V Koncu - Grintovec (via Kokrsko and Mlinarsko sedlo)

Access to starting point:
a) We drive to Kamnik, then follow the signs for Kamniška Bistrica and Črnivec pass. In Stahovica at the traffic light intersection we turn left towards Kamniška Bistrica (straight Črnivec pass) and drive to Dom v Kamniški Bistrici. We bypass the mountain hut on the right side. The asphalt ends a little higher, from there we continue on a gravel road that quickly forks. We keep to the lower left road (right leads to a footpath towards Kokrsko sedlo), and at intersections we follow the signs for Grintovec. We park at the parking lot at the lower station of the freight cable car to Kokrsko sedlo. Driving and parking beyond the freight cable car is prohibited (there is no prohibition sign, but fines of €1,000 are regularly issued). In winter, driving from Koča v Kamniški Bistrici to the parking lot V Koncu is prohibited by a traffic sign, which extends the route by almost an hour.
b) From the direction of Gornji Grad we drive to Črnivec pass, then start descending towards Kamnik. When we reach Stahovica, at the traffic light intersection we turn right towards Kamniška Bistrica (straight Kamnik) and drive to Dom v Kamniški Bistrici. We bypass the mountain hut on the right side. The asphalt ends a little higher, from there we continue on a gravel road that quickly forks. We keep to the lower left road (right leads to a footpath towards Kokrsko sedlo), and at intersections we follow the signs for Grintovec. We park at the parking lot at the lower station of the freight cable car to Kokrsko sedlo. Driving and parking beyond the freight cable car is prohibited (there is no prohibition sign, but fines of €1,000 are regularly issued). In winter, driving from Koča v Kamniški Bistrici to the parking lot V Koncu is prohibited by a traffic sign, which extends the route by almost an hour.
c) From Luče we drive to Podvolovljek, then on a steep road we ascend to Volovljek pass (the pass is also known as Kranjski Rak after the inn there). From there we start descending towards Kamnik. Lower we join the road from Črnivec pass, where we turn right downhill. When we reach Stahovica, at the traffic light intersection we turn right towards Kamniška Bistrica (straight Kamnik) and drive to Dom v Kamniški Bistrici. We bypass the mountain hut on the right side. The asphalt ends a little higher, from there we continue on a gravel road that quickly forks. We keep to the lower left road (right leads to a footpath towards Kokrsko sedlo), and at intersections we follow the signs for Grintovec. We park at the parking lot at the lower station of the freight cable car to Kokrsko sedlo. Driving and parking beyond the freight cable car is prohibited (there is no prohibition sign, but fines of €1,000 are regularly issued). In winter, driving from Koča v Kamniški Bistrici to the parking lot V Koncu is prohibited by a traffic sign, which extends the route by almost an hour.

Route description:
From the parking lot we turn left onto the marked footpath towards Cojzova koča on Kokrsko sedlo, Grintovec and Skuta (straight unmarked paths across Gamsov skret and Žmavčarje). The path initially leads along the right side of the freight cableway but soon enters the forest, through which it begins to ascend first moderately, then quite steeply. The well-maintained path higher up leads us to a short, steeper step. Two short cables used to be installed here but have been removed. In dry conditions the passage is not demanding, though more caution is needed especially on descent and when wet.
Above the steep section we reach a bench where we can take a short rest. The path then continues through the forest for some time. After crossing a torrent we first enter a belt of low trees, then pass under the cliffs of Mali vrh (1915 m), where there is increased risk of falling rocks especially in spring and after rain.
Further on the path becomes more gravelly and steep, which may require some extra energy. In return we are rewarded with wonderful views of the mountains above the Kamniška Bistrica valley, with the imposing walls of nearby Kalška gora standing out. This is followed by some traversing ascent across scree, after which the rocky path transitions to scenic grassy slopes. Along these we ascend to Kokrsko sedlo, where we see the mountain hut on the left and, straight ahead, a fine view towards the Kokra valley.
From Kokrsko sedlo we continue right towards Grintovec, Skuta and Kamniško sedlo via Sleme (left Kalška gora, Kalški greben and Krvavec, straight down Kokra and Suhadolnik). We first ascend quite steeply on slopes rising north of the saddle. After ten minutes the gradient eases and we reach a marked junction, where we turn right towards Skuta (slightly left Kočna and Grintovec).
The path ahead is initially a little harder to follow as it crosses a grassy section, but higher up it becomes clearer and in moderate ascent leads us to the picturesque passage across Mala Vratca.
Here or slightly earlier an formerly marked path to Grintovec via Dolge stene branches left, which today is considered more of an unmarked approach to Grintovec, while we continue straight on the marked path towards Skuta. After the narrow passage of Mali Vratca the path begins to descend a steep and occasionally exposed slope. At the end of the descent, where we lose a little more than 50 metres of elevation, some protection aids us, followed by crossing a gully. After that we reach the world of high plateaus, across which we begin to ascend towards Bivak pod Grintovcem or Bivak Pavla Kemperla, which we reach after about half an hour of ascent.
From the bivouac we continue on the marked path, which quickly brings us to a junction where the path splits.
We continue straight towards Grintovec and Skuta (right Kamniško sedlo) on a relatively gentle path that leads us across the karst terrain of Veliki podi to the next junction.
Again we choose the left path (right Skuta), which continues across a fissured world full of cracks and abysses. On this section we carefully follow the markings and ascend to Mlinarsko sedlo, where Frischaufova pot from Jezersko or Češka koča on Spodnje Ravne joins.
We turn left towards Grintovec (right Dolgi hrbet and Skuta via Dolgi hrbet, sharply right Skuta below Dolgi hrbet) and continue on technically more demanding terrain. The path leads along an occasionally exposed ridge and beside it, ascending mainly southwest, then moves to the shady side of the ridge where it temporarily becomes somewhat easier.
Here the path from Dolška škrbina joins from the right; we keep slightly left towards the summit of Grintovec.
The path ahead becomes somewhat harder, but numerous protections help so that ascent on occasionally sheer sections is fairly safe. In the final part the path is also quite exposed to falling rocks; we follow the steep path all the way to the summit of Grintovec, from which a magnificent view opens.
Descent is possible by the easier path via Streha.

Starting point - Kokrsko sedlo 2:30, Kokrsko sedlo - junction above the saddle 0:10, junction above the saddle - Mala Vratca 0:15, Mala Vratca - Bivak pod Grintovcem 0:50, Bivak pod Grintovcem - Veliki podi 0:25, Veliki podi - Mlinarsko sedlo 0:35, Mlinarsko sedlo - junction below Grintovec 0:40, junction below Grintovec - Grintovec 0:20.

Along the route: Cojzova koča na Kokrskem sedlu mountain hut (1174m), Cojzova koča na Kokrskem sedlu (1793m), Bivak pod Grintovcem (1859m), Mala Vratca (1952m), Pod Dolgimi stenami (1916m), Bivak pod Grintovcem (2100m), Veliki podi (2211m), Mlinarsko sedlo (2334m), Razpotje pod vrhom Grintovca (2453m)

We recommend: trips from the same starting point, similar trips, panorama, summit register