28 Days in the Mountains

Slovenian Mountain Trail

Zadnja Trenta by Ales KrivecAlpine Association of Slovenia

Professor Ivan Šumljak (1899-1984), a publicist, lecturer and head of the Maribor trailblazing unit, sent a written proposal for the mountain trail to the Slovenian Alpine Association as early as 1950. 

While performing trailblazing, it occured to him: »Why not connect all these spots by means of one single blazed trail which would extend further on, across the entire Slovenian territory ...!« This is how Slovenia became the first European country to have a unique transversal trail. 

Kozorog na Mangartu Obdelana by Piotr SkrzypiecAlpine Association of Slovenia

A trail you can experience on your own

Hikers can begin or end the Slovenian Mountain Trail in Maribor, Debeli rtič or anywhere else. The trail has no restrictions in terms of time and is marked by means of the Knafelc blazes (white dot with a red circle around it and an Arabic number).

It leads through routes which can be classified in three groups, namely easy, demanding and very demanding routes.

Mountains in September by Jernej RodičAlpine Association of Slovenia

Next Town is Slovenj Gradec

From there you »climb« (easy walk) to Uršlja gora and on the first Alpine ridge on your trail - Smrekovec (the only ex-vulcanic mountain in Slovenia). In a day or two of very nice, sunny and panoramic walk (full of blueberris in late July and August) you will sleep in the hut below the first two thousander - Raduha. It will also be the first step on difficult and very difficult mountain trail.

From the Pannonian Lowlands...

... through the plateaus and hills through vineyards and vast Pohorje forests.The trail starts at city of Maribor from where you ascend to Pohorje hills. You will leave Pohorje behind after two or three days of easy walk along nice, fresh and dark spruce forests.

Grintovci by Piotr SkrzypiecAlpine Association of Slovenia

Next Town is Slovenj Gradec

From there you »climb« (easy walk) to Uršlja gora and on the first Alpine ridge on your trail - Smrekovec (the only ex-vulcanic mountain in Slovenia). In a day or two of very nice, sunny and panoramic walk (full of blueberris in late July and August) you will sleep in the hut below the first two thousander - Raduha.

It will also be the first step on difficult and very difficult mountain trail. 

Grintovec by Sebastjan CebularAlpine Association of Slovenia

To the Heart of Precipices, Rocks and Snowfields....

... past abysses, lakes and waterfalls. From Raduha you will have to descent Savinja Valley (Savinjska dolina) and later climb to Ojstrica. There you will be in the heart of Kamnik-Savinja Alps (Kamniško-Savinjske Alpe). In next few days you will climb a lot of peaks above 2.000 meters.

The last one will be Storžič where you will leave Kamnik-Savinja Alps and step on long, sunny and with grass overgrown hillside of Karawanks (Karavanke).You will leave them above village of Mojstrana where Slovenian mountain museum is located.

Beautiful Slovenia by Nejc RoserAlpine Association of Slovenia

Mojstrana is also an entrance to Triglav National Park. In two days you will be standing on the top of the highest Slovenian peak and our national symbol - Triglav. Julian Alps will be your home for a few days all the way to Franja Hospital near a small town of Cerkno. This is also the last farewell to the high Alps. 

Orlovo Gnezdo v Logarski in Planjava by Igor GruberAlpine Association of Slovenia

Through Karst Sinkholes and the Mysterious Underground World

From now on you will walk in company of forests and karst wonders. You will also start with slow descent (with some climbs) against the coast - you will reach it in a week.

Skrlatica Spodnji Rokav in December by Janez JarcAlpine Association of Slovenia

Discover the diverse and vibrant wealth of natural and cultural heritage that will accompany you along the Slovenian mountain trail at every step of your way. Come on, let's go under the embrace of the mountains.

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