with disused hiking boots
> Turn left on a paved path up to the bridge

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-156
> What a beautiful finish: the wooden bridge Selbitzbrücke (Google link also in pano), the end of the Rennsteig – respectively the start depending on which way you walk the trail

Rennsteig – Stage 6 – Pano rsf-157
> End of the 6th stage, thus the Rennsteig end/start (Google link also in pano)
> Nice view on the Selbitz (confluence of the river Saale)
> A few meters further down you reach the „Drehkreuz des Wanderns“ („Turnstile of hiking“ – Google link also in pano), website wandern-im-frankenwald.de
> Link to the HikingTriailView.com Rennsteig starting page also in pano

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