Marderbach Gorge – Schmalwasser Dam loop from Tambach-Dietharz

Hiking trails & Routes

Marderbach Gorge – Schmalwasser Dam loop from Tambach-Dietharz

Hard

4.8

(60)

160

hikers

Marderbach Gorge – Schmalwasser Dam loop from Tambach-Dietharz

05:14

18.4km

400m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 18, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment that may be dangerous

A part of this route comprises technical, difficult, or hazardous terrain. Specialist equipment and prior experience may be required.

After 11.0 km for 9 m

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

2.74 km

Marderbach Gorge

Highlight (Segment) • Gorge

Wild and romantic gorge. Especially worth seeing in winter when icicles, some several meters long, hang on the rocks.

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7.44 km

Schmalwasser Dam

Highlight • Lake

Here you can let your soul dangle. A relatively long circular route with a number of beautiful views and places to rest. There are other great highlights in the vicinity. …

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8.18 km

View of the Schmalwasser Dam

Highlight • Viewpoint

The dam is now used for flood protection and energy generation. The water is also used for the annual whitewater rafting in Tambach-Dietharz.
There are always places to sit and …

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14.6 km

Steinernes Tor (Touringen Stamp Point 319)

Highlight • Natural Monument

If you stand alone under the Stone Gate and make a wish, your wish will come true this year.

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14.9 km

Owl Carving Bench at Mittelwasserteich

Highlight • Rest Area

Crystal clear water, a nice place to linger

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15.0 km

Köhlerhütte Rest Area

Highlight • Mountain Hut

A nice corner for a rest, with an interesting shelter.

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17.0 km

Tambach-Dietharz Reservoir Inflow

Highlight • Lake

Beautiful and with about 6 km a feasible trail with children.

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17.0 km

Apfelstädter Grund

Highlight • Forest

A fork in the road with a nice rest area and a signpost with lots of signs makes it clear how many great paths there are to explore ;-)

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18.4 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

13.6 km

2.40 km

1.13 km

907 m

318 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

5.66 km

5.33 km

4.64 km

1.98 km

654 m

159 m

Elevation

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

Highest point (680 m)

Lowest point (440 m)

Weather

Sunday 11 October

11°C

4°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 8.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

September 23, 2021,🇩🇪 TH/ Runde an der Schmalwassertalsperre

After my alpine tour today again in the Thuringian region a round from Tambach-Dietharz at the Schmalwassertalsperre. A wonderful hike with rocks, gorges and great views with small climbing inserts.

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September 3, 2021,Klares Wasser und hohe Felsen: Runde von Tambach-Dietharz

Our tour included everything: streams, waterfalls, dams, stones, rocks and canyons. It all started with the old Tambach dam. Through the stone gate we went on towards Falkenstein. On the way there we could admire views of the narrow water dam and stone formations opposite from an exposed rock.
At the Röllchen we had roaring water on a slippery path …

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September 10, 2023,Thüringer Wald: Wo Pilze wachsen und die Sicht weit ist

What a really nice hike today! Well at least the first part was wonderful! There were many small, narrow paths through the Thuringian Forest, which even had a bit of an alpine character here and there. Secured with chains, we went to Altenfels, which at 650 meters offered us a truly perfect vantage point over the Schmalwasser dam and the …

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March 24, 2026,Runde von Tambach-Dietharz zum Falkenstein und zum Röllchen

Up to the Röllchen it is a wonderful stretch, many streams with plenty of water. Along the Schmalwasser reservoir up to Tambach-Dietharz it is unfortunately only asphalt.

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June 25, 2022,Talsperre Schmalwasser, Marderbachschlucht und Röllchen von Tambach

Sometimes I wish it was possible to partially delete tours like my photos that I don't like!

Maybe I had too high expectations of this tour, but in the beginning only the route through the Marderbachtal was really great and then it was only on forest roads and asphalt without seeing the dam.
Only when it was almost halfway through …

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May 21, 2023,Marderbachschlucht – Talsperre Schmalwasser Runde von Tambach-Dietharz

After riding our motorbikes for 3 days, it was time to go hiking again today😃

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July 24, 2024,🥾5.Tag: Tambach-Dietharz, Marderbachschlucht – Talsperre Schmalwasser - Steinernes Tor

Very nice walk over two dams. Some of the paths are covered with very coarse gravel, which I personally don't like for walking and isn't particularly pleasant for the dog either. In the Maderbach Gorge it looks really wild after a lot of forestry work. Otherwise there is a lot of heather in the corner, which is sure to be …

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February 10, 2024,Wanderung 10.02.2024 Von der Gothaer zur Schmalwassertalsperre

Today we were traveling between the dams with seven-league boots (Komoot). Particularly impressive: it bubbles and rustles everywhere. Water plenty. 🌲😺

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