Rimske Toplice - Kopitnik (via Borovo and Lukovški preval)

Access to starting point:
A) From highway Ljubljana - Maribor we go to the exit Celje - center, and then we continue driving in the direction of Laško and later Rimske Toplice. At the end of the settlement Rimske Toplice (immediately after the crossroad, where left over the bridge, the road branches off towards the village Globoko and railway station Rimske Toplice) we turn sharply right in the direction of thermal spa Rimske terme. Further, we drive for few 10 meters and then we get to the next crossroad, by which we park (near the starting point, there is store Tuš).
B) From Zasavje we at first drive in Hrastnik, and then we continue driving towards Celje. When we get to Rimske Toplice we will in the main crossroad turn right in the direction of Zidani Most. At the end of the settlement Rimske Toplice (immediately after the crossroad, where left over the bridge, the road branches off towards the village Globoko and railway station Rimske Toplice) we turn sharply right in the direction of thermal spa Rimske terme. Further, we drive for few 10 meters and then we get to the next crossroad, by which we park (near the starting point, there is store Tuš).
C) From the direction Posavje we at first drive to Zidani Most, and then we continue driving towards Celje. When we get to Rimske Toplice, we need to pay attention, because at the beginning of the settlement, we will turn left in the direction of thermal spa Rimske terme (we leave the main road only few meters before the spot, where to the right over a bridge, the road branches off towards the village Globoko). Further, we drive for few 10 meters and then we get to the next crossroad, by which we park (near the starting point, there is store Tuš).

Path description:
From the starting point, we head onto the road with signs for Kopitnik, which continues along a smaller stream. The road quickly brings us to the near residential houses, behind which it changes into a moderately steep mountain path. We short time still continue along the small stream and then blazes point us to the right on a slope, on which we start ascending steeper. A little higher, the path brings us out of the forest and then past a cross and next residential house brings us to an asphalt road. We follow the road uphill, then turn right at the next crossroad in the direction of Kopitnik. We continue on the road for a few minutes, then arrive at a marked crossing, from which we proceed straight on the road toward Stražnik and the peak of Kopitnik (right cottage Koča na Kopitniku and the peak of Kopitnik). After the nearby house, the asphalt ends, and we turn left in the direction of Kopitnik. Beyond the meadow, another path from Rimske Toplice joins from the left, and we follow the signs for Aškerčevo and Kopitnik, passing an older house to return into the forest. Through the forest, we follow the blazes, mostly ascending diagonally to the left. Higher up, a path branches off to the left toward Aškerčevo, but we follow the signs for Stražnik and Kopitnik to saddle Lukovško sedlo, where a path through Senožete also joins, then turn right toward Kopitnik (left past cottage Stražnik).
Initially, we walk on a cart track, following the blazes at several crossings, then the cart track becomes a footpath that grows increasingly steep. A longer steep ascent follows on mostly eastern slopes of Kopitnik; higher up, the path becomes even steeper and, especially in wet conditions, dangerous for slipping on a short section. Above this section, the steepness gradually decreases, and the path soon leads us to a ridge, where it flattens further and even descends slightly in some spots. Further along, a beautiful view of Kopitnik’s rocky cliff briefly opens up, and we mostly follow the ridge path to a marked crossing near the peak of Kopitnik.
From this crossing, we turn left (straight to cottage Koča na Kopitniku) and follow a secured but technically not very demanding path to the peak, a few minutes away, from which a beautiful view opens up, reaching all the way to Snežnik.
Rimske Toplice - Lukovški preval 1:05, Lukovški preval - Stražnik 1:00.

On the way: Lukovški preval (578m)