Best huts around Benshausen, located in the Landkreis Schmalkalden-Meiningen, offer various stops for outdoor enthusiasts. The region provides access to several notable huts and shelters, ranging from serviced mountain huts with traditional cuisine to rustic log cabins and simple shelters. These structures are often a key feature of outdoor activities, providing places to rest and refuel during hikes.
Last updated: May 25, 2026
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The Neue Gehlberger Hütte is located on the 978-meter-high Schneekopf mountain and is the highest-altitude serviced hut in Thuringia. It offers a cozy hiking hostel with shared rooms and a restaurant serving traditional Thuringian cuisine. Opening Hours: The restaurant is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – longer in summer. Breakfast for guests is served from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
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Located directly on the Rennsteig, the history of the stone is clearly documented on the information boards
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Explorer of the Thuringian Forest. In 1829 he undertook the first continuous hike along the Rennsteig.
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Stamp box no. 189 (stone 16) is located in the shelter.
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a nice resting place in every season
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The Neue Gehlberger Hütte is open Thursday to Monday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday are rest days. I can only recommend taking a break here. The offer is very good. The proximity to the parking facility at the Güldenen Brücke causes a large number of visitors, mostly on weekends and when the weather is nice.
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Very nice vantage point with a successful lookout tower
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that's how it is with stones
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Around Benshausen, you can find a variety of huts, including serviced mountain huts with traditional cuisine, rustic log cabins, and simple shelters. These range from places offering overnight stays and full meals to basic resting spots for hikers.
Yes, the Neue Gehlberger Hütte on Schneekopf is a notable example. It functions as a cozy hiking hostel with shared rooms for overnight stays, making it ideal for longer hikes.
Several huts provide food and drinks. The Neue Gehlberger Hütte on Schneekopf has a restaurant serving traditional Thuringian cuisine. The Thuringian Hut offers self-service food and is a popular meeting place for bikers, cyclists, and hikers. The Ruppberg Summit and Rappenberg Hut also features a restaurant for refreshments.
Yes, many huts around Benshausen are considered family-friendly. For example, the Neue Gehlberger Hütte on Schneekopf, Shelter "Stein 16", and the Thuringian Hut are all categorized as family-friendly, offering welcoming stops for all ages.
Operating hours vary by hut. The restaurant at the Neue Gehlberger Hütte on Schneekopf is generally open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours in summer. The Thuringian Hut operates daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It's always a good idea to check specific opening times before your visit, especially for smaller shelters.
For stunning views, consider visiting the Ruppberg Summit and Rappenberg Hut, which offers a fantastic view in all directions. The Plänckner's viewpoint (Großer Beerberg), while not a hut itself, is a beautiful vantage point directly on the Rennsteig with views of Suhl and beyond, and is often visited in conjunction with nearby huts.
Yes, for a more basic stop, Shelter "Stein 16" is located directly on the Rennsteig. It provides a table, two benches, and a large panoramic window with forest views, making it suitable for a rest or even a bivouac.
The huts serve as excellent starting points or stops for various outdoor activities. You can find numerous hiking trails, including easy, moderate, and difficult options. There are also road cycling routes available. For detailed routes, explore the Hiking around Benshausen or Road Cycling Routes around Benshausen guides.
Yes, there are easy hiking options that lead to or pass by huts. For example, the 'Hiking loop from Benshausen' is an easy 5.9 km route. You can find more easy trails in the Easy hikes around Benshausen guide.
The Neue Gehlberger Hütte on Schneekopf holds the distinction of being the highest-altitude serviced hut in Thuringia, situated on the 978-meter-high Schneekopf mountain.
The huts are generally enjoyable year-round. Summer offers extended operating hours for some hut restaurants and pleasant conditions for longer hikes. However, the region also provides cozy stops with features like tiled stoves, suggesting that winter visits can be equally rewarding for warming up after a cold hike.
Yes, the Thuringian Hut and Shelter "Stein 16" are both located directly on the Rennsteig trail, which is a historic long-distance hiking trail. Shelter "Stein 16" even has information boards detailing the history of the stone it's named after.


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