Ruše - Posestvo Šumik (past Sveta Marija)

Access to starting point:
From Maribor or Selnica ob Dravi we drive to Ruše, where we follow the signs for the cemetery, where in the parking lot by the cemetery we park. We can also park in any other parking lot in Ruše.

Path description:
From the cemetery we continue on the road, or sidewalk, which continues towards the west, and from the road the first path through the Lobnica valley soon branches off to the left, but we continue on the main road to the next marked crossroad, where at the company Ecom we turn left onto a side road, by which there are signs for the path along Lobnica, Šumik, and Bajgot.
We bypass the company area on the right side, walking along the fence, and a little further, we cross the stream Lobnica over a small bridge.
After the small bridge, we reach an asphalt road, and the marked path splits.
To the left continues the path along the stream Lobnica, but we go right and then immediately left in the direction towards Zