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Germany

Thuringia

Landkreis Saalfeld-Rudolstadt

Bad Blankenburg

Strudeltöpfe in the Schwarzatal – Schwarza River Potholes loop from Schwarzatal

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Germany

Thuringia

Landkreis Saalfeld-Rudolstadt

Bad Blankenburg

Strudeltöpfe in the Schwarzatal – Schwarza River Potholes loop from Schwarzatal

Hard

4.8

(74)

259

hikers

Strudeltöpfe in the Schwarzatal – Schwarza River Potholes loop from Schwarzatal

05:26

18.8km

400m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

Last updated: June 14, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Naturpark Thüringer Wald

Waypoints

Start point

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2.43 km

Chrysopras Weir on the Schwarza River

Highlight • Waterfall

It was built at the beginning of the 20th century and served to regulate the water level of the Schwarza and to create an artificial tributary, the Lache.

Translated by Google •

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4.33 km

Bindseil Rock — View over the Schwarzatal

Highlight • Viewpoint

Nice viewpoint on the trail… seating and a place to rest included.

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4.85 km

Ebersteinblick — View of the Schwarza Valley

Highlight • Viewpoint

Great view of the Schwarzatal

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4.98 km

Griesbachfelsen Viewpoint

Highlight • Viewpoint

The Griesbachfelsen is the most impressive rock formation on this route. It's not just the fantastic view of the deep, beautiful Schwarzatal that makes the journey up here worth it; …

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5.86 km

Teufelstreppe Viewpoint and Shelter

Highlight • Viewpoint

The legend of the Devil's Stairway

Once a stranger came to the Schwarzatal and freed a beautiful fisher girl. The answer had already been given, when the bride at the …

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12.4 km

Picnic area at Schweizer Haus on the Schwarza River

Highlight • Rest Area

if you don't have anything with you, you can stop in opposite

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12.5 km

Strudeltöpfe in the Schwarzatal

Highlight (Segment) • Natural Monument

The Schwarza is not only in summer a beautiful area for hiking and cycling, even in winter it offers multicellular photo opportunities.

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13.8 km

Schwarza River Potholes

Highlight • Natural Monument

For thousands of years, the whirlpools of the Schwarza have used stone and boulders to cut round pits into the shale. They are protected as hydrogeological natural monuments and are very rare.

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16.8 km

Cave Entrance

18.8 km

End point

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

12.3 km

2.74 km

2.43 km

934 m

328 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

10.3 km

4.41 km

2.66 km

1.11 km

208 m

< 100 m

Elevation

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

Highest point (500 m)

Lowest point (230 m)

Weather

Thursday 25 June

35°C

17°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 8.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

May 5, 2025,Wanderung zum Griesbachfelsen

Today's tour takes us to the Griesbachfelsen. A rather unspectacular rock with a beautiful view of the Schwarza Valley. We gaze at the Eberstein and Greifenstein. Beautiful paths lead us down to the Schweizer Haus. From there, we follow the Schwarza River, past the Strudeltöpfe (potholes) and back. A very beautiful tour in perfect hiking weather.

Showing Translation

June 12, 2022,Schwarzatal-Rundwanderung von Bad Blankenburg aus 🌾🐱🏡🌊

Today it goes through the Schwarzatal. Falk (@Tresor) accompanies me. Past the chrysoprase weir it goes up into the forest.🌲🌳 What a steep climb. It's already very warm, I've got all my luggage on my back and I'm not in the best of physical shape. So I torture myself up the gnarly path and after a short time I'm at …

Showing Translation

October 20, 2024,Indian Summer im Schwarzatal 🍂☀️🏹🍁

Circular hiking trail through the lower Schwarza valley with start and finish in Bad Blankenburg Hiking car park at the Chrysopra weir - Siegfriedfelsen - Bindseilfelsen - Ingoklippe - Ebersteinblick - Griesbachfelsen - Teufelstreppe - Böhlscheiben - Cordobang - Schweizer Haus - along the Schwarza back to the Chrysopra weir

Showing Translation

August 25, 2024,Im Schwarzatal

Ran an almost forgotten loop again.
From the Schweizer Haus along the Schwarza down to the weir just before Bad Blankenburg.
There, follow the signs for "Heinrich Cotta" and climb steeply up the mountain on paths.
The effort is rewarded with a fantastic view from the Griessbachfelsen and the refuge where you can stay. (You could also spend the night …

Showing Translation

August 13, 2022,Schwarzatal mit div. Felsen und Strudeltöpfen

Many thanks to Christel, who inspired me to do this round 🤩

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October 7, 2023,Kleine Schwarzatalrunde

Today it was the turn of the “house tour” again through the wildly romantic Schwarzatal🌝
Despite the holidays and the weekend there were hardly any people out and about, unfortunately none 🍄

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August 12, 2024,Lieblingsorte im Schwarzatal 💚

For me, the Schwarza Valley is one of the most beautiful hiking areas in the Thuringian Forest.

Sometimes raging and then again very gently, the Schwarza meanders along its riverbed.

Between Schwarzburg and Bad Blankenburg
rocks narrow the course of the river. There, over thousands of years, whirlpools of the Schwarza have ground round depressions in the slate rock with …

Showing Translation

June 13, 2024,Schwarzatal

A hike with a partly alpine character that requires sturdy shoes and surefootedness.
Down to the Swiss House (a stop for refreshments is recommended), about halfway between Cordobang and the valley, you should take the path to the right, as the path we took is overgrown and no longer passable!

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Strudeltöpfe in the Schwarzatal – Schwarza River Potholes loop from Schwarzatal

Chrysopras Weir on the Schwarza River

Bindseil Rock — View over the Schwarzatal

Ebersteinblick — View of the Schwarza Valley

Griesbachfelsen Viewpoint

Teufelstreppe Viewpoint and Shelter

Picnic area at Schweizer Haus on the Schwarza River

Strudeltöpfe in the Schwarzatal

Schwarza River Potholes

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