Rennsteig - Stage 3 - Oberhof – Neustadt am Rennsteig

My 3rd stage on the Rennsteig leads from Oberhof to Neustadt am Rennsteig (Großwiesenbach). (Of course, there are also different stage routes. According to Wikipedia, the 3rd stage leads 2 km further to the village of Kahlert. And if you divide the Rennsteig into more than 6 stages, you naturally have completely different lengths.)

Important: The actual start is at the „Rondell“, about 2 km away from Oberhof. There is also a bus stop to get to the starting point by bus. Just like at the end of the virtual panorama tour for the 2nd Stage you find here (marked with yellow) also the way walking from Oberhof, starting from Hotel Vergissmeinnicht (Booking.com link)* where I stayed. The Wagners Sporthotel Oberhof (Booking.com link)*, that accommodated my at the end of my first attempt is a bit closer at the edge of the forest.

The stage starts uphill on a slightly muddy gravel path. After steeper climbs in the first third (up to 985 meters), the rest of the way leads mostly downhill (down to 750 meters) – always with short steeper climbs in between. It is mostly walked in the shade of dense forest.

Level of difficulty:
Easy to medium – due to the length of the stage, physically challenging and demanding.

Provisions:
As always on the Rennsteig, it is important to carry at least 2 liters of water with you – and to fill up the supply regularly at the snack bars. Energy bars, fruit and sandwiches from breakfast are always good. But also on the 3rd stage there are nice restaurants and beer gardens to rest and strengthen yourself. However, one should not make the provision for the way solely dependent on this, since they are not always open. As always, it makes sense to call them beforehand to see if they’re open.

Snack bars, restaurants & accommodation on the way:
Suhler Hütte – around km 6.8 (Google link also in pano), Website Suhler Hütte – restaurant & accommodation not visited by me
Rasthaus & Waldhotel Schmücke with the snack bar „Joel’s Biergarten“ – around km 7.3 (Google links also in pano), website schmuecke.eu
Bahnhof Rennsteig around km 14.9 (Google link to the restaurant also in pano) Website bahnhofrennsteig.de
Waldbaude „Großer Dreiherrenstein“ – around km 20.5
(Google link also in pano), restaurant and accommodation website waldbaudegrosserdreiherrenstein.de

Shelters:
Unlike the previous stages, most of the shelters on this stage are not marked on Google Maps. They are marked with the shelter icon in the map of the panorama tour.
Parkplatz Sommerwiese bei Oberhof – around km 1.1 (link to Google Maps)
Suhler Ausspanne – around km 3.7 (link to Google Maps) At the time of my tour a shelter, today apparently altered and, thus, not varified by me
Not shelter, but roofed: Plänckners Aussicht – around km 4.6 (Google link also in pano) Roofed observation platform
Shelter – around km 5.8
Shelter close to the Herbert-Roth-Denkmal – around km 8.0
(Google link also in pano) 
Schutzhütte close to the Bus stop Mordfleck – around km 9.4
(Google link also in pano) 
Shelter Alte Tränke – ca. bei km 10.8 (Google link also in pano), tables and benches with backrest, fireplace 
Shelter – around km 13.7
Shelter at the rest „Bahnhof Allzunah“ – around km 17.5
(Googl link also in pano)
Shelter – around km 19.2 
Shelter – around km 22.3 
Shelter – around km 23.8 

Sehenswertes:
Plänckners Aussicht – around km 4.6 (Google link also in pano) – roofed observation platform with a wide view over the country 
Mittelpunkt des Rennsteigs (center point of the Rennsteig) – around km 21.0 (Google link also in pano)

Bus & Bahn / Anfahrt:
You reach the start of the stage with Bus 422 from Oberhof (link to public transport website mbb-mgn.de). To Oberhof you can get by car or with a bus from one of the bigger villages nearby with a train station like the city of Gotha. 

