Saalepfad - Circular hike at the Green Belt

Blankenstein - Blankenberg - Pottiga - Sparnberg - Hirschberg - Sachsenvorwerk - Rudolphstein - Eisenbühl - (Kemlas) - Wolfstein - Eichenstein - Tip: Detour to Hirschsprung - Blechschmidtenhammer - Blankenstein

From the starting point Selbitzplatz in Blankenstein, there are two options to reach Blankenberg:

The official path via a narrow trail to Blankenberg, passing left by the church before the inn towards Anger. Or alternatively via the "Franconian Mountain Hiking Trail", upstream along the Saale alongside the horse railway, around the Bastei rock, past the old parchment factory Blankenberg towards Anger.

At the forest-field border, a paved path leads to Pottiga, whose Skywalk offers a very good view of the Green Belt.

From the viewing platform, there is a path over a bridge to Blumenaumühle in Franconia, but you follow the path to the former Saalbach estate, past the deer park and the artesian Saalbach spring towards Sparnberg.

Also at the height of the Saalbach spring, there is another bridge over the Saale to Rudolphstein with seating to relax.

Back again, the path largely follows the Kolonnenweg from here, along the Green Belt via Sparnberg to Hirschberg. Both places have another bridge each. But you should not miss the church and the castle ruins in Sparnberg, as well as the castle and the museum for tanning and city history in Hirschberg.

The circular hiking trail leaves Thuringian territory at Hirschberg and meanders on the Franconian side in large loops over Untertiefengrün, Sachsenvorwerk, Rudolphstein to Eisenbühl with the Eisenpark, consisting of many artistically designed iron sculptures. Admission is free.

Via Wolfenstein on the way through the Höllental to Blechschmidtenhammer, I have a tip: Make the detour to the viewpoint "Hirschsprung" before finally returning to the starting point in Blankenstein.

The circular trail is marked but uses the marking signs (MZ) of other existing hiking trails! Therefore, pay special attention to the change of marking signs and use the map material from the accompanying booklet "Saalepfad - Stroll through the Saale valley in the Geopark Schieferland":

The Saalepfad is not continuously suitable for strollers and is not designated as a cycling path.

Please always be aware of dangers from logging and storm damage during your hike and observe the typical dangers of the forest. Regularly look around and always follow the instructions of the forestry staff.

Use of the hiking trail and the recreational areas is at your own risk! All liability is excluded!

To avoid slipping hazards, avoid stepping on moss-covered stones, rocks, and roots, and be cautious of dead wood, branches, and fallen trees. This applies especially in areas with narrow paths.

Coming from the A9 motorway, take exit 29 (Bad Lobenstein) and continue on federal road B90 west towards Bad Lobenstein. Follow the B90 route only a few kilometers to the junction Blankenstein/Rosenthal am Rennsteig and turn left. Follow the bypass road L1093 past the villages of Birkenhügel, Pottiga and Blankenberg to Blankenstein. Immediately after the Saale bridge Rosenthal, turn left onto the main road and after a few meters again left into Selbitzplatz street. (Google nav point)

Blankenstein in Rosenthal am Rennsteig can be reached by regional trains of the

Erfurter Bahn line RB32 Saalfeld (Saale) - Blankenstein or with

KomBus, the public transport partner in the districts Saalfeld-Rudolstadt and Saale-Orla-Kreis,

at the

stop Blankenstein, Selbitzplatz

with:

Bus line 620 Naila-Bad Lobenstein-Remptendorf-Ziegenrück and back

Bus line 640 Bad Lobenstein-Neundorf-Titschendorf-Blankenstein and back

Bus line 720 Bad Lobenstein-Blankenstein-Schleiz and back

Tip: Use the special offers of Verkehrsverbund Mittelthüringen (VMT).

For the journey planner of the Deutsche Bahn

To the Tourism portal of the municipality Rosenthal am Rennsteig

and to the websites of the towns and municipalities:

Dining and supply options:

(not continuously and daily open!)

in and around ...

It is worth visiting: