Alter Berg, Mountain summit in Wartburgkreis, Germany

Alter Berg is a forested summit in Thuringia reaching approximately 494 meters in elevation. Dense beech and mixed forests cover the entire mountain from its base to the peak.

The Alter Berg is the highest point of the Hainich at 493.9 m above sea level, in the Wartburgkreis near the border with the Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis. The summit lies between Craula to the east, Hütscheroda to the south and Berka vor dem Hainich to the west, about 10 km northeast of Eisenach. The Rennstieg ridge trail and the Via Porta pilgrim route cross the plateau.

Two major hiking routes meet at the summit: the traditional Rennsteig trail and the Via Porta pilgrimage path. These routes have connected local communities and travelers across the region for generations.

Visitors can access multiple protected areas surrounding the site, including Naturpark Eichsfeld-Hainich-Werratal and the nearby Nationalpark Hainich. The location allows for easy exploration of several guarded natural landscapes in one outing.

The summit is not a viewpoint: the flat, fully wooded crown offers no panorama. The Rennstieg ridge trail and the Via Porta pilgrimage route both cross the top, and the western slope borders the Hainich National Park, while the rest lies in the Eichsfeld-Hainich-Werratal Nature Park.