Notkarspitze, Bavaria, Germany

This hike has been completed on 14th November 2020, according to the direction on outdooractive.com

Another nice November intermediate hike, this time in the Ammergauer Alps. We parked our car at the parking lot in front of the Benedictine monastery in Ettal (3 euros for the day). We crossed the street and walked through the nice meadow, with greats views over the monastery and the surrounding valley. Then, we turned left on the flat walking path, until reaching after about two kilometres the turn for the Ochsenspitz.

The first part of the ascent is quite enjoyable, going through a pine forest with many breathtaking views over the surrounding alps and the town of Ettal. After the Ochsenspitz (1515m), the path comes off the forest and continues on a trail surrounded by bushes and, once passed a short ascent, we reached the cross at the Ziegelspitz (1719m). 

The hike carries on a broad ridge, with some steep steps, up to the Notkarspitze peak (1888m), that we reached in 2h40’. The peak itself is quite large, providing room for many hikers. We stopped the for our lunch break, admiring the views over the Ammergauer Alps on the north, and over the Zugspitz massif on the south.

After lunch, we began our descent in the direction of the Ettaler Mühle. The trail on this other side of the mountain is more challenging, with steep serpentine and some exposed passages. The entire descent took us more or less the same time as the ascent in the end.

At the Ettaler Mühle, one can possibly stop for some refreshments in normal times. After that, the path continues flat along the road, up to the town of Ettal and to the parking lot in front of the monastery.