Jama Pekel (parkirišče) - Izvir Ponikvice (čez Pogorišče)

Access to starting point:
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 signalized intersection, follow the sign for Jama Pekel and turn left. Immediately after crossing the railway line, turn right towards Podlog. In the settlement of Podlog in the Savinja Valley, at the roundabout follow the signs for Jama Pekel and Zalog pri Podlogu. Continue the path through the underpass under the motorway and through the village Zalog pri Podlogu. On the asphalt road follow the sign that directs us left and soon reach the well-maintained and spacious asphalt parking lot in front of the entrance to Jama Pekel, where we park.

Path description:
From the parking lot we continue on foot along the arranged, wide and compacted path that leads 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 (hut), where there is a cash desk where we can buy a ticket for Jama Pekel before guided tours.
At the hut we go sharply left onto the path along which the markings continue and which also leads to the Forest and Geological Educational Trail Pekel. There follows some cross ascent to the left, then the path turns right and climbs over a wooden footbridge, behind it it turns left again and a little further joins a cart track, which we follow to the right (left unmarked shortcut towards the top of Apno). There follows a cross ascent to the right, higher up we also cross a steep path, i.e. the route of the return educational trail. Only a short easy ascent remains and we arrive at the stamping box on Pogorišče.
We bypass the stamping box on the right side and a few steps further arrive at a junction, where we go left towards Apno (right path leads towards the church of St. Jedert). There follows a few minutes of descent through the forest, when we leave the forest we go right across the meadow to a junction, where we reach a wider cart track. We follow the cart track to the left, along it we quickly arrive at the information board by Izvir Ločanke and five steps further to the spring.
Behind the spring the marked path turns left, we however go right and continue the path along the unmarked asphalt road, which quickly takes us to Požiralnik Ponikvice, which we notice to the right of the road. In the immediate vicinity of the sinkhole there is a risk of slipping, otherwise the path is easy.
From the sinkhole we return to the road and follow it to the right towards the northeast. When the road approaches the forest it visibly ascends and a little further brings us to the right serpentine, where we leave the road and continue left onto the cart track, which subsequently crosses the slopes to the left. The cart track ends after a few minutes, we however descend crosswise along the trail over a shorter steep slope, where especially when wet more caution is needed. After a short descent we arrive directly by the stream, where we cross the cart track, we however continue uphill along the gentle trail by the stream. Higher up we cross a few side springs, when we approach the houses we step onto the road. Here we go left and walk along the wide and arranged path to the arranged Izvir Ponikvice.

Starting point - Jama Pekel 0:05, Jama Pekel - Pogorišče 0:20, Pogorišče - Izvir Ločanke 0:13, Izvir Ločanke - Požiralnik Ponikvice 0:02, Požiralnik Ponikvice - Izvir Ponikvice.

Description and photos refer to the condition in February 2026.

On the way: Jama Pekel (300m), Pogorišče (412m), Izvir Ločanke (356m), Požiralnik Ponikvice (350m)