Poljana - Smolnik (steep path)

Access to starting point:
From the Ljubljana - Jesenice highway we take the Lesce exit, where at the roundabout we head onto the old road in the direction of Žirovnica and Jesenice. After a few km of driving, we drive past an intersection, where the road to Žirovnica branches off to the right. When we drive past the Završnica viaduct, we notice on the right side a turn-off, onto which we go (turning sharply right). Immediately we encounter a smaller intersection, where we go left, and at the next (after approx. 50 m) right, in the direction of Završnica. After a short descent, the road ascends slightly for some time, then flattens, and brings us to the spot where the macadam branches off to the left towards Valvasorjev dom. Here, we park nearby. (New parking lot is located next to the accumulation lake on the right side of the road).

Path description:
From the starting point, we go on the macadam road which leads left uphill towards Valvasorjev dom, and follow it for a good 5 minutes, after which on the left side of the road we come to a gate (barrier) of the grazing fence, whose crossing is indicated by signs Valvasorjev dom. We leave the road and head left across the pasture, where the path soon crosses the Rečica stream. When on the other side of the stream we step onto the meadow, we turn right (straight marked path) across the pasture into a small valley towards the northwest. Soon we cross the grazing fence (if it is in place), and come to a trodden path in the forest, which turns slightly left. The path, which becomes gravelly, starts to ascend more steeply through occasionally sparse forest. After a while our path crosses a wider cart-track-like marked path Poljana - Valvasorjev dom, after which it turns slightly right onto the forested ridge, where it begins to ascend ever more steeply. Pleasant, occasionally scenic path overgrown with roots, which leads us uphill towards the north, sometimes flattening out completely and then ascending again. When the gradient eases for the third time, the last and steepest part of the ascent awaits (when descending in wet conditions or snow there is a risk of slipping). The path brings us just below the summit from the steep forested slope onto open ground, where near the precipitous edge we climb just a few more steps to the summit of Smolnik, where there are two benches and a nice view into the valley.

Trip can be extended to: Valvasorjev dom pod Stolom ( 20 min)