Around Saalfeld

This circular route offers a variety of viewpoints, hiking huts, and different landscapes. On the hike over the Kulm, the garden hills, and the Bohlenwand, you always have the town of Saalfeld in the valley in view. 

From the hiking parking lot "Am Steiger", you walk towards the Bergfried to the Fox Tower. From there a small path leads down to Obernitz, past the Bohlen Infopoint to the castle. A rather steep path then leads up to the upper part of the Bohlenwand. Along the cliff edge, you finally reach Köditz/Herrengraben.

Then the route continues along Rote-Berg-Straße to Schwedenschanze, from where a field path leads to Teufelsgraben. From here you descend towards Altgorndorf. While crossing the town, you follow a section of the Saale-Orla cycling route towards Saalfeld. After about 200 m you reach a forest edge from which a path on the left leads towards "Katze". An information board explains the origin of this unusual name. Along the subsequent paved road, you finally reach the small village of Dorfkulm. From here, a zigzag path leads to the Kulmberghaus with a place to rest and a viewing tower with a spectacular view. To get back to the valley, follow the path southwest of Kulmberghaus back to Dorfkulm and then right-hand through the Melktal towards Saale. Along the Saaleradweg, you reach Weidig in Saalfeld, from where the Siechenbach valley and part of the Wittmannsgereuth valley are crossed. A zigzag path then leads up to the Spitzberghütte and subsequently down to Schwarmblick. You have now almost reached the grounds of the Saalfeld Feengrotten. A guided tour through the "most colorful show caves in the world" is worthwhile here. Then you return to the starting point.