BergeSeen Trail F1: Faistenau - Ebenau

The regional trail around the Strubklamm Gorge, a dream tour in the Salzburg area of the Salzkammergut, leads to numerous natural wonders. Perhaps the most beautiful is the “Plötz”, an enchanting gorge with lovingly renovated mills, an impressive waterfall and a natural swimming area. However, the first stage destination also has something to offer: in the 17th century, Ebenau was a small centre of iron processing, which several historical buildings commemorate.

From the parish church in Faistenau, follow the street towards Ebenau to the sports field, turn right and hike to the forest climbing park. Turn left at the facility and descend through the forest to the Schmiedbach Stream. After a return climb between fields, you arrive at an asphalted farm lane in the hamlet of Lidaun. Go right to a fork at the edge of the forest, where you ascend to the left to the nearby junction with the Lidaunstraße (771 m).

 

Make a sharp right on the street and after 150 metres, take a sharp left onto a forest road (trail marker “Lidaungipfel, Bärenhöhle”, no. 44). The road ascends through the forested southwestern slopes of the Lidaunberg Mountain. At about 1000 metres above sea level, the path (with 5 information boards) to the Bärenhöhle Caves and the summit cross on the 1223-metre-high Lidaun Peak turns right (worthwhile detour, a good 1:00 h of additional hiking time).

 

The hiking route towards Ebenau, however, leads to the left through the forested slope. From a hunting lodge, the trail continues along a forest road to the saddle (932 m) and then another 500 metres, where a hiking trail on the left descends to Gängstraße (790 m) between Faistenau and Hof. After crossing the trail, you continue between fields to the nearby edge of the forest and descend to Wiestal-Landsstraße. This street is also crossed. From the car park on the other side, hike along Schroffenaustraße which turns to the south, past the hamlet of Schlag to the two farmsteads in the Hinterschroffenau (750 m), which are also called “Lodagei”. 3:00 h

 

There you turn left towards Ebenau into the Plötz. On this path, which leads to the right around the forest hill into the gorge of the Rettenbach Stream, grain was once carried to the Schroffenau Mill. This small wooden building from the 16th century is reached by continuing straight ahead at the fork – the mill stands directly above the 25-metre waterfall of the “Plötz”.

 

The somewhat exposed trail zigzags down to the Eder Mill (waterfall detour to the right) and then continues to the “double” Pertiller Mills. There you turn right (the Schildauer and Hofbauer Mills can be visited by going left) and cross the Rettenbach Stream on a footbridge. Afterwards, follow the Arnoweg up and down to the west for about 1 kilometre. Go left along the forest trail to reach the hamlet of Unterberg and – turning left again – to arrive in Ebenau (623 m).

 

From the primary school, a short detour leads left to the historical Waschl Mill. Go straight to pass underneath the bypass street and continue into the village centre with the historical Fürstenstöckl (tourism office). 1:00 h