Jama Pekel (parkirišče) - Apno (krajša pot)

Access to starting point:
We leave the Styrian motorway at the Šempeter exit in the Savinja Valley and follow the signs for Šempeter. When we arrive in Šempeter, at the traffic-light controlled intersection we follow the sign for Pekel Cave and turn left. Immediately after crossing the railway track we turn right towards Podlog. In the Podlog settlement in the Savinja Valley, at the roundabout we follow the signs for Pekel Cave and Zalog pri Podlogu. We continue through the underpass under the motorway and through the village Zalog pri Podlogu. Along the asphalt road we follow the signpost that directs us left and soon reach the well-arranged and spacious asphalt parking lot in front of the entrance to Pekel Cave, where we park.

Path description:
From the parking lot we continue on foot along the arranged, wide and compacted path leading north towards the cave entrance and to the right of the road. The path runs along the picturesque Peklenščica stream, which accompanies us on our left side. After a few minutes of walking we arrive at the information point (log cabin), where there is a cash desk where we can buy a ticket for Pekel Cave before the guided tours.
At the log cabin we go sharply left onto the path along which the markers continue and which also leads to the Forest and Geological Educational Trail Pekel. There follows some traversing ascent to the left, then the path turns right and ascends over a wooden footbridge, behind it turns left again and a little further joins a cart track which we follow left (right continues the marked path leading over the burnt area and is somewhat longer).
There follows a short descent and we reach an asphalt road which we follow right to the nearby junction, where we go right again. There follows some easy walking, then before the Ločanka Spring we go left onto the gravel road, where we join the marked path leading over Pogorišče. Along the gravel road we quickly ascend to the second asphalt road, which we follow right to the nearby junction. From the junction by some houses we continue slightly right along the road along which the markers continue. The road quickly takes us to the edge of the forest, along which we ascend past individual houses, then cross a belt of forest. When we leave the forest we continue slightly right, a little further we go over a small pass, where we arrive at the south-western slopes. There follows a short traverse and we reach a somewhat wider road which we follow uphill, a few minutes further we go right and then ascend to some houses located on the edge of the ridge which we crossed lower at the small pass.
Here the signs for Apno direct us left, where we go past the yard of the houses, then the path directs slightly right and takes us into the forest. Continuing we ascend through the forest, higher we temporarily descend a bit and at forks follow the markers. There follows the last few-minute-long ascent and we reach the summit of Apno.

Starting point - Pekel Cave 0:05, Pekel Cave - junction before Ločanka Spring 0:10, junction before Ločanka Spring - Apno 0:45.

Description and photos refer to the state in February 2026.

On the way: Jama Pekel (300m), Kale (468m)