Public transport along the 3rd stage: 
Bus stop Rondell/Rennsteigarten – Oberhof – at km 0.0
(Google link also in pano) Bus 422 from / to Oberhof.
Bus stop Mordfleck – around km 9.4 (Google link also in pano), Bus R, public transport website sngonline.de
Train station Bahnhof Rennsteig – around km 14.9 (Google link also in pano) regional train RB46, train website sued-thueringen-bahn.de
Bus stop Rennsteig Bahnhof –around km 15.1 (Google link also in pano) buses 300 and 307 – public transport website iov-ilmenau.de
Bus stop „Dreiherrenstein b. Frauenwalde“ – around km 20.5
(Google link also in pano), public transport website iov-ilmenau.de

Accomodation at the start of the stage in Oberhof:
For the start of the stage I chose the Hotel Vergissmeinnicht (Booking.com link)*, Goole Maps link, website haus-vergissmeinnicht.de. The Wagners Sporthotel Oberhof (Booking.com link)*, Google Maps link, Website sporthotel-oberhof.de, which accommodated me at the end of my first attempt is a bit closer to the stage’s start at the edge of the forest. Closer to the start, about 200 meters away from the Rondell, there is only the A&S Ferienzentrum Oberhof (Booking.com link)*. Oberhof (link to Google Maps) has a wide range of options to stay over.

Accommodation at the end of the stage in Neustadt am Rennsteig (Großbreitenbach):
Auch Neustadt am Rennsteig (Google-Link) bietet unterschiedliche Übernachtungsmöglichkeiten. Auf meiner Wanderung beherbergte mich der Hotel-Gasthof Hubertus (Google-Link) (Website: rennsteighotel-hubertus.de)

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsb-187
> Start of the 3rd stage (follow the green arrow)
> Bus stop Rondell/Rennsteiggarten – Oberhof (Google link also in pano – turn pano 90° left)
> For hotels take the bus to Oberhof or follow the orange arrows in the panorama back to Oberhof (approx. 2 km)
> The stage starts on a loamy forest gravel path, a little steeper uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-2
> Loamy forest gravel path, steeper uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-4
> Turn left
> It gets flatter

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-5
> Simple benches in the shade without backrests
> Continue straight ahead

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-6
> Bench with backrest
> Continue straight ahead
> Slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-8
> Slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-10
> Shelter (turn Pano 160° to the right)
> Tables, benches with backrest
> Parking Sommerwiese bei Oberhof (Google link also in pano)

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-11
> Turn left after the parking lot
> Attention when crossing the country road

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-12
> Turn semi left into the forest path

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-13
> Slightly steeper uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-15
> Keep right

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-16
> Attention when crossing the country road
> Continue on the forest path

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-18
> Keep left

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-19
> Steep uphill, then down again
> More uneven and loamy

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-20
> Continue straight ahead
> On a level, passable forest path
> Slightly steeper uphill, then it gets flatter

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-21
> Continue straight ahead

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-22
> Continue straight ahead

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-23
> Shelter Suhler Ausspanne (Google link also in pano)
> A refuge at the time of my hike – newly built in the meantime, therefore not verified
> Continue halfway to the left

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-24
> Turn left

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-25
> Path becomes more rocky
> Steeper uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-27
> Path even more uneven
> Even steeper uphill
> Continue straight ahead

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-28
> Continue to the right on a drivable forest path
> It gets flatter again

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-31
> Plänckners Aussicht (Google link also in pano) – covered viewing platform
> Tables and benches without a roof
> Steep uphill, then downhill again

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-33
> Continue to the right on narrower forest path
> More loamy and steeper downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-34
> Uphill again

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-35
> Turn right
> Uneven downhill on a narrow, loamy forest path criss-crossed with roots

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-37
> Continue straight ahead / keep semi right
> Paved path

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-38
> Shelter
> Benches with backrest

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-39
> Parking lot at the L1129 state road
> Slightly rockier, slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-41
> Slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-42
> Long slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-47
> Continue straight ahead
> Turnoff to „Suhler Hütte“ (Google link also in pano) Website-Link Suhler Hütte – restaurant & accommodation, not visited / verified by me

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-48
> Slightly uphill on narrow gravel forest path 

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-50
> Turnoff left to restaurant & hotel „Waldhotel Schmücke“ and beer garden / grill „Joel’s Biergarten“ (follow blue arrow) 

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-53 (mini detour Guesthouse & Snack bar – blue arrows)
> Bus stop Schmücke Gasthaus – Gehlberg
(Google link also in pano, public transport website sngonline.de)
> Parking
> Attention crossing the road

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-52 (mini detour Guesthouse & Snack bar – blue arrows)
> Gasthaus & Waldhotel Schmücke (Google link also in pano), website schmuecke.eu
> Snack bar „Joel’s Biergarten“ (Google link also in pano)

