Nature Reserve Guide
Uhlstädter Heide, a nature reserve in Thuringia, Germany, encompasses approximately 1153.5 hectares across the municipalities of Uhlstädt-Kirchhasel, Unterwellenborn, and Krölpa. The landscape is characterized by undisturbed, richly structured, pine-dominated forests, which serve as a vital habitat for endangered bird species. Bordered by the Saale River in its northern part, the region features a diverse terrain of floodplain landscapes and wooded hills, offering varied opportunities for several sports like touring cycling, hiking, mountain biking, road cycling, and more.
165
Routes
4.5
(713)
Average rating
3347
People visited

4.5
(119)
535
riders
49.8km
03:01
260m
260m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(32)
124
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(43)
174
riders
20.4km
01:13
130m
130m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(8)
77
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.5
(116)
374
hikers
8.94km
02:33
210m
210m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(25)
92
hikers
5.72km
01:40
150m
150m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.4
(12)
57
hikers
11.8km
03:22
260m
260m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(6)
46
hikers
4.93km
01:18
40m
40m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.7
(19)
61
riders
39.1km
03:22
920m
920m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.8
(22)
51
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

5.0
(5)
20
riders
30.6km
02:52
730m
730m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.4
(7)
16
riders
40.1km
03:17
730m
730m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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5.0
(3)
31
riders
22.5km
01:00
140m
140m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

25
riders
52.8km
02:21
490m
490m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(2)
27
riders
43.2km
01:57
400m
400m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(2)
24
riders
48.8km
02:30
300m
300m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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4.6
(5)
16
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(10)
14
runners
4.88km
00:30
30m
30m
Easy run. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(5)
12
runners
5.33km
00:36
10m
10m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

10
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.5
(4)
19
riders
44.4km
02:53
580m
580m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(3)
9
riders
70.2km
04:34
1,030m
1,030m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.5
(2)
7
riders
35.7km
02:05
370m
370m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Uhlstädter Heide offers a variety of outdoor activities including Touring cycling, Hiking, Mountain biking, Road cycling, Jogging, and Gravel biking. The region features more than 100 routes across these sports, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from over 2,000 visitors.
A popular touring cycling route is the Saale Cycle Path – Saale River at Saalfeld loop from Uhlstädt, covering approximately 31.6 miles (50.9 km). Another option is the Saale River at Saalfeld – View of the Saale in Remschütz loop from Könitz (Thür), which is about 19.2 miles (30.8 km) long. More routes can be found in the Cycling in Uhlstädter Heide guide.
The region offers routes suitable for various skill levels, including easy options. The terrain is often flat to slightly hilly, particularly along the Saale and Orla valleys. An easy touring route is the Church of Freienorla – View of Orlamünde loop from Uhlstädt, which is about 10.7 miles (17.2 km) long.
Popular hiking trails include Klara's Rest – Rustic Wooden Shelter loop from Weißen, an easy route of about 3.5 miles (5.6 km). The Sandy Birch – Hanging Oak loop from Uhlstädter Heide offers a moderate challenge over 7.5 miles (12 km). Further options are available in the Hiking in Uhlstädter Heide guide.
Mountain biking opportunities include challenging circular routes with significant elevation gains. The View of the Hohenwarte Dam – Hohenwarte Dam loop from Könitz (Thür) is a difficult route spanning about 24.3 miles (39.1 km). The MTB Trails in Uhlstädter Heide guide provides more information.
The region features the Kulm lookout tower and the 26-meter-high Carolinenturm on Kötsch, both offering panoramic views. The Saale and Orla valleys provide scenic floodplain landscapes and wooded hills. Heidecksburg Castle in Rudolstadt is a cultural highlight nearby.
Uhlstädter Heide is a popular destination on komoot, with over 2,000 visitors sharing their experiences. The routes have an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. There are more than 100 routes available for various sports.
Komoot offers several guides for Uhlstädter Heide, including Cycling in Uhlstädter Heide, Hiking in Uhlstädter Heide, and MTB Trails in Uhlstädter Heide. Guides for Road Cycling, Jogging, Gravel biking, and Attractions are also available.
The Uhlstädter Heide is suitable for outdoor activities across multiple seasons. Spring and autumn offer pleasant temperatures and vibrant natural scenery. Summer provides longer daylight hours for extended tours, while winter can offer unique experiences for those prepared for colder conditions.
Information regarding specific dog regulations for all trails in Uhlstädter Heide is not universally available. Visitors should check local signage or specific route descriptions for any restrictions. Generally, dogs are permitted on many public trails, often requiring them to be on a leash.
The official website for the Forstbetriebsgemeinschaft Uhlstädter Heide is forst-uhlstaedter-heide.hpage.com. For inquiries, a general phone number is +493674261180.
Cycling routes in Uhlstädter Heide feature a mix of terrain. Many routes through the Saale and Orla valleys are mostly flat to slightly hilly. Mountain biking trails offer more demanding circular routes with significant elevation gains and singletrack sections through forested areas.
Uhlstädter Heide is a nature reserve recognized for its undisturbed, pine-dominated forests. It serves as a crucial breeding and feeding habitat for endangered bird species. Ongoing projects include creating and enhancing habitats for the nightjar through controlled forest grazing.

