Saale - from Saalburg/Kloster to Ziegenrück - stage 3

This section of the Saale is not open for canoeing as a sufficient and continuous water release from the Bleiloch Reservoir cannot be guaranteed.

To still experience the Saale up close, a hike or bike ride along the balancing basin via Burgk Castle (6 km) and the Hinterer Röhrensteig to Ziegenrück is recommended.

From Kloster, first follow the Saale cycle path until the Saale-Orla Trail leads you to the shore of the reservoir. Shortly before the dam wall, you will meet the Eisenach-Budapest long-distance hiking trail, which you follow to Ziegenrück. Along the way, you will pass the steeply rising Kobersfelsen, which you can experience almost up close thanks to a specially installed suspension bridge there.

Mostly warmth- and light-loving plant and animal species inhabit this impressive nature reserve in the Thuringian Slate Mountains/Upper Saale Nature Park. From here, you can already see the former Reussian residence, Burgk Castle.

You can then continue your hike via the Hinterer Röhrensteig with beautiful views into the Saale valley to Dörflas (approx. 6 km) and from Walsburg follow the marked hiking trails directly along the Saale to Ziegenrück (approx. 6 km).

Another way to experience this section is a bike ride along the "king stage" of the Saale cycle path (approx. 25 km with several steep ascents).