Stage 3 of 7 · Rennsteig
Nesselberg, Neue Ausspanne → Ausspanne
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Explore this stage
See the route, inspect its climbing, or preview the stage over real terrain.
Huts along this stage
Mapped in OpenStreetMap within 300 m of the line. TrailSplits has not checked whether they are open, sleep walkers or take bookings: ask each one.
- Bergrettung Struth-Helmershof· unstaffed hut km 1.4 · 250 m from the line
Route briefing
What comes next
Climbs, water and huts in route order. Not listed does not mean absent: it may not be mapped.
Start
0 m
Nesselberg, Neue Ausspanne
Start
Route geometry · source 2026-04-02
About 0 min in
21.0 km remaining
+548 m remaining
Hut
0 m
Herzoghäuschen am Nesselberg
Mountain hut
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-02
About 0 min in
21.0 km remaining
+548 m remaining
Hut
1.9 km
Wilderness Hut + Drinking Water
Mountain hut · Water
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-02
About 29 min in
19.1 km remaining
+472 m remaining
Hut
4.2 km
Jahnhütte
Mountain hut
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-02
About 1h 04m in
16.8 km remaining
+350 m remaining
Hut
4.7 km
Bergwacht Rotterode + Quelle an der Bergwacht Rotterode
Mountain hut · Water
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-02
About 1h 11m in
16.3 km remaining
+350 m remaining
Finish
21.0 km
Ausspanne
Finish
Route geometry · source 2026-04-02
About 5h 18m in
0 m remaining
Hut
21.0 km
Skibaude Goldlauter
Mountain hut
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-02
About 5h 18m in
0 m remaining
+0 m remaining
Trail route lab
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Getting Here
Nesselberg, Neue Ausspanne (bus stop)
353m from trailhead · ~4 min walk
Getting Out
Ausspanne (bus stop)
1558m from trail end · ~19 min walk
Segment Breakdown
Auto-analyzed from the elevation profile. Each segment shows the dominant character for planning your effort.
| Segment | Dist | ↑ / ↓ | Time | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nesselberg, Neue Ausspanne → km 7.0 (834m) 725–890m | 7 km | +203m / -111m | 1h 49m | 📈 Climbing |
km 7.0 (834m) → km 14.0 (842m) 823–895m | 7 km | +98m / -91m | 1h 38m | 🏃 Highly Runnable |
km 14.0 (842m) → Ausspanne 829–974m | 7 km | +225m / -93m | 1h 50m | 📈 Climbing |
| Total | 21.0 km | +548m / -313m | 5h 18m |
Pace & Fuel Calculator
Adjust your flat 10K pace to see personalized finish time, calorie burn, and hydration needs.
Terrain Analysis
Surface & Technicality
Gradient describes steepness, not exposure, scrambling, footing or current conditions. Technical difficulty is unknown where no mapped rating is available.
Surface
Estimated for the full route from the 91% with mapped surface data in OpenStreetMap.
Current Conditions
Based on 1991–2020 climate averages, the weather on Rennsteig Stage 3: Nesselberg, Neue Ausspanne → Ausspanne is usually best from May to October. Snow is likely at the high point (975 m) in December to March.
Weather this week
Loading the forecast for low point (718 m) and high point (975 m)…
Weather by month
Typical weather on this stage: at the lowest point (718 m) and the highest point (975 m). Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.
| Month | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Poor | Poor | Poor | Mixed | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Mixed | Poor |
| 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 | 1°/-4° | 2°/-3° | 5°/-1° | 11°/2° | 15°/6° | 18°/9° | 20°/11° | 20°/12° | 15°/8° | 10°/5° | 5°/1° | 2°/-2° |
| Rain, mm | 105 | 96 | 100 | 60 | 85 | 72 | 124 | 89 | 101 | 91 | 107 | 119 |
| Snow at high point | Likely | Likely | Likely | Possible | – | – | – | – | – | – | Possible | Likely |
| Daylight | 8 h 25 | 10 h 01 | 11 h 47 | 13 h 45 | 15 h 27 | 16 h 28 | 16 h 05 | 14 h 37 | 12 h 43 | 10 h 49 | 9 h 01 | 8 h |
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.
Averages cannot establish current trail conditions. Check recent local reports, the forecast and restrictions before departure. Snow and ice can persist on shaded sections or arrive outside the usual season.
Planning ahead?
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Safety & Bailouts
We do not have a verified emergency exit plan for this route. A nearby settlement, hut or route endpoint is not necessarily reachable or open. Do not leave the trail based on a straight-line distance or compass direction.
Review possible exits against current local information before your trip. In an emergency, contact local rescue services; this page is not live rescue guidance.
Suggested Gear List
Auto-generated based on 21.0 km, 548m ascent, max altitude 975m, ~5h duration.
- 👟 Trail running shoes / hiking bootsRequired for any trail
- 📱 Phone (charged) + offline mapNavigation & emergency contact
- 💧 3L hydration vestEstimated 2.7L; verify refill availability
- 🍫 Trail mix, bars & sandwichEst. 1857 kcal burn
- 🧴 SunscreenBasic sun protection
- 🧥 Light rain jacketWeather changes fast in the mountains
- 🩹 Mini first aid kitBlister plasters, tape, antiseptic
- 🧊 Microspikes / light cramponsSnow risk in Jan, Feb, Mar
- 🦵 GaitersKeep snow out of boots
Logistics
This route runs from Nesselberg, Neue Ausspanne to Ausspanne (21.0 km by trail). You'll need to arrange transport back to your starting point.
Nearby Points of Interest
🚏 Transit stops along this stage
- 🚌 Nesselberghaus 1.2 km off trail
- 🚌 Nesselberg, Neue Ausspanne km 0.1 · 92m off trail
- 🚌 Nesselhof km 0.8 · 1.2 km off trail
- 🚌 Sterngrund km 13.6 · 1.4 km off trail
- 🚌 Oberhof, Grenzadler km 14.1 · 890m off trail
- 🚌 Oberhof, Fallbachlift km 15.2 · 657m off trail
- 🚌 Forsthaus Sattelbach km 17.5 · 272m off trail
- 🚌 Ausspanne km 20.9 · 514m off trail
🛖 Shelters
- Alte Ausspanne 1.6 km off trail
- Shelter 1.2 km off trail
- Tammich Blockhütte 1.8 km off trail
- Nesselberg km 0.3 · 92m off trail
- Am Sperrhügel km 1 · 375m off trail
💧 Water Sources
- Drinking Water km 1.9 · 1.9 km off trail
- Drinking Water km 3.8 · 1.1 km off trail
- Quelle an der Bergwacht Rotterode km 4.7 · 1.2 km off trail
- Drinking Water km 5 · 2.0 km off trail
- Wasserwand km 16.5 · 522m off trail
🏠 Mountain Huts
- Herzoghäuschen am Nesselberg 1.1 km off trail
- Wilderness Hut km 1.9 · 310m off trail
- Jahnhütte km 4.2 · 1.6 km off trail
- Bergwacht Rotterode km 4.7 · 1.2 km off trail
- Skibaude Goldlauter km 21 · 1.3 km off trail
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