Circular hike - Thal Promenade route - Ruhla - Thal - Thuringian Forest

The start of the circular route is in the center of Thal at the old forester's house (Dorfstraße 1, 99842 Ruhla OT Thal). From here, follow Ruhlaer Straße for 100 m and then turn left before the Erbstrom bridge. Along the Erbstrom, stay on the Philosophenweg until reaching Schoßgrund, where you turn sharply left following the geological information boards. After 100 m you will reach the Schoßbergpromenade, which you follow to the Tempelchen, a viewpoint overlooking the upper part of Thal. Continue along the path to the road and then turn right towards the reservoir. Passing the reservoir with a barbecue area, you reach a junction where you turn left onto the Rögispromenade (signage: Ruhlaer Insel GEO9). Follow the path above the reservoir for about 1 km. At the Rögispromenade is the Stoll monument, dedicated to linguist and dialect researcher Dr. Walter Stoll (1902-1927). At the end of the Rögispromenade, follow the signs for Scharfenburg or GeoRoute 9. The route goes along the road for about 50 m, then turn left at the crossroads and immediately right again. After about 50 m, you reach the ascent to the Scharfenburg ruin. After visiting the castle ruin with its lookout tower, follow the circular hiking trail from here to the cemetery. Now follow the footpath above the cemetery back to the town center and the start and end point at the old forester's house.

Sturdy footwear

Camera

Coming from the A4, exit 40a (Eisenach-East) and continue on B84 towards Stockhausen. Take the Eisenach-Eaststadt exit and follow the B88 towards Wutha. Continue on B88 to Thal. 

From the south, you reach Ruhla via the A71 exit Meiningen Nord, then on B19 to the Bad Liebenstein exit at the current construction end. Follow the signs for Bad Liebenstein, Ruhla via the Rennsteig. Continue on L 2119 toward Ruhla OT Thal, Dorfstr.1

You can reach Thal by train with DB to Eisenach station. From there, take bus line 140 or 142 Eisenach-Ruhla to the stop "Am Schreiberbrunnen." From there, go along Ruhlaer Straße to the entry point at the forester's house Thal (Dorfstr. 1, 99842 Ruhla OT Thal).
Use the Deutsche Bahn travel information

Points of interest along the route:

Old town hall, forester's house with local history room, bell house, Tempelchen viewpoint, reservoir with barbecue/rest area, Stoll monument, Scharfenburg castle ruin.