Circular hiking route "Oberschönauer Felsenwanderung" - Steinbach-Hallenberg - Thuringian Forest

Impressive rocks, herb-rich mountain meadows, bubbling water and a scenic beer garden – this route will make your hiking heart beat faster. Your path initially leads you along the rushing "Kohlenbach", surrounded by cool mountain forest upstream towards the "Kohlenbachsgrund". Over an ascent, you reach your first highlight of this hike, the "Hoher Stein". The natural monument lies a little off the path. An alpine-looking trail leads you up. Once at the top, you are rewarded with pure panorama. Your gaze literally flies over the surrounding mountains far into the Rhön. Your next goal is already within reach of the Rennsteig, the "Hohe Möst". Its plateau drops steeply into a hollow. It is secured by a wooden fence for good reason. The opposite rocks stand out dramatically from the dark spruce forest, the "Katzensteine". You look over the narrow Haseltal with its hidden side valleys. In the distance, the "Inselsberg" even shows itself. You continue back to the last intersection and then downhill on a firm gravel path. After about one kilometer, turn left onto a steep, rooty trail. This leads you down to the "12 Apostles". You should take your time to explore the impressive and popular climbing rocks. Delightful views of the idyllic village motif of Oberschönau, the valley running out to the south and the opposite mountains are presented to you. For the descent, follow the path above the rocks, which automatically leads you to the original gravel path down. Follow this now to the next intersection, where you keep right until a signpost leads you left into the "Finsterbach valley". You pass through this idyllic hidden valley with gentle ups and downs. Blooming mountain meadows and always the surrounding mountains in view guide you back to the "Kanzlersgrund". The "Finsterbach" babbles happily and provides refreshing cooling on hot summer days. An idyllic resting place invites you to pause once again. You return to the starting point of the hike via a meadow path.