Planina Ravne - Chapel on Molička planina (via Vrtače)

Access to starting point:
A) First, we drive to Kamnik, and then we continue driving towards Stahovica and the mountain pass Črnivec. A few hundred meters before the mountain pass Črnivec we leave the main road which leads towards Gornji Grad and we continue driving sharply left in the direction of the mountain pass Volovljek (Kranjski Rak). From the mentioned mountain pass we continue straight (left road which leads to Velika planina, right Štajerski Rak) and start descending towards Luče. Lower down the road flattens a little and brings us into the Podvolovljek valley. Further we first drive past the turn-off of the road which leads into the Lučka Bela valley, after that also past the bar pri Gamsu. After the bar, we need to pay attention, because only a few hundred meters further the road which leads towards the mountain pasture Podvežak and Ravne and farm Planinšek branches off to the left (by the spot where we leave the main road, there is a road sign approximately 11 km). Further, we drive on at first still asphalt road which is then ascending towards the Dleskovška planota plateau. Higher, the road towards Planinšek branches off to the right, and here we continue on the left upper road, which a little further brings us to the next crossroad, where we continue straight in the direction of the mountain pasture Ravne (left mountain pasture Podvežak). Further on a somewhat rougher road, we then follow to the beginning of the mountain pasture Ravne, where we park on an appropriate place by the road.
From the main road to the mountain pasture Ravne is approximately 10 km.
B) First, we drive to Luče, and then we continue driving towards Kamnik. When by the road we notice a road sign which shows 10.5 km, we need to pay attention to the right branch-off, because only a little further to the right the road towards the mountain pasture Podvežak and Ravne and farm Planinšek branches off. Further, we drive on at first still asphalt road which is then ascending towards the Dleskovška planota plateau. Higher, the road towards Planinšek branches off to the right, and here we continue on the left upper road, which a little further brings us to the next crossroad, where we continue straight in the direction of the mountain pasture Ravne (left mountain pasture Podvežak). Further on a somewhat rougher road, we then follow to the beginning of the mountain pasture Ravne, where we park on an appropriate place by the road.

Route description:
At the beginning of the mountain pasture Ravne (also Ravni) we notice wooden mountain signposts for Veliki vrh, Korošica, Molička planina and Dolgo trato, which point us to the left towards the nearby cottage, which is situated on the edge of the mountain pasture. We bypass the cottage on the left side, and then we pass into a narrow strip of forest, where blazes lead left. The path ahead leads us through the clearing, through which it ascends diagonally into the forest. Further, we are ascending through the forest, where we soon cross a grazing fence. Higher, the forest starts to thin out, or changes into a strip of dwarf pines. On some spots somewhat less trodden but all the time nicely followable path levels out higher and brings us to the lower edge of the Dolgih trat pastures. Here the path entirely flattens and in a few dozen steps of further walking brings us to the shepherd hut on Dolgih trat.
From the shepherd hut, we continue left in the direction of Molička planina, Korošica, Veliki vrh and Zelene trate (slightly right Dleskovec). The path ahead leads us across the Dolge trate pastures and ascends gently to moderately. Higher, the path flattens and brings us to a smaller saddle, after which the path leads us past a watering place for animals. We bypass the watering place on the left side, and the path only a few meters further brings us to a smaller junction, where we continue slightly left in the direction of Korošica over Vrtače (slightly right Veliki vrh and Korošica over Zelene trate).
From the junction ahead the path starts descending diagonally towards the right, while crossing mainly dwarf pine overgrown slopes of Dleskovec. Lower, from the slope we arrive into a plateau-like world full of sinkholes and smaller valleys. Well-marked and nicely followable path continues with some shorter ascents and occasionally somewhat longer descents. Somewhat further we arrive at a marked junction, where to the right branches off the path towards Molička planina and Korošica over Molička planina (left mountain pasture Podvežak).
We continue in the direction of Molička planina and gradually start ascending towards Prag (1870 m), which we reach after approximately 15 minutes of moderate ascent.
On Prag, from where a nice view opens towards Ojstrica and Krofička, from the right also joins the path from Zelene trate, we continue straight and gradually start descending. The path first leads us still past some birches, then transitions into a grassy valley, down which we descend to the marked junction on Molička planina. Here to the left continues the path towards Korošica, from the right joins the path from Robanov kot, and we continue straight in the direction of Kocbekovo zavetišče and the chapel on Molička planina. From the junction ahead the path starts to ascend lightly and quickly brings us to the mentioned shelter and a little further also to the chapel of St. Cyril and Methodius.

Along the route: Planina Dolga trata (1835m), Prag (1870m)

The trip can be extended to the following destinations: Kocbekov dom na Korošici (1 h)

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