Outdoor PitstopWalking route · Eisenach · Updated on 14 November 2026
Rennsteig walk
Rennsteig is a walk of 169.4 km from Eisenach. Along the way you'll find 248 benches, 2 water fountains and refill points, 14 public toilets and 1 bike pump.
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The route step by step
From start to finish, with what you pass along the way and the distance in between.
- 169.4 km
- ± 42:00 h
- ↑ 2,615 m · ↓ 2,388 m
- Hard
- From A to B
- Regional route
This route is in pieces in OpenStreetMap, so there are no kilometres per pitstop. Along the way you'll find 248 benches, 2 water fountains and refill points, 14 public toilets and 1 bike pump.
Follow these steps in the appThe route with the pitstops and sights within 100 m of it.
17 sights along the way
In the order you pass them. With the Outdoor Pitstop app you hear their story on the spot. 9 more along the route are on the map.
Observation tower
Observation tower
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Photo: Molgreen · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia CommonsAttraction
Memorial
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Photo: Giorno2 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia CommonsMuseum
Observation tower
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Photo: Kersti · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia CommonsObservation tower
Memorial
Elevation and terrain
- Up
- ↑ 2,615 m
- Down
- ↓ 2,388 m
- Highest point
- 963 m
- Lowest point
- 199 m
- 5-10% slope · 19.6 km
- 10-15% slope · 1.7 km
- 6 stairs
Elevation from Copernicus GLO-30 (European Union and ESA), smoothed.
produced using Copernicus WorldDEM-30 © DLR e.V. 2010-2014 and © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH 2014-2018 provided under COPERNICUS by the European Union and ESA; all rights reserved
Way types
169.4 km in total- Track: 97.2 km
- Path: 60.1 km
- Street: 5 km
- Busy road: 3.9 km
- Road: 1.6 km
- Footpath: 775 m
- Stairs: 6 stairs
Surfaces
169.4 km in total- Gravel: 77.5 km
- Unpaved: 53.9 km
- Asphalt: 19.9 km
- Natural: 8.5 km
- Paved: 923 m
- Unknown: 8.2 km
About the walking route Rennsteig
Updated on 14 November 2026, with data from OpenStreetMap, the AHN and Copernicus.
Where do you walk?
Rennsteig is a walking route of 169.4 km that starts in Eisenach. It does not end where it starts. You start in Hörschel and finish in Blankenstein.
How hard is the route?
You climb 2,615 m in total and descend 2,388 m. There are 6 flights of steps along the way. Allow ± 42:00 h, without breaks. The level is hard.
What paths do you walk on?
The longest part is track (97.2 km), path (60.1 km) and street (5 km). Of the surface, 77.5 km gravel and 53.9 km unpaved. For 8.2 km the surface is not known.
Pitstops along the way
Within 100 metres of the route there are 248 benches, 2 water fountains and refill points, 14 public toilets and 1 bike pump. The Outdoor Pitstop app navigates you there.
The Rennsteig is a 169 km long-distance trail along the ridge of the Thuringian Forest, from Hörschel near Eisenach on the Werra to Blankenstein on the Selbitz. It is considered Germany's oldest long-distance trail, and in the Middle Ages it marked the border between Franconia and Thuringia. You walk on through the Thuringian Highland and the Franconian Forest, past Neuhaus am Rennweg and Masserberg; at the Dreistromstein the catchments of the Weser, Elbe and Rhine meet. It is almost all forest track and path, with little asphalt. Drinking water is scarce: we know of only 2 points, plus 14 toilets.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Walks nearby
6- Jakobsweg Via Scandinavica, NiedersachsenHard · From A to B458 km
- Lutherweg Thüringen - WestschlaufeHard · Circular walk342.3 km
- Fernwanderweg Harz – Eichsfeld – Thüringer Wald (HET)Hard · From A to B202.6 km
- [THW] Thüringenweg [West - OSM-Teil4]Hard · From A to B112 km
- Wanderweg der Deutschen Einheit (Hörschel - Fritzlar)Hard · From A to B108.3 km
- Werra-Burgen-Steig Teilstrecke Nord-WestHard · From A to B117.1 km
Sights nearby
Within 10 km of the route, best known first.
- 1
WartburgAttraction · 2.4 km from the route - 2
Bachhaus EisenachMuseum · 3.6 km from the route - 3
Rennsteiggarten OberhofAttraction · 134 m from the route - 4
Bunkermuseum FrauenwaldMuseum · 147 m from the route - 5
MatthäuskircheAttraction · 278 m from the route - 6
SpitterfallAttraction · 309 m from the route - 7
BismarcksteinMemorial · 379 m from the route - 8
WiedeturmObservation tower · 734 m from the route - 9
Staatsjagd 1845Memorial · 845 m from the route - 10
AltvaterturmViewpoint · 921 m from the route - 11
Zu den Frauen auf dem WaldMemorial · 975 m from the route - 12
LutherdenkmalMemorial · 1 km from the route - 13
Cläs-Kley-SteinMemorial · 1 km from the route - 14
Burgruine BlankenbergCastle · 1.1 km from the route - 15
Schanzenanlage im KanzlersgrundAttraction · 1.1 km from the route - 16
Herzog Ernst IIMemorial · 1.2 km from the route - 17
Aussichtsturm auf dem SchneekopfObservation tower · 1.2 km from the route - 18
König DavidViewpoint · 1.3 km from the route - 19
KriegerdenkmalMemorial · 1.4 km from the route - 20
Carl-Alexander-TurmObservation tower · 1.4 km from the route - 21
GefallenendenkmalMemorial · 1.6 km from the route - 22
Schloss WilhelmsthalCastle · 1.7 km from the route - 23
GefallenendenkmalMemorial · 1.7 km from the route - 24
MemorialMemorial · 1.8 km from the route - 25
MahnmalMemorial · 1.9 km from the route
Explore more
Frequently asked questions
How long is Rennsteig?
Rennsteig is 169.4 km long. Allow ± 42:00 h of walking: 4.5 km an hour and 10 minutes more per 100 metres of climbing, without breaks.
Is this route a circular walk?
No, the route runs from Hörschel to Blankenstein.
Where does this route start?
The route starts in Eisenach.
How hard is this route?
Hard, with 2,615 m of climbing.
Are there toilets along this route?
Yes, there are 14 public toilets within 100 m of the route.
Can you fill up with water along this route?
Yes, there are 2 water fountains and refill points within 100 m of the route.
What is there to see along this route?
Along the way you pass Plänckners Aussicht, Rennsteigwarte and Forstarbeiterdenkmal.
Can I download this route as a GPX file?
Yes. Sign in with your Outdoor Pitstop account and choose Download GPX at the top of this page: 10 routes a month for free, unlimited with Pro.
Starting point
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Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors
