Rennsteig Trail: GPX, map & stages
169 km in Germany · 7 stages · 3,899 m ascent · 5/7 stages with public transport · best Apr–Oct
Plan the Rennsteig Trail with the full-route GPX download, 7 stage GPX files, map, elevation profile, and 5/7 stages with public transport. Choose a stage, open it in Planner, or download GPX before you go.
An automatic guide. TrailSplits built it from OpenStreetMap and cut it into 7 stages at roughly even distances, 4 of the 6 breaks at a public-transport stop. They are not the official stages or checked overnight stops, and TrailSplits has not checked the stays, water or closures. Check them with the trail's operator before you go.
Quick answer: Rennsteig is a 169 km trail from Hörschel to Blankenstein. TrailSplits built this guide automatically from OpenStreetMap and cut it into 7 stages at roughly even distances, 4 of the 6 breaks at a public-transport stop; they are not the official stages or checked overnight stops. It has the map, elevation profile, full GPX download and 5/7 stages with public transport.
169km
Total Distance
7
Stages
3,899m
Total Ascent
90
Transit Stops
Plan Rennsteig
Rennsteig covers 169 km from Hörschel to Blankenstein with 3,899 m of ascent. Use the mapped GPX, stage GPX files, elevation profile, and public transport stops to choose a hiking, trail running, or fastpacking schedule.
- Best season
- April to October· from climate averages
- GPX coverage
- Full route plus 7 stage GPX files
- Transit access
- 5 of 7 stages start or finish by public transport
- Stage options
- 8 days hiking / 4 days trail running / 6 days fastpacking
- Route coverage
- Complete mapped route
- Field use
- Route tools available
Weather this week
Loading the forecast for low point (195 m) and high point (975 m)…
Month by month
Typical weather on this trail: at the lowest point (195 m) and the highest point (975 m). Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.
| Month | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Poor | Poor | Mixed | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Mixed | Poor |
| Stages rated good on typical weather | 0/7 | 0/7 | 0/7 | 5/7 | 7/7 | 7/7 | 7/7 | 7/7 | 7/7 | 7/7 | 0/7 | 0/7 |
| High point, day / night | -1°/-5° | 0°/-5° | 4°/-2° | 9°/1° | 14°/5° | 17°/8° | 19°/10° | 19°/10° | 14°/7° | 9°/3° | 3°/-1° | 0°/-4° |
| Low point, day / night | 4°/-1° | 5°/-1° | 9°/1° | 15°/4° | 19°/8° | 22°/11° | 24°/13° | 24°/13° | 19°/9° | 14°/6° | 8°/3° | 5°/0° |
| Rain, mm | 104 | 90 | 94 | 60 | 81 | 71 | 124 | 89 | 93 | 88 | 101 | 116 |
| Snow at high point | Likely | Likely | Likely | Possible | – | – | – | – | – | – | Possible | Likely |
| Daylight | 8 h 24 | 10 h | 11 h 47 | 13 h 46 | 15 h 28 | 16 h 29 | 16 h 07 | 14 h 37 | 12 h 44 | 10 h 49 | 9 h | 7 h 59 |
Source: TerraClimate 1991–2020 monthly averages. Averages for the area at each point’s elevation (4 km grid, corrected for height). Not a forecast or a report of current trail conditions. Snow at the high point is estimated with a simple snowpack model from these temperatures and precipitation, not observed; steep islands and high summits can hold more snow than it shows. Daylight is for the 15th of each month. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them for your dates.
How the stages are cut
We split Rennsteig into 7 stages. 5 of them start or end at a transit stop — look for the 🚌 icon in the stage directory below.
Take Rennsteig offline — free
Most trail guides are just a page to read. TrailSplits is a free app you install straight from your browser — download the whole Rennsteig map to your phone and follow the route with no signal, in multi-day battery mode. No app store, no account, no subscription.
- ✓ Offline map for the full route
- ✓ Turn-by-turn navigation
- ✓ Download before losing signal; carry backup power
Long route — you can download it stage by stage to save space.
Download for offline — pick your stages
Save the sections you'll walk, or download the whole route. Each selection saves its map and GPX in My Hikes. Stages are not necessarily overnight stops. Before leaving signal, reopen and test your downloads on this device.
Trail route lab
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Open a planning copy, adjust the line, then share the version you would actually run or hike.
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Full Trail Map
Route briefing
What comes next
Descents and access in route order. Not listed does not mean absent: it may not be mapped.
Start
0 m
Hörschel
Start
Route geometry · source 2026-04-02
About 0 min in
169.0 km remaining
+3899 m remaining
Access
100 m
Hörschel
Bus stop
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-02
About 2 min in
168.9 km remaining
+3899 m remaining
Access
2.4 km
Neuenhof
Bus stop
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-02
About 36 min in
166.6 km remaining
+3715 m remaining
Access
2.4 km
Neuenhof, Schule
Bus stop
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-02
About 36 min in
166.6 km remaining
+3715 m remaining
Access
2.5 km
Neuenhof, Sportplatz
Bus stop
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-02
About 38 min in
166.5 km remaining
+3715 m remaining
Descent
165.3 km
188 m descent
3.8 km at 5.0% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-02
About 41h 31m in
3.8 km remaining
+2 m remaining
Finish
169.0 km
Blankenstein
Finish
Route geometry · source 2026-04-02
About 42h 28m in
0 m remaining
Stage Directory
Browse the stages — swipe to compare
Hörschel → Luthers Entführungsstelle
Luthers Entführungsstelle → Nesselberg, Neue Ausspanne
Nesselberg, Neue Ausspanne → Ausspanne
Ausspanne → Hoher Stock
Hoher Stock → Neuhaus am Rennweg
Neuhaus am Rennweg → Lauenhain
Lauenhain → Blankenstein
| # | Stage | Distance | Ascent | Time | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hörschel → Luthers Entführungsstelle | 24.4 km | +831m | 6h 17m | 🚌 |
| 2 | Luthers Entführungsstelle → Nesselberg, Neue Ausspanne | 23.2 km | +733m | 6h 16m | 🚌 |
| 3 | Nesselberg, Neue Ausspanne → Ausspanne | 21 km | +548m | 5h 18m | 🚌 |
| 4 | Ausspanne → Hoher Stock | 25.1 km | +427m | 6h 08m | 🚌 |
| 5 | Hoher Stock → Neuhaus am Rennweg | 24.9 km | +589m | 6h 17m | 🚌 |
| 6 | Neuhaus am Rennweg → Lauenhain | 24.6 km | +355m | 5h 55m | — |
| 7 | Lauenhain → Blankenstein | 26 km | +321m | 6h 13m | — |
| Total | 169.0 km | +3,899m | 42h 28m |
Draft day-by-day itinerary
Rennsteig grouped at mapped section boundaries. Overnight accommodation and access are not verified. Review each day's effort and book suitable stops before using this as a hiking plan.
5 days in this draft — about 33.8 km/day, 169.2 km and 3,804 m of ascent total.
- Day 1 Stage 124.4 km · +831 m · ~6h 18m
- 1. Hörschel → Luthers Entführungsstelle 24.4 km · +831 m
🚌 Nearby transit: Luthers Entführungsstelle (not an accommodation recommendation)
- Day 2 Stage 223.2 km · +733 m · ~6h 18m
- 2. Luthers Entführungsstelle → Nesselberg, Neue Ausspanne 23.2 km · +733 m
🚌 Nearby transit: Nesselberg, Neue Ausspanne (not an accommodation recommendation)
- Day 3 Stages 3–446.1 km · +975 m · ~11h 30m
- 3. Nesselberg, Neue Ausspanne → Ausspanne 21 km · +548 m
- 4. Ausspanne → Hoher Stock 25.1 km · +427 m
🚌 Nearby transit: Hoher Stock (not an accommodation recommendation)
- Day 4 Stage 524.9 km · +589 m · ~6h 18m
- 5. Hoher Stock → Neuhaus am Rennweg 24.9 km · +589 m
- Day 5 Stages 6–750.6 km · +676 m · ~12h 12m
- 6. Neuhaus am Rennweg → Lauenhain 24.6 km · +355 m
- 7. Lauenhain → Blankenstein 26 km · +321 m
Want a downloadable GPX for each day, or a different number of days? Open the Multi-Day Itinerary Builder →
How Long Does It Take?
Comfortable pace with time to enjoy the scenery. 8 days.
Elevation Profile
Transit Stops Along the Trail
Bus and train stops within 2 km of the trail, sorted by distance along the route. Tap a stop to see it on the trail map or get directions.
The Rennsteig is a 169 km long-distance hiking trail in Germany. This guide breaks it into 7 stages; 4 of them start and end at a public transport stop.
Rennsteig — frequently asked questions
How long is Rennsteig?
Rennsteig is a 169 km long-distance route from Hörschel to Blankenstein, presented as 7 stages with map, full GPX download, elevation profile, Planner handoff, and 5/7 stages with public transport.
How many days do you need for Rennsteig?
The distance-based examples cover 4-8 days for 169 km. They are not verified overnight itineraries. Choose days around your ability, ascent, accommodation and current conditions, not distance alone.
When is the best time to hike Rennsteig?
Based on 1991–2020 climate averages, the weather on Rennsteig is usually best from April to October. Snow is likely at the high point (975 m) in December to March. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them and current conditions for your dates.
Can you reach Rennsteig by public transport?
This page lists 5/7 stages with public transport in Germany as planning references. Nearby stops do not guarantee a walkable connection. Check access paths, operating dates and current timetables before relying on public transport.
Can I download GPX files for Rennsteig?
Yes. TrailSplits has a full GPX and 7 stage GPX downloads for Rennsteig — load them on a Garmin, Suunto, COROS, or your phone, or open any stage in the Planner.
How hard is Rennsteig?
Rennsteig is rated epic: 169 km with roughly 3,899 m of total ascent, with a high point near 975 m. The elevation profile, per-stage climb, and surface breakdown on this page help you judge each section.
Ready to hike Rennsteig?
Pick your first stage below and download the GPX. Transit notes are marked on 5 of 7 stages.
More long-distance trails to explore
🗂️ Open data source: Rennsteig on OpenStreetMap (relation 398874). Transit stops from OSM.