Gornji Grad - Cave Jespa (via Semprimožnik)

Access to starting point:
From the valley Savinjska dolina or from Kamnik through mountain pass Črnivec, we drive to Gornji Grad, where on a settled parking lot by the main bus stop we also park.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we continue by the main road towards the valley Savinjska dolina. After few 10 meters we come to a smaller crossroad, where signs for mountain hut Dom na Menini planini point us to the right on street Prod. Immediately after the first house we come at the marked crossing, where the path over Borovnica branches off to the right, and we continue straight in the direction of Menina planina past Semprimožnik. For some time we still continue on the road, and then we come to a bigger chapel, behind which we continue right on the forest road. The road quickly brings us to a smaller stream, after which it changes into a steep cart track. We continue the ascent on a marked cart track which higher turns to the left and a little further brings us to a marked crossing.
We continue right on the steep path (possible also straight on a gentle path), which past the plague column from 17th century after approximately 20 minutes of additional walking brings us on an indistinct saddle, where the path branches off to the left towards St. Florjan (1 minute), and we continue right, where after few steps of additional walking joins the gentle path. We continue straight on a marked path, which over steep and more panoramic grassy slopes brings us to a forest road which leads on Menina planina. The mentioned road we only cross, as signs lead us onto a meadow, through which in a few steps we reach Semprimožnik. Only few meters above the farm we again step on the road, and there signs for Menina planina point us on a well-marked path. Further, we moderately ascend along a cart track, which turns slightly to the right and from the edge of the forest leads us into a denser forest. After that, the path soon exceed altitude of 1000 meters and only a little further brings us to the parking lot number 2 (parking lot number 1 is located near the farm Semprimožnik).
Here we again cross the road and we continue the ascent on a pleasant path, which quickly brings us to "Usrani klanec". Here the path ascends steeper for a short time, and then in a moderate ascent through the forest brings us to a crossing, where from the right side joins the path over Borovnica.
We continue moderate ascent through the forest and the path quickly brings us on Prag 1170 meters, from which follows barely noticeable descent to "kopalnica" (bathroom). The path, which starts ascending again, quickly brings us to the next marked crossroads, where the path splits.
We continue right toward the path to the cave Jespi (left toward the path over Ovčji stan) and ascend moderately through occasionally thinner forest. Higher up, we cross a forest road again; upon returning to dense forest, we merge with the path past Strmčnik.
We continue left toward the cottage Dom na Menini planini past the cave Jespa, ascending through the forest to a grazing fence, where we leave the forest. Here on the left, we notice a hunting cottage, but we continue straight uphill, following the blazes and a fainter footpath. During the ascent, a beautiful view opens up when looking back; higher up, the path enters a strip of forest, where we still carefully follow the blazes. When we leave the forest again, the path flattens; we then gently descend to a macadam road leading towards Dom na Menini planini, which we cross and ascend along a marked path. Next follows a walk across the Menina planina plateau, where we continue following blazes; the fairly gentle path leads us to a junction for the path to the cave Jespa.
Here, with the help of fixed safety gear, we descend into a karst sinkhole from which there is an entrance to the ice cave Jespa.

On the way: Sveti Florjan above Gornji Grad (743m), Semprimožnik (812m), Prag (1170m)