GeoRoute 9: across the tropical Ruhla island loop – UNESCO Global Geopark Thuringia Inselsberg – Drei Gleichen

258-251 million years ago a shallow tropical sea covered Central Europe. In the area between Ruhla and Brotterode there was an island which geologists call the "Ruhlaer Insel".

It's annoying on the road, but you're compensated by a beautiful hike with many interesting places.

In fantastic hiking weather, we started at Rosi's restaurant at the stalactite cave in Thal. From the still empty parking lot we first walked through the residential development down to Farnrodaer Straße. This leads from Thal to Ruhla and our hiking trail ran parallel to it on the combined cycle and footpath. Along the Erbstrom (electricity is perhaps a bit high here) there were always interesting “views” between the industrial buildings and so Ruhla was quickly reached. In Ruhla itself we chose the path through Köhlergasse with its partly beautifully restored old half-timbered houses, before we turned left and reached the “Schöne Aussicht” via steep paths. We turned past numerous holiday homes into the forest, circled the Breitenberg and reached the Aschhof refuge. The path became wider because it is used to transport the wood. Therefore we passed numerous wooden polders, one of which was stacked so adventurously that I am skeptical whether it will survive the next few days. Catering at the Königshäuschen will only be provided from April onwards, so it's good that we could rely on the provisions we brought with us. The space there would have been nice for a break, but it was still a bit too early on our route. So after a short chat with another hiker, we continued hiking, past several impressive rock formations and soon reached the Meisenstein, which was in the best sunshine. We used the bench and table alongside other hikers, spread out our forest buffet and immediately felt right at home. Apparently the Meisenstein is a local highlight, which we concluded from the number of hikers there. Freshly strengthened, we set off on our further journey, which first took us downhill and then back up to the Großer Wartberg. We still looked for the oven hole, but we didn't want to unnecessarily disturb the field mice during their hibernation, so we quickly gave up our search. We reached the Wartbergstrasse, which once connected Eisenach and Gotha, and followed it past the industrial water basin (the Thal dam) until we turned left again in Thal and climbed the short incline to the little temple. The reward for this was a pretty view over the valley in the valley. A hiking trail led us along the lap mountain until we reached the bell house and then came back to Thal via a steep path. We circled the Scharfenberg through the town, crossed the B88 twice and arrived back at the Kittelsthal stalactite cave on a pretty hiking trail. A medium distance works again after a long period of abstinence from hiking and with such fantastic weather in the beautiful area of the Thuringian Forest - we see that as motivation to continue lacing up our hiking boots on the next weekends in March.

I walked the route without the part about Kittelsthal and the stalactite cave.

Tour 7 from the Rother hiking guide Thuringian Forest As I am driving straight to Frankfurt, where Till and his band will once again be performing their musical works in the Deutsche Bank Park this evening, I only hiked this manageable loop near Thal today. I already knew some of the places, like the Meisenstein, but the weather was much worse then than today. Stopping off at the Königshäuschen was quite nice. The Backofenloch was too difficult for me to find, so I continued walking there due to lack of time. At the end, the Scharfenburg was still very interesting.

I set off in cool morning temperatures. Wide paths, distant views, dark forests, rustic trails... strolled a bit through Ruhla. Thuringia – my hiking heart beats for you.

Out and About in the Cool Forest Barely back home, I didn't stay within my own four walls for long. I was drawn to western Thuringia, where winter had already made its presence felt. The crisp air reminded me that three weeks away are enough to readjust to the temperature and rhythm of the landscape. I was already at Zwötzen train station early in the morning. The train arrived on time – an unexpectedly good start 🤔. Without any rush, I changed platforms at the main station, continued on to Erfurt, and from there towards Eisenach. Everything went like clockwork, almost as if the railway was trying to be kind to me that day. The train journey ended in Wutha. Bus 142 took me on to Thal, a district of Ruhla. There, my hike began. The cold was crisp and biting, the meadows and paths covered in a fine layer of frost that shimmered in the morning light. My hands disappeared deep into the warm pockets of my winter-warm cotton jacket as I took my first tentative steps. I soon reached the town sign for Ruhla. From there, the path led steadily uphill. With every meter of elevation gained, I grew warmer, my breathing became more labored, and finally, I unzipped my jacket. The climb ended at the Carl Alexander Tower, which stands at an altitude of 639 meters and is visible from afar. I gladly accepted the 111 steps to the platform. The tower stands freely, offering unobstructed views in all directions, and a slight rumble in my stomach is part of the experience for me—I'm no longer immune to vertigo. But the view was worth every step: In the distance, a white spoil heap shone towards Hesse, the Kickelhahn mountain stood out clearly on the horizon, Wartburg Castle lay to the northwest, and even the Brocken mountain was visible on this clear day, not to mention the Inselsberg, just beyond the town of Ruhla. A panorama that will stay with you for a long time. The path continued to the Wachstein rock formation. From there, the view opened up far across the Thuringian Forest, accompanied by the sight of numerous wind turbines. Then it was back through the quiet forest, past the memorial to a former state forester and a long-dried-up spring, until I reached the town of Ruhla. The town seemed peaceful and well-kept. Hardly any vacant buildings, several restaurants open, no obvious eyesores – a place where one could live well. On the outskirts of town, I followed the rural character for a while longer before the forest swallowed me up once more. Along the way, I came across two places that practically begged me to stop for a break: a mountain hut at a crossroads and later the Königshäuschen (King's Cottage). But a glance at my watch reminded me to keep going. Ten kilometers still lay ahead, and only two hours to go – my time is limited, after all. The return route led past the empty Thal reservoir. Shortly afterward, I reached the starting point of my hike. I was at the bus stop exactly five minutes before departure – and the return journey was just as reliable as the trip there. In conclusion: a day with clear air, expansive views, and a remarkably smooth journey. Perhaps just a lucky coincidence, perhaps a minor hiccup in the daily grind of rail travel? But it was certainly a successful hike in the Thuringian Forest. 👍

A real highlight on GeoRoute 9! Particularly impressive was the panel that showed the tropical Ruhla Island millions of years ago, when everything was still covered by the sea. During the descent to Thal on the high trail, I had the feeling of diving into the depths of this prehistoric sea. The reef limestone cliffs, the former reefs in the Zechstein Sea, are now striking mountains and offer breathtaking views. A fascinating mix of history, geology and nature - highly recommended! More information about the Geopark can be found here: https://www.geopark-thueringen.de