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Knöpfelstaler Pond – Kickelhahn Observation Tower loop from Stützerbach

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Hiking trails & Routes

Knöpfelstaler Pond – Kickelhahn Observation Tower loop from Stützerbach

Moderate

4.8

(70)

181

hikers

Knöpfelstaler Pond – Kickelhahn Observation Tower loop from Stützerbach

04:41

16.0km

450m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 12, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Naturpark Thüringer Wald

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1.09 km

Viewpoint

3.44 km

Finsteres Loch Wooden Bridge and Waterfall (Touringen Stamp Station 145)

Highlight • Bridge

Shortly before Stuetzerbach you will find a fairy-tale gorge, which gained notoriety through Goethe's poem "Ilmenau". In 1783 a large, nocturnal hunting camp took place here. Today there is a wooden bridge over a small waterfall. Standing there and looking up, you can almost see trolls and goblins romping among the mossy rocks. Goethe's handwritten poem can be admired in the Goethe Museum in Stutzerbach.

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4.02 km

Knöpfelstaler Pond

Highlight • Lake

Before continuing on the romantic part of the Goetheweg in the Ilmkreis, this place offers a place full of peace and harmony.

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7.58 km

Gabelbach Hunting Lodge Museum

Highlight • Historical Site

The simple late baroque functional building was hastily erected in the summer of 1783 to serve as a guest house for Karl August and his hunting party. Building materials were obtained from the ruins of Ilmenau Castle and the surrounding forest. Goethe often spent time here as a guest. The museum's exhibition is well worth seeing because it offers insights into the hunting habits and social life of the Weimar court.

You can find further information and opening times here: ilmenau.de/de/freizeit/museen-und-börsen/museum-jagdhaus-gabelbach.

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8.67 km

View of the Thuringian Forest

Highlight • Viewpoint

Great excursion destination with a magnificent view

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8.67 km

Kickelhahn Observation Tower

Highlight • Monument

View from the Kickelhahn into the valley.

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8.69 km

Kickelhahn Tower

Highlight • Viewpoint

The dining room above is recommended, delicious and good!

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8.85 km

Goethe Cabin on Kickelhahn

Highlight • Monument

“Over all peaks there is peace…” Goethe wrote on the wall of this small refuge on September 6, 1780. Because of these verses that were written here and later became world-famous, it was soon called the “Goethe House”.

It burned down in 1870 due to carelessness on the part of berry collectors. Four years later, the Goethe house was rebuilt true to the original.

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13.8 km

Goethe Hiking Trail Hirtenwiese

Highlight • Trail

Have we walked a bit on our hike, nice 🌲

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16.0 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

10.8 km

3.47 km

928 m

751 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

8.86 km

5.42 km

1.38 km

227 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (840 m)

Lowest point (600 m)

Weather

Sunday 7 June

22°C

8°C

-- %

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Comments

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Knöpfelstaler Pond – Kickelhahn Observation Tower loop from Stützerbach

Finsteres Loch Wooden Bridge and Waterfall (Touringen Stamp Station 145)

Knöpfelstaler Pond

Gabelbach Hunting Lodge Museum

View of the Thuringian Forest

Kickelhahn Observation Tower

Kickelhahn Tower

Goethe Cabin on Kickelhahn

Goethe Hiking Trail Hirtenwiese

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