Ebner Pass and Kirchenspitz

We cross the B181 right at the parking lot and walk through the gate onto the Notburgaweg (No. 9).
On the gravel road, we walk a few meters north on a gentle incline and then follow the branching mountain trail toward Astenau Alpe or Ebner Joch.

In the shady forest, we climb steadily along the well-maintained mountain trail (No. 10) and reach the Astenau Alpe—a popular snack bar at 1,482 m—after a little over an hour. To the left of it is the Norburga Chapel.

We pass the Alpe on our right and now hike up a noticeably steeper section of the mountain trail—which is interspersed with rocks and scree in places— mountain trail—which is strewn with rocks and boulders in places—through countless switchbacks and mountain pine thickets, continuing upward to the summit of the Ebner Joch at 1,957 m (Trail No. 12A).

The descent to the next summit, the Kirchenspitz, initially follows the same route as the approach to the Ebner Joch; at the first fork, we keep to the right and descend a few meters in elevation to the Kirchenspitz, which offers a magnificent view.

For the return trip to the valley, we walk back to the junction with the signpost for Maurach and the Rofan Cable Car, then turn left onto the Hubersteig (Trail No. 12).

At first, the hike is quite strenuous in places along a steep and somewhat slippery mountain trail, passing avalanche barriers and descending steadily through the forest in sections. Due to the poor condition of the terrain, the descent should not be underestimated.

Soon we reach the Buchauer Alm and continue downhill along the switchbacks of the forest road toward Maurach.

An easily missed signpost indicates the final turn off the trail back to the starting point, leading sharply downhill to the left. We walk back to the parking lot along the Notburgasteig (Trail No. 9).