Grda draga - Veliki Snežnik (via Mali Snežnik)

Access to starting point:
a) From Cerknica or Nova vas na Blokah we drive to Bloška Polica, from where we continue towards Lož and Babno Polje. In the settlement Pudob we turn right towards Snežnik, Ilirska Bistrica, Knežak and the nearby settlement Kozarišče. In Kozarišče we drive slightly left towards Snežnik and also at the following intersections follow the signs for Snežnik. At the end of Kozarišče the asphalt ends, and immediately after the bridge over Mali Obrh we turn left towards Mašun and Knežak. A long drive on a gravel road follows. After approximately 19 km from Kozarišče we reach an intersection where the road from Mašun joins from the right. Here we continue left towards Sviščaki. Another approx. 10 km of gravel road separates us from there, and at intersections we always follow the signs for Sviščaki. After a total of approx. 27 km of gravel we reach the hunting lodge in Grda draga, and about 100 metres further the hiking and information boards, near which we park.
b) We drive to Pivka, from where we continue towards Knežak. In Knežak at the marked intersection we turn left towards Mašun and the settlements Bač and Koritnice. A little further we go right towards Mašun and Koritnice (straight to Bač). After Koritnice the road starts to climb noticeably. After 18 km drive from the main intersection in Knežak we reach Mašun, from where we turn right towards Sviščaki. About 2 km before Sviščaki we reach a larger grassy plain called Grda draga. Here we first see the hunting lodge, and about 100 metres further the start of the marked hiking trail to Snežnik, where we park by the road.
c) First we drive to Ilirska Bistrica, then continue towards Sviščaki (the turn-off in the middle of Ilirska Bistrica is marked, but perhaps somewhat less visible). The entire regional road to Sviščaki is asphalted. After approx. 19 km of ascent we reach an intersection in the immediate vicinity of the Planinski dom na Sviščakih, where we continue straight past the hut towards Mašun. After another 2 km of gravel we reach Grda draga, where we park by the hiking boards.

Route description:
From the starting point in Grda draga we head onto the footpath towards Snežnik and Snežna Mati Božja. The path first leads us along the edge of the meadow, then after a small feeding station, which we bypass on the right side, leads us into the forest. Through it we first ascend gently, then moderately along the cart track. It has several junctions, but we always follow the directions where we see the markings. Higher up we reach the chapel of Marija Snežna. The ascent continues along the cart track, where at the next junctions we again follow the markings. Soon we cross a forest road. Here the path from the starting points Sviščaki and Snežniška Grda jama joins from the right, the road towards Pekel branches off to the left, and we continue straight.
We head towards Snežnik along the path that leads through dense forest. Higher up we cross a small clearing and return to the forest, where the trail begins to ascend transversely to the left. After a few minutes of transverse ascent we reach a marked junction, where the path from Mašun joins from the right.
We continue again towards Snežnik, this time along a somewhat steeper path that leads past a monument. Above it the first extensive view opens, reaching across Nanos all the way to the Alps. Further on we ascend through dwarf pine. When the steepness eases, we reach an old trigonometric point stone that stands just below the summit of Mali Snežnik. From here a wonderful view opens onto Veliki Snežnik, Istria, Primorska and Notranjska.
From Mali Snežnik we continue along the path that descends almost imperceptibly along the indistinct eastern ridge. Further on we move onto the western, very scenic ridge of Veliki Snežnik, along which we walk mainly in a gentle to occasionally moderate ascent. A little further the Matetova path joins from the right, and a little later also the usual path from Sviščaki.
At both junctions we continue straight, then ascend transversely along the steeper slope of Veliki Snežnik, which is dangerous for slipping in snow. After a few minutes we reach Zavetišče na Velikem Snežniku, in front of which we turn left and in a few steps climb to the 1796-metre-high summit.

The description and photos refer to the situation in October 2015.

Along the route: Kapelica Marije Snežne (1300m), Mali Snežnik (1694m)

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