Scheibe-Alsbach: Hiking, Reservoir and Biathlon
Accommodation in Scheibe-Alsbach
The character of Scheibe-Alsbach is revealed through summer hikes, a reservoir surrounded by forests and meadows, and a longstanding connection with biathlon. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can start with the focus you want: hiking routes of varying difficulty, a walk around the reservoir, or local cultural and event themes.
Summer hiking
In summer, Scheibe-Alsbach is a starting point for easy, moderate and challenging hikes along the nearby Rennsteig and on certified hiking trails. The well-developed, signposted network of trails includes shelters and rest areas. The range of difficulty levels gives you a specific point of reference if your travel group has different requirements for its hiking plans. For current conditions, it is advisable to check local information.
Scheibe-Alsbach Reservoir: a circular trail instead of a swim
Scheibe-Alsbach Reservoir was created in 1944 and is surrounded by forests and meadows. It has been used for drinking water supply since 1968, so swimming is prohibited there. The circular trail running directly around the reservoir is about 2.6 kilometres long. This makes it possible to include the water in a hiking plan, but not as a swimming destination. Compared with the wider network of hiking trails, the circular route offers a specific distance as its own point of reference.
Village festival and biathlon tradition
The tent fair is the largest folk festival in the village and takes place every year on the second weekend in September. Check the exact date before planning. Biathlon has been closely associated with Scheibe-Alsbach for around 50 years. The “Am Rußtiegel” biathlon facility hosted the Thuringian Junior Cross-Country and Biathlon Cup, featuring an obstacle cross-country race and the RWS series, on 27 June 2026. This is a specific example of the village’s connection with the sport, alongside its longstanding tradition.
The church is also part of the village’s history: on 14 September 2025, it was open from 08:00 to 18:00 for the Open Monument Day. This date offers a clearly defined snapshot of the event history; it describes the opening on that particular day.
More perspectives in the wider destination of Neuhaus am Rennweg
The wider destination of Neuhaus am Rennweg has its own cultural and active highlights. The Neuhaus am Rennweg Experience Museum invites you to immerse yourself in the lives of the “Wäldler” (forest dwellers), listen, linger and experience things firsthand. The Gothic wooden church in the town centre was consecrated in 1892 and is one of the few entirely wooden churches in Germany. Its windows feature geometric and ornamental stained glass, with the colours arranged to reflect the ripening of the grapes.
Hiking routes are also clearly laid out there: the Rennsteig Höhenwanderweg (high-altitude hiking trail) runs right through the town of Neuhaus am Rennweg. The “Bogenpfad am Rennsteig” (Arch Trail on the Rennsteig) starts and ends at the Igelshieb sports ground, close to the Rennsteighaus. This is near the hiking car park and Igelshieb railway stop, and serves as a service station with showers, toilets, a lounge and two outdoor bicycle lockers. Check the current condition of the facilities before your visit.
At the Neuhaus am Rennweg tourist information office, you can book hikes along the Rennsteig and hikes to historically significant destinations, with or without a certified nature and landscape guide; availability may change. For cyclists, the Rennsteig Cycle Path and the Schwarzatal Cycle Path reach Neuhaus am Rennweg. According to tourist information, the Werratal Cycle Tour often starts there; for travelling with a bicycle, the South Thuringia Railway or a bus that carries bicycles from Saalfeld are mentioned. Check the timetables in advance. The start of the 54th Rennsteiglauf in 2027 is scheduled at the sports ground by the Guts-Muths sports hall in Neuhaus am Rennweg; details may vary from one edition to another.
Discover more destinations: Sonneberg, Goldisthal, Steinheid, Schalkau, Effelder-Rauenstein, Judenbach, Lauscha, Frankenblick.
Go to the wider travel overview: Sonneberg.