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-51
> Coming from the guesthouse: after crossing the country road keep left
> Keep on narrow uneven forest path parallel to the country road – ups and downs over many roots

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-58
> Stay left (alongside the country road)

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-59
> Shelter close to the memorial Herbert-Roth-Denkmal (Google link also in pano)
> Tables and benches with backrests
> Keep semi right after the parking lot

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-60
> Plain dirt road

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-61
> Keep left
> Path becomes narrow, earthy and criss-crossed by roots

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-67
> Continue along the country road
> Hikers‘ Parking Wanderparkplatz Mordfleck (Google link also in pano)

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-68
> Continue alongside country road on soft meadow path 

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-69
> Bus stop Mordfleck (Bus R) (Google link also in pano), public transport webseite sngonline.de
> Turn left and cross the country road

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-70
> Shelter at the Bus stop Mordfleck (Google link also in pano), table and benches with backrest
> Continue slightly uphill on a narrow forest path left of the country road

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-72
> Turn right onto the footpath

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-73
> Very uneven, soft footpath on grass, slippery and sometimes steeper

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-74
> Continue straight ahead alongside the country road
> Narrow, somewhat firmer path, more downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-78
> Continue straight ahead (left of the country road) on a wide, drivable gravel road

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-79
> Straight ahead into the forest, narrow gravel path, sloping gullies on the sides, slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-81
> Shelter Alte Tränke (Google link also in pano)
> „Obere Nahequelle“ (upper spring of the river Nahe)
> Tables and benches with backrests, fireplace

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-82
> Slightly uphill on narrow, slightly uneven forest path

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-84
> Slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-89
> Slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-90
> Continue straight ahead, slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-92
> Bench with backrest
> Turn slightly to the left, further alongside the country road, slightly uphill on the narrow forest path

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-93
> Continue alongside the country road
> Mostly flat

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-97
> Slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-99
> Turn right, continue on drivable gravel road, slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-101
> Shelter, table and benches with backrest
> Turn left into the narrow forest path

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-103
> Path becomes more uneven, with more roots, alternating slightly uphill and downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-106
> Cross the road and continue straight ahead

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-107
> Slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-108
> Table and benches with backrest

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-109
> Cross the railway tracks, continue on the left road side

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-110
> Back on the narrow, slightly uneven forest path, slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-111
> Continue straight ahead, more uphill, again with more roots

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-113
> Train station Rennsteig (Google link to restaurant also in pano)
info website bahnhofrennsteig.de
> Regional train RB46 (public transport website sued-thueringen-bahn.de

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-114
> Turn right towards the road 
> Narrow table and benches with backrest 

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-115
> Bus stop Rennsteig Bahnhof (Google link also in pano), buses 300 & 307 – public transport website iov-ilmenau.de
> Semi left across the road 

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-116
> Continue right of the road
> Firm path, flat

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-117
> Follow the wide gravel path, even and flat

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-120
> Table and benches with backrest

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-121
> Turn right before the road, continue on the right of the road
> Path becomes narrower again

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-123
> Semi left, cross the road

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-124
> After the road again on a narrow, uneven forest path, slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-127
> Semi right, cross the road

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-128
> After crossing the road, continue on the forest path, a bit earthier and softer, slightly uphill, rather flat

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-131
> Table and benches with backrests under a small roof
> Keep straight past the benches

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-132
> Path more overgrown with grass, slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-133
> Turn left through the trees

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-134
> Shelter at the Rest „Bahnhof Allzunah“ (Google link also in pano)
> Turn right, continue along the road on a narrow trail

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-137
> Continue straight along the road

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-139
> Path becomes more uneven and a little steeper

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-142
> Steep uphill, very soft, earthy forest trail, laced with roots and very muddy when wet

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-144
> Cross the gravel path, turn left onto a wider forest path, slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-146
> Slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-148
> Cross the street, continue straight ahead

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-149
> Wide drivable gravel road, slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-150
> Shelter

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-151
> Slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-153
> Turn right into a smaller forest path
> Steeper uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-154
> Narrow bench
> Slightly downhill

Rennsteig – stage 3 – rsc-155
> Continue straight ahead, cross the street

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-157
> Restaurant & guesthouse – Waldbaude „Großer Dreiherrenstein“ (Google link also in pano), website waldbaudegrosserdreiherrenstein.de
> Bus stop „Dreiherrenstein b. Frauenwalde“ (Google link also in pano), public transport website iov-ilmenau.de
> Semi left cross the road after the parking

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-158
> Narrow table and benches with backrest
> Uphill on a rocky gravel path

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-160
> Turn right onto a forest path slightly overgrown with grass
> More rocky and uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-162
> I wasn’t aware of the center point of the Rennsteig (Google link also in the pano) – here or maybe a few meters further, but at least there is a landmark here (turn the pano 90° to the right)

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-164
> Slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-166
> Continue straight ahead
> Table and benches with backrests under a small roof

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-168
> The path becomes narrower, more wooded and uneven, alternation of short easy ascents and descents

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-170
> Shelter
> Narrow table and benches with backrest
> Continue straight ahead and cross the street

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-171
> After crossing the street, continue straight ahead
> Wide dirt road, slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-172
> Slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-173
> Keep left at the fork
> Slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-174
> Slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-175
> Slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-177
> Turn left onto the small forest path
> Uneven, with more roots, stones and soft earth, steeper downhill, partly very narrow

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-181
> Back on a clearer path, a little flatter and firm, further downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-182
> Keep left, continue on a wide, passable gravel road, further slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-183
> Shelter, table and bench with backrest
> Continue straight ahead

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-184
> Turn right, alongside the country road
> Soft meadow footpath, slightly downhill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-185
> Longer slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-186
> Table and benches under a small roof
> Keep left at the fork
> Narrow solid path, rocky, slightly uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-189
> Wide view over the field
> Bench with backrest
> Slightly steeper uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-191
> Turn left
> On tar road, flatter

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsc-192
> Turn right into the village
> Continue on the pavement

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Pano rsd-1
> End of the 3rd stage in the town Neustadt am Rennsteig
> The accommodation during my hike was Hotel-Gasthof Hubertus (Google link also in pano), website rennsteighotel-hubertus.de, for further accommodation options see Google link
> Also starting point of the 4th stage – link also in pano

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Walk from Oberhof to the start of the stage – Pano rsb-202
> End of the detour to Oberhof
> Hotel Vergissmeinnicht (Booking.com link)* – my hotel during my second attempt of the tour (Google link also in pano)
> Start of stage 3: at the Rondell (link in pano)

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Walk from Oberhof to the start of the stage – Pano rsb-199
Description coming from Oberhof:
> Keep right, cross the street

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Walk from Oberhof to the start of the stage – Pano rsb-197
Description coming from Oberhof:
> Turn left into the street

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Walk from Oberhof to the start of the stage – Pano rsb-196
Description coming from Oberhof:
> Wagners Sporthotel Oberhof (Booking.com-Link)* – my accommodation during my first attempt (Google link also in pano)
> Turn left

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Walk from Oberhof to the start of the stage – Pano rsb-195
Description coming from Oberhof:
> Turn right after the parking lot
> Keep on forest path

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Walk from Oberhof to the start of the stage – Pano rsb-194
Description coming from Oberhof:
> Keep left
> Continue on the dirt road

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Walk from Oberhof to the start of the stage – Pano rsb-193
Description coming from Oberhof:
> After the meadow down to the path

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Walk from Oberhof to the start of the stage – Pano rsb-192
Description coming from Oberhof:
> Turn right
> Continue on gravel path

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Walk from Oberhof to the start of the stage – Pano rsb-190
Description coming from Oberhof:
> Bench with backrest
> Steeper uphill

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Walk from Oberhof to the start of the stage – Pano rsb-189
Description coming from Oberhof:
> Bench with backrest

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Walk from Oberhof to the start of the stage – Pano rsb-188
Description coming from Oberhof:
> Continue on drivable path 

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Walk from Oberhof to the start of the stage – Panorsb-179
Description coming from Oberhof:
> Turn left to get to the start of the stage (from here follow green arrow) 
> Shelter R Schutzhütte am Dietzel-Geba-Stein (Google link also in pano – Pano 180° drehen)
> Benches with backrest

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Walk from Oberhof to the start of the stage – Pano rsb-185
Description coming from Oberhof:
> Monument Forstarbeiterdenkmal (Google link also in pano)
> Keep straight towards the bridge

Rennsteig – Stage 3 – Walk from Oberhof to the start of the stage – Pano rsb-186
> Monument Rondell (Google link also in pano)