Dom na Smrekovcu - Krnes (via Smrekovec)

Access to starting point:
From Mozirje, Gornji Grad or Luče we drive to Ljubno ob Savinji, from there we follow the signs for Smrekovec. Through Ljubno ob Savinji, we initially drive on an occasionally narrower road in Rastke, and at the crossroads among the houses, we follow the signs for Smrekovec. After the settlement the road widens, and then to Ljubenske Rastke is mostly gently moderately ascending, and from here on it gradually becomes narrower and steeper. We follow the mentioned road at the crossroads in the direction of the signs for the Dom na Smrekovcu cottage, and we park in the parking lot just before the mountain cottage.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we first walk to the mountain hut, bypass it on the left side, and continue toward Smrekovec and Raduha, then diagonally ascend through a strip of forest. A few minutes higher, the path splits, and we choose the right path, marked with signs for Smrekovec (left for Komen, Travnik, and Raduha).
Next follows a steep ascent through an increasingly sparse forest, and we reach the peak of Smrekovec in a moderate ascent on an increasingly scenic grassy slope.
Before the rocky pyramid on the top of Smrekovec, we go left and continue on an unmarked footpath that follows an indistinct ridge, leading us initially towards the northwest. When the path a little further enters the forest, it descends slightly for a short time, and after leaving the forest, we continue on a footpath that mostly leads through grasses. We follow the unmarked path, which mostly descends gently, heading west. Upon returning to the marked path, we begin a gentle ascent again, continuing westward with occasional beautiful views. Later, we arrive at a junction before a strip of dense spruce forest, where we leave the wide, well-trodden path and continue right toward the peak Krnes.
Here, we first walk a few dozen steps on pathless terrain. At the edge of the forest, a footpath appears, leading us left into the forest (straight ahead on the other side of the ridge is lake Črno jezero (Končnikova mlakuža)). Through a strip of forest, we ascend slightly more for a while, then continue a gentle ascent along the edge of the forest. When a passage to an indistinct peak opens slightly further to the right, we notice the inscription Krnes on a rock, marking the aforementioned peak.
Dom na Smrekovcu - Smrekovec 0:30, Smrekovec - Krnes 1:05.
Description and pictures (except the first, which is older) refer to the condition in June 2024.

On the way: Smrekovec (1577m)

Trip can be extended to: Komen ( 45 min)