The Thuringian Forest (Thüringer Wald) covers an area 100 km long and some 30 km wide. It’s a great hiking area, and popular in winter for cross-country skiing. The landscape is varied, dominated by spruce and beech forests, but with many orchards and meadows. The Rennsteig trail runs along the ridge for some 170 km. Non-walkers can view the scenery from the Thüringer Waldbahn (Forest Tramway).