Snowshoeing in the Thuringian Forest
9 guided snowshoe tours
There is evidence that the art of "snow walking" has been practiced in the Thuringian Forest since 1794/95. It was none other than the pedagogue Johann Christoph Friedrich GutsMuths who, at that time, tested progress on snow on wooden shoes six to eight feet long. Today, however, snowshoes are understood to be the wide-soled aids that are strapped under one's winter boots and enable hikes through pristine snowscapes, over deep snow and loose powder. With our overview of providers of guided snowshoe tours, we want to simplify planning and whet your appetite for a snow adventure off the winter hiking trails!
From snowy mountain meadows (Neustadt am Rennsteig)
Hiking through deep snow in the best trapper style: equipped with snowshoes and poles, nature guide Jens Schmidt from Neustadt am Rennsteig takes you around the slate-roofed town, sometimes cross-country over the extensive meadows, across small streams and into the forest. In addition to interesting facts about Neustadt am Rennsteig, the one to four-hour snowshoe tours through the snow-covered winter forest high up on the Rennsteig also reveal a lot about the fauna and flora of the Thuringian Forest Nature Park. Provided that the snow conditions allow it, the eventful excursions take place daily between November and March after advance reservation via the Tourist Information Neustadt am Rennsteig or directly with the nature guide. Participation is possible from shoe size 37.
Discover Masserberg mountain landscape on snowshoes
"Running without puffing" - according to this motto, Karsten May from the ski school of the same name takes his guests on a leisurely two-hour tour around the beautiful spa town of Masserberg in the early hours of Wednesday and Saturday afternoons after an introduction to the sport. Completely relaxed it applies to find the entrance into the partly unusual course of motion and to lose the shyness to move off the winter footpaths. The tours are arranged according to snow conditions and the group. Snowshoe rental is possible from shoe size 35, participation is recommended from the age of 7.
www.schneeschuhwandern-masserberg.de
Snow adventure with Outdoor Inn
You want to trudge with friends through the deep snowy Thuringian winter forest? Clear your head and experience an extraordinary low mountain adventure? The Outdoor Inn team has its base camps in Steinach and Oberhof, but only needs enough snow to carry out the tour at your desired location. For groups of six or more, the guide and snowshoe equipment will arrive on site. Then it's time to strap on your trapper snowshoes and off you go! Whether it's a sporty tour or a fun-filled test trapper round with the little ones to the nearest hut - no wishes remain unfulfilled here.
www.outdoor-inn.de
Equipment tips
For the right portion of fun in the deep snowy winter forest it is helpful if you are well equipped. With our equipment and packing list we want to give a few helpful tips along the way.
General equipment tips
- Plastic or aluminum snowshoes
- Weatherproof hiking clothes
- Ankle-high, sturdy and above all waterproof shoes gaiters over the shoes
- Light poles, preferably with large plates for deep snow
- Hiking backpack with rain protection (20-30 liters)
Cloth
- Thermal underwear
- Warm socks
- Winter pants
- Underjacket
- Winter jacket
- High and waterproof winter shoes
- Scarf
- Headband
- Gloves
- Sunglasses or ski goggles
- Spare dry clothes
Catering
- Snacks (granola bars & nuts)
- Thermal bottle for hot drink
Once Rennsteig and back (Tambach-Dietharz)
With Christina, Julia, David and Ralf Kraft from the OutdoorEventZentrum in Tambach-Dietharz, you explore the nature around Luftkurort, which is also known for its water-rich dams in the immediate vicinity. From here, especially the tours to the Rennsteig, the extensive Ebertswiese and the nearby, truly idyllic mountain lake Ebertswiese are a real highlight. The tours involve a few meters of altitude, so that a refreshment with snack and warming drinks in a shelter in the forest is firmly planned. When accompanied by children, individual tour planning is recommended.www.outdoorevent-zentrum.de
Simply schee - with Sport Luck in the snow (Oberhof)
In the heart of the winter sports stronghold Oberhof, the two snowshoe tours of Sport Luck start every day with appropriate snow conditions and a minimum of 3 participants. While the approximately three-hour tour through the snowy winter landscape has the forester's lodge "Sattelbach" as its destination, the evening tour is somewhat shorter. Equipped with torches and delicious mulled wine, you can ring in the evening in a relaxed atmosphere and a soothing mix of sporty excursion and romantic evening walk.
www.sport-luck.de
Great tennis on snowshoes with snow event Thuringia (Oberhof)
Old snowshoes are visually reminiscent of tennis rackets. Perhaps they inspired former tennis pro Andreas Röhrich to indulge in the winter trend of snowshoeing. The Weimar native spends almost every weekend in the snow and since 2019 has been teaching snowshoe novices the perfect posture in deep snow and sporty ambitious tourers to sweat in steep terrain. His day tours lead to remote places and demand a good physical condition, so a hut stop with the finest Thuringian menu is always an integral part of the program.
www.schneeschuh-thueringen.de
Customized snowshoe tours - headlamp, torchlight & campfire (Oberhof)
Set off just before sunrise and witness the day awakening at Hohe Möst and the Inselsberg being kissed awake in the far distance? In the freezing cold, crunching through the harsh snow at a sporty pace or ending the day with a hot drink at sunset on the Schneekopf? Oberhof's Stefan Fölsch from "FUN Oberhof" - FUN here stands for Fit, Urlaub & Natur - is the perfect companion for a micro adventure in the magical winter forest. On his tours you will witness entertaining story(s) about the region, sports and nature. His regular snowshoe tours on Mondays and Fridays always start at Wagners Sporthotel Oberhof and thus right at the edge of the forest. Especially recommended: Individual excursions with torches or romantic campfire.
www.fun-oberhof.de
To the most beautiful corners of our homeland (Schmalkalden)
"If you can walk, you can also hike on snowshoes," they say. In any case, Andreas Pfannstiel's diverse range offers the right tour format for everyone: from the snowshoe taster tour and the snowshoe family hike for beginners, to the half-day and full-day hikes, which are individually designed depending on the group. Also the snowshoe tour at dusk can be done as a relaxed round or with a spark of "adventure" more sportive. A special nature experience in the surroundings of Schmalkalden - especially for children - where the soul dives deeper into the winter forest than the feet usually do in the deep snow, is guaranteed;
www.pfannstiel-outdoor-aktiv.de
From the snowtubing facility into the winter forest (Siegmundsburg)
High up in the Thuringian Forest, in the immediate vicinity of the Rennsteig, is Sigrun Greiner's snow tubing facility. There are currently no guided tours departing from here, but thanks to her commitment and the in-house rental service (7 for adults, 2 from size 37), you can set off carefree on two marked snowshoe hikes around the picturesquely situated village and enjoy a mulled wine at the tubing facility's snack bar at the end. While the first route has an easy route profile and leads to the original Rennsteig as well as the forest nature trail of the cultural association, the second, quite more demanding route runs on the other side of the village. After initial far-reaching views over Siegmundsburg, you get to enjoy a real winter forest.
www.snow-und-sommer-tubing-siegmundsburg.de/Schneeschuhwandern
