Rennsteig Stage — Ruhla to Wartburg via Hohe Sonne

This stage begins at the Marktplatz in Ruhla, reached by bus from Eisenach, with parking available near the town centre for drivers arriving independently. The 16 km route climbs a cumulative 350 m as it follows the Rennsteig ridge corridor from Ruhla through forested hills toward the Wartburg above Eisenach, passing through the Hohe Sonne area partway along. The surface is predominantly packed dirt and gravel forestry track, with a few short, steeper pulls near the Hohe Sonne junction and generally continuous forest shade broken by occasional ridge clearings that offer views over the surrounding Thuringian Forest. There is no technical difficulty, though the stage's length and cumulative climbing make it more demanding than shorter Rennsteig sections, and hikers should plan for a full five-hour day. The Hohe Sonne forest restaurant, roughly two-thirds of the way along, serves as both a landmark and a well-placed rest stop or turn-around point, while the Wartburg itself, visible from the approach, marks the finish and is a highlight in its own right. There is no natural water source along most of the route; the Hohe Sonne restaurant offers food and drink partway through, and both Ruhla and Eisenach have full village and town amenities at either end.