A short hike in the Hessian-Thuringian border area with a highlight break at the Plesse.
The hike takes place largely in the area of the Green Belt in Hesse and Thuringia. A part of the premium route P 5 Plesse is also covered.
Author’s recommendation
A stop at the harbor inn Zur Schlagd in Wanfried: https://zurschlagd.de/
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Safety information
None.
Tips and suggestions
Green Belt: https://landwirtschaft.hessen.de/naturschutz-und-artenvielfalt/gruenes-band-hessen
Roadbook
From the Katharinenberg bus stop, the path leads down the street Gässchen, then it turns half-right and continues through the street Im Gut out of the village. On a dirt road, it goes west, then just before a small forest, it turns right down to the B 249. On the street, about 100 m to the left, then it goes right onto a dirt road that immediately rises slowly to the left. The path soon follows the Kolonnenweg until a WW sign points left to the premium route P 5. Follow this signage briefly into Hessian territory, then leave the P 5 immediately to the right again. After 300 m, you reach the P 5 again and follow it straight to the Plesse Tower. From here continue north, three hairpin bends in the sequence left - right - left, then continue on the P 5 to the hiking parking lot and into the urban area to the bus stop (or to the harbor inn Zur Schlagd).
Plesse
Plesse
Plesse-Turm
Kirchenruine - Katharinenberg
Kirchenruine
Ev. Kirche Wanfried
Kapelle
Friedhof
Wanderparkplatz Grillplatz
Felssturz
Schlagd Wanfried
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
Katharinenberg: Bus 230 from Eschwege city station and Mühlhausen.
Wanfried: Bus 170 from Eschwege or Eisenach, Bus 230 from Eschwege or Mühlhausen.
Directions
Katharinenberg and Wanfried: B 249 from Eschwege and Mühlhausen.
Parking
In the towns.
Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
Rother Hiking Guide North Hesse.
Hiking Guide Grimm Homeland North Hesse and Surrounding Areas. Bernecker Publishing.
Author’s map recommendations
Topographic leisure map MK Meißner-Kaufunger Wald, 1:50,000. Hessian State Surveying Office.
Book recommendations for this region:
Equipment
Hiking shoes, rain protection, provisions.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

User Questions