The 861 m high Kickel Cock is the local mountain of Ilmenau. The mountain probably got its name from the capercaillie, which was once hunted in this area. Prepared specimens of this bird, which has become rare, are still in the Museum Hunting lodge Gabelbach which lies a few hundred meters below the summit. The direct route from Ilmenau starts at the edge of town and leads steeply and relatively straight up to the Kickelhahn. The climb takes about an hour. Two popular hiking trails start at the Hikers' parking lot Herzogröder meadow at the upper reaches of the Gabelbach on the road from Ilmenau to Neustadt am Rennsteig.

At the top of the mountain, the 24 meter high Observation tower a magnificent panoramic view of the Thuringian Forest and its foothills. A small Restaurant with Viewing platform offers home cooking and cakes. Freshly strengthened, explore the well-developed network of hiking trails around the popular excursion destination. For example, the Goethe Hiking Trail over the summit.

A few minutes from the lookout tower stands the Goethehäuschen, a faithful replica of the hunting lodge in which Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1780 his poem "Wanderer's Nightsong" written on the board wall. Nearby are also the foundation walls of a historical hunting lodge of the Weimar court.

The view of the heights of the Thuringian Forest and its foothills enchants and relaxes. In clear weather, the view sweeps from the Schmücke and the Schneekopf in the west over Oberhof and the Inselsberg, northward to the three Gleichen, to Stadtilm and the Singerberg further east, the Langer Berg, southward and to the Gleichberge near Römhild westward again.