Pivola (Reka) - Ruška koča na Arehu (via Petkovo sedlo)

Access to starting point:
We leave Štajerska highway at exit Rogoza, and then we follow the signs for Hoče. When we reach the old road Slovenska Bistrica - Maribor, we cross it at the traffic light intersection, and then we drive first through Spodnje Hoče, and then also through Zgornje Hoče. The path ahead leads us past the restaurant and pizzeria Anja; when the road a little further at the inn Rečnik turns left, we notice the beginning of the marked path on the right. At the starting point, there aren't any parking spots for mountaineers.

Path description:
After the inn Rečnik, signposts for Mariborska koča and waterfall Skalca direct us left onto a path that passes a nearby house and leads onto a pasture. Through the pasture, where no footpath is visible, we ascend diagonally to the right, and higher up, we notice a blaze on a tree that guides us into the forest. Through the forest, we ascend more steeply, bypassing chapel Frankova kapelica a few dozen strides to the right. A little further, we reach a narrower asphalt road, which we follow to the right, and after a short ascent, we carefully cross the main road. On the other side of the main road, we continue right and proceed along a second side road that leads past a few more houses; before the last house, we veer slightly left onto a path that takes us through a meadow into a strip of forest and bushes. Here, the path leads us along a hedge closer to a house; when we return to the main road, we follow it to the left, then quickly turn right onto a marked path that ascends along a one-way road. Next follows a fairly steep ascent, where we pass a few more houses; when the road splits, we continue straight onto a footpath that leads into the forest. For a few minutes, we ascend through the forest; when we leave the forest, we step back onto the main road for a few dozen strides. From the main road, we turn right at a marked crossing onto a side, also asphalt, road; when the road enters the forest, we go left onto a marked footpath, following the blazes at crossings. Higher up, the path widens into a rougher road, along which we reach a larger structure that we bypass on the right side. By the structure, the path returns to the forest, where we again follow the blazes; when we leave the forest, we bypass another structure on the left side. A little further, we reach a macadam road, which we follow to the right, then cross the slopes toward the right. With beautiful views, the path leads us past a cross, and after the cross, we gently descend to a nearby house, which we bypass on the left side. Further on, at a few smaller crossroads, we follow the blazes, passing individual houses until we reach a marked crossing at saddle Petkovo sedlo.
At saddle Petkovo sedlo, we join the path from Fram, and the path splits. Along a slightly left road, the path continues toward waterfall Skalca; slightly to the right, a road leads to hotel Tisa; to the right, a path leads to a hunting cottage, but we continue straight toward Mariborska koča.
We continue through a meadow between two roads, then the path enters the forest, where we follow the blazes. Higher up, we cross the main road toward hotel Bellevue once more, and a little further, we leave the forest. We continue past the cross, and when we reach the asphalt road from the marked crossing, we proceed left towards Mariborska koča, arriving in a few minutes of further walking.
We bypass the cottage on the left side, then continue right toward the Ruška koča na Arehu.
A short ascent follows, and we reach a road on which we continue the climb. The road splits slightly higher up, and we continue slightly left (slightly right toward Log and Bistrica ob Dravi). A few minutes higher, we reach a marked path leading through the Mariborski razglednik, but we turn left here and continue along a wider cart track that leads through the forest. A little further, a path branches off to the left towards hotel Zarja, but we continue straight in the direction of Ruška koča. This is followed by some diagonal ascent on the slopes of the peak Sedovec, and then we descend to a small saddle, where a path from the settlement Fram joins us.
We continue straight, mainly gently ascending along a macadam road that leads us past some burial sites. After some time, we reach the main road towards Areh, continue briefly alongside it, and then turn slightly left onto a footpath, which quickly leads us to the church of St. Areh.
From the church, we cross a meadow and we are already at Ruška koča na Arehu.
The starting point - Mariborska koča 2:15, Mariborska koča - Ruška koča 1:10.
Description and pictures refer to the condition in March and May 2022 and September 2023.

On the way: Petkovo sedlo (881m), Mariborska koča (1086m)