Makole - Boč (via Balunjača)

Access to starting point:
a) Drive to Poljčane, then follow the signs for Majšperk and Makole. In the settlement of Stranske Makole or slightly beyond the settlement of Stranske Makole, turn right towards Makole, where in the center of the settlement, at the marked parking lot next to the cemetery, we park.
b) Drive to Slovenska Bistrica, then head onto the road in the direction of Makole. Continue following the signs for Makole, and park at the marked parking lot next to the cemetery in the center of the settlement.
c) From Ptuj, follow the signs for Majšperk, and when arriving in Majšperk, follow the signs for Makole. Upon arriving in Makole, park at the marked parking lot next to the cemetery.

Route description:
From the parking lot, walk to the main road and continue right to the nearby roundabout, from which we head onto the road marked for Jelovec pri Makolah and sv. Urbana.
Continue along the somewhat narrower road that leads us across Jelovski potok. Makole ends a little further ahead, but from the intersection with the dead-end street, we continue left, where the first markers appear. Continue on the asphalt road, which climbs slightly through the forest a bit further, then leads past a few houses. Further on, a nice view opens from the road, at some intersections follow the signs and markers. Higher up, the road passes the chapel of sv. Urbana, but we still follow the markers at a few intersections. After a while, turn left from the asphalt road onto a gravel road, which temporarily descends slightly, but we turn right from it onto a cart track that ascends along the edge of the forest. The path ahead leads through the forest for a few minutes, upon leaving the forest go right, thus bypassing the nearby homestead on the right side, upon reaching the asphalt road go left. Again, some descent follows, at the Domišak farm the road returns to the forest and begins to ascend. In the forest, turn right from the road onto a cart track, along which we ascend transversely. Upon leaving the cart track, from which a nice view of Boč opens temporarily, step onto the road, which we follow to the right (left Plešivec). We don't walk long on the road, as the markers direct us slightly left onto a cart track that ascends transversely to the right, higher up follow it at junctions in the direction of the markers. Near the summit of Kisovec, the path begins to descend and brings us to a poorer road, along which we easily descend to Formila.
Upon reaching Formila, continue left (sharply right Studenice and Boč by road) and continue briefly along the edge of the forest, when the road enters the forest it brings us to a marked intersection.
At the intersection, the path from Plešivca joins from the left, we continue right towards Boč. Also at the next intersection, where another path from Plešivca or Donačka gora joins, continue right, and also go right at the next intersection. From the last intersection, walk along the road only briefly, then go left onto the marked path that ascends via cart track to the site where the forester's hut once stood, now a new hut is being built (status May 2022).
Here step back onto the road, which we follow left (across the road an unmarked path leads to Boč, or we can join the road leading towards Boč). Further on, walk along the road that crosses the slopes of Boč to the left, along it we first gently ascend, later also slightly descend.
A few dozen steps before reaching the asphalt road, a shady path to Boč branches right, we continue to the road, where we continue right. When the road turns left, continue slightly right and with the path continue along the poorer road that goes into the forest, at the junction go right in the direction of the path via Balunjača and the climbing path to Boč (left downhill Dom na Boču - 2 minutes).
The path ahead leads along a gentle road that ascends transversely to the left and crosses the power line route. Upon reaching the south-western ridge of Boča, Detičkova pot from Zgornje Poljčane joins from the left, we continue along the road to its end at the turning area.
Continue left along the trampled, improved and partly fenced path, which soon brings us to a junction, where we leave the usual easy path to Boč. Head left in the direction of the climbing path and the path via Balunjača. A short, fairly level transverse ascent to the left to the cliffs follows, where the first safety features appear. The path is not particularly demanding, but especially in spring and after rain it is exposed to falling rocks.
At the start of the secured section, a very demanding secured path to Boč branches right, we continue straight in the direction of the path via Balunjača. A transverse ascent along the steep slope follows, where greater caution is needed especially when wet. After the next secured section, we reach the Balunjača cave, just a few dozen steps further there is another cave. The steepness of the slope above the caves eases somewhat, the path turns right and ascends transversely above the steep section. When the terrain flattens, the climbing path joins from the right.
Continue slightly left and at the red hiking signs join the usual path. Further, follow the markers to the fenced military area, which we bypass on the right side. Walk briefly without major elevation changes, then ascend again and quickly reach the summit of Boč with the viewpoint tower. In good weather, it's worth climbing it, as a wonderful panoramic view opens in all directions.
Makole - Formila na Boču 2:00, Formila na Boču - Boč 1:45.

Along the route: Jelovec pri Makolah (266m), Sveti Urban (Jelovec pri Makolah) (415m), Formila na Boču (624m)

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