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Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley

ločanka30. 03. 2026 18:48:00

We went along this ridge yesterday, about which you can actually find nothing written. It caught our eye during our previous visit to the Pokljuka Gorge, when we were driving to the starting point and also later when we asked a local about it. On the map we saw two peak names, namely besides Kočevnik (838 m) also Srednji vrh (892 m), for which the local didn't even know that such a name exists. He said that they know it entirely as Kočevnik, so I named it that way too. The ridge is also known for Šimnova Cave, and the hike that the villagers organize every year is called exactly Šimnov Hike.

We really liked the ridge, lush, with a really pleasant path, a bit rocky, a bit up and a bit down, the views from it rise to the snow-covered peaks above Pokljuka, you can also see to Triglav. After crossing, we continued towards the village of Perniki, turned left before it and walked along the lower side of the ridge. We also went to the banks of the Radovna River, and admired its beautiful flowing water. Thus we did a circular tour, and at the same time wondered why we didn't meet a single hiker on the path. This happens to us quite often nasmeh

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley view of our ridge from the village Krnica

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley near the parking lot by Radovna

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley it was getting cloudier

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley from the path towards the ridge

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley along the path

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley here we stepped onto the ridge

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley walking is pure pleasure

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley full of moss

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley further ahead

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley MDV most prominent here

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley ropes to Šimnova jama maybe? We thought of that.

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley view from the ridge

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley deep view down to Radovna

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley Triglav yesterday like this from the ridge

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley Debela peč with its neighbors

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley also solo Viševnik

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley down left the parking lot for the gorge

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley Radovna valley

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley rocky terrain along the path on the ridge of Srednji vrh

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley pristine

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley wow, I just stood there

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley in front of the village

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley now once again in the direction of the described ridge, but in the other direction and below it

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley waters of Radovna

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley highest point of the ridge

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley Kočevnik ridge from the path towards the starting point for Pokljuško sotesko

Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley our path traced itself like this

(+11)

palček plezalček30. 03. 2026 19:15:41

Magical world of mosses... nice nasmeh

(+2)

ločanka31. 03. 2026 08:26:21

Really nice, shorty, nicer than I imagined nasmeh

(+1)

Majdag4. 04. 2026 16:07:26

Congratulations, first time reading that you can get to the other side via the Kočevnik ridge. I grew up there by the most beautiful dam. We climbed the rocks, picked mushrooms behind Kugla, went to Šimnova cave once but didn't go along the ridge. Thanks for the memories of the beautiful home place.. nasmeh

(+3)

bagi10. 04. 2026 06:31:32

Ločanka deserves credit with her post for reminding me of the places of my childhood nasmeh

. I knew the ridge only up to Šimnova Cave where cavers took us, but not beyond. So the idea fell on fertile ground right away and time was quickly found for a visit with worthwhile extensions velik nasmeh

.

We started a bit higher than Radovna and after about a hundred meters of asphalt turned left onto a cart track. It led us left, right and later headed toward the ridge. From the cart track only a path was left and soon we reached the summit section. The continuation mostly runs right along the ridge, as the slopes on both sides are substantial. The ascent to some elevations is distinctly steep, but without any particular exposure. There are also quite a few views, especially the road deep below leaves a strong impression.

The ridge is less than a kilometer long, then we descended into the valley. We continued through Pernike, a hamlet far from everything. After it we started to ascend and over a forested pass reached the extensive Strmole pasture. Soon after it we switched to a gravel road, along which we returned toward the starting point. When we hit asphalt again Laze followed and soon we completed the loop. More in the photo story…

Starting point coordinates: 46.3810758N, 14.0576172E

We park in front of the first houses from the direction of Radovna - Spodnje Laze

These are those two houses. You can also park lower down, at the bridge over the river

In any case, some asphalt follows. We have very little of it

We quickly turn left onto the dirt road, which is quite steep at the beginning

Soon it levels out, but it becomes increasingly overgrown. Along the edge there is a trodden path

Further on we head left towards the ridge

This one continues exactly along the top. Everything else is too steep

Handholds for the Šimnova jama route. The entrance is several tens of meters deep, so it is accessible only accompanied by cavers

At the most panoramic point a short break follows

We continue along the gravel road, direction Perniki

This is quite new. Not long ago it was still gravel here

This is a hamlet with several farms and a few weekend cottages

At every house we get a canine welcome, but we continue on

We climb almost to 1000 m and cross an unknown pass

On the other side the landscape changes and soon we are in the pasture area

This is the extensive planina Strmole, currently still uninhabited

Follows the return to the starting point, this time along a gravel road

After four kilometers, the first houses appear

Spodnje Laze with many farms and some tourism

The loop is almost complete. Around the bend, the car is already waiting for us

Still the obligatory photo of the place on which I have a bunch of nice memories :)

GPS track. It accumulated 12 km and 400 m elevation gain

(+6)

starakapa11. 04. 2026 12:12:01

How much time did you need for the trail and maybe the length of the trail

(+1)

bagi11. 04. 2026 15:12:40

@starakapa ... in the comments for the maps of GPS tracks I always post the distances and elevation gains right away, but not the time. It added up to 12 km and 400 m elevation gain, all together we walked it in three and a half hours of leisurely hiking. Walk well and enjoy nasmeh

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Kočevnik Ridge above the Radovna Valley