Ravne - Firstov rep

Access to starting point:
A) First, we drive to Ribnica, and then we continue driving towards Kočevje. After Dolenja vas we continue right in the direction of Grčarice, Gotenica and Kočevska Reka. In Kočevska Reka we continue right in the direction of Borovca pri Kočevski Reki, mountain pass Strma Reber and Osilnice. In Borovec once again we continue right, and then we get to a hamlet Ravne, we continue driving a little further, but only to a spot, where by the road we notice traffic sign for 10% road gradient. We park by the road, where there is enough space for that.
B) From Kočevje we drive towards the border crossing Petrina, and then at the end of the settlement Štalcerji we continue right towards Kočevska Reka. In Kočevska Reka we continue left in the direction of Borovec pri Kočevski Reki, mountain pass Strma Reber and Osilnice. In Borovec we continue right, and then we get to a hamlet Ravne, and we continue driving a little further, but only to the spot, where by the road we notice traffic sign for 10% road gradient. We park by the road, where there is enough space for that.
C) From Osilnica or Sel pri Osilnici we continue in the direction settlements Žurge, Padovo pri Osilnici, Zgornji Čačič and mountain pass Strma Reber. Further, we drive on at first slightly winding, and higher serpentine road which after nineteen marked hairpin turns brings us to mountain pass Strma Reber (993 m). From the mountain pass ahead the road starts descending, and we drive to the turn-off for hunting lodge Ravne. We park near the turn-off or about 100 m ahead by the main road, where on the opposite side of the road, we notice traffic sign for 10% road gradient (caption of course from our side isn't visible), and on the right a rock with a blaze.

Route description:
On the other side of the road opposite the traffic sign, we notice signposts for Cerk, which direct us to the path which gently ascends through a meadow and in a few minutes brings us to the nearby hunting cottage (we can also start at the mentioned hunting cottage). From the hunting cottage, we continue slightly left on a poorly visible footpath which quickly brings us to a feeding site for animals. Further, the path passes into the forest, where it continues on a moderately steep cart track. After approximately 15 minutes of walking from the starting point, the cart track splits into two parts, and we continue on the right one, along which at first there are no blazes (left better beaten path leads to Kamniti zid and further towards Krempa). The right cart track, on which we continue the ascent, quickly brings us to the next junction, by which we again notice the blazes. We continue on the marked cart track, which higher changes into a poorly beaten footpath. The path ahead crosses a smaller torrent, and then ascends to the next cart track, which we follow to the left. We continue the ascent on a rocky and leaf-covered cart track, which soon brings us to a forest road.
From the forest road soon a marked path towards the summit Cerk branches off to the left, and we continue straight on the road, which gradually starts descending. After the left hairpin turn, at the crossroads we continue right, then a few minutes further, by the memorial of the former partisan hospital left in the direction of Firstov rep (if we continue on the right road we arrive at the main road Osilnica - Kočevska Reka).
From the crossroads ahead, the road leads us across a larger clearing, then passes into the forest, where it starts slightly ascending. On the part where the road starts ascending, a marked path from mountain pass Strma Reber and Bezgarske planine joins us from the right, and we continue straight and walk on the road a few more minutes, to the place where it ends at the turning area.
On the left side of the turning area we notice signs for Firstov rep and for the first time also for Loška stena, which direct us onto a cart track which gradually starts descending. When after a few minutes the cart track ends, on the left we notice a salt lick for wildlife, and we continue straight downhill on the marked footpath, along which in a few steps we arrive at the logbook box on Firstov rep.

Along the route: Lovski dom Ravne (760m)

The trip can be extended to the following destinations: Loška stena ( 25 min)

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