Jama Pekel (parkirišče) - Source of Ponikvica (čez Pogorišče)

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 Jama Pekel and turn left. Immediately after crossing the railway line we turn right towards Podlog. In the settlement of Podlog in the Savinja Valley, at the roundabout we follow the signs for Jama Pekel and Zalog pri Podlogu. We continue the route through the underpass under the motorway and through the village of Zalog pri Podlogu. Along the asphalt road we follow the sign which 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 reinforced path that leads north towards the cave entrance and runs 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 ticket office where we can buy a ticket for the guided tour of Jama Pekel.
At the hut we go sharply left onto the path where the markings continue and which also leads to the Forest and Geological Educational Trail Pekel. A short traverse ascent to the left follows, then the path turns right and climbs over a wooden bridge, behind it turns left again and a little further joins a cart track, which we follow to the right (left unmarked shortcut towards the summit of Apno). A traverse ascent to the right follows, higher up we cross another steep path, i.e. the route of the return educational trail. Only a short easy ascent remains and we arrive at the stamp box at Pogorišče.
We bypass the stamp box on the right side and a few steps further arrive at a junction where we go left towards Apno (the right path leads towards the church of sv. Jedert). A few minutes of descent through the forest follows, 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 at Izvir Ločanke and five steps further to the spring.
Behind the spring the marked path turns left, but we go right and continue along the unmarked asphalt road that quickly takes us to Požiralnik Ponikvice, which we notice to the right of the road. There is a risk of slipping in the immediate vicinity of the sinkhole, 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 climbs more visibly and a little further brings us to the right serpentine, where we leave the road and continue left onto the cart track which then traverses the slopes to the left. The cart track ends after a few minutes, we descend transversely along the trail over a short steep slope, where special caution is needed especially when wet. After a short descent we arrive directly at the stream, where we cross the cart track, but we continue uphill along the gentle trail along 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 0:30.

Description and photos refer to the condition in February 2026.

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