Stage 2 of the Rennsteig covers 25.3 km from Ascherbrück to Ebertswiese, with 753 m of ascent and 586 m of descent. The highest point is 912 m. Allow about 7 hours of walking, plus breaks.
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
Holiday park at about 780 m beside the Ebertswiese nature reserve, under 1 km from the Rennsteig: tent camping, bungalows and Finnish huts, plus single nights for walkers in a hikers' hut with optional meals. A small lake for swimming is 50 m away.
Two self-catering holiday houses with 8 beds each at the Ebertswiese, about 0.6 km from the trail. Best for groups; ask about one-night stays.
Mountain inn with rooms, flats and a restaurant at the Spießberg, 0.6 km off the Rennsteig about 3.5 km before the Ebertswiese. Meals only during its opening hours; in its closing weeks guests eat at the sister Hotel Tanzbuche.
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "listed, not confirmed" appear on a public listing (OpenStreetMap or the Rennsteig accommodation list of the Thüringer Wald tourism board) but could not be confirmed on their own website. The Ebertswiese, Allzunah, Friedrichshöhe, Spechtsbrunn and Brennersgrün have only a few beds, and many small inns have a weekly rest day (Ruhetag) or close for a few weeks in spring and late autumn: book ahead and confirm dinner.
Emergency: call 112 (ambulance, mountain rescue) or 110 (police). Out-of-hours doctor: 116117. Emergency & health guide
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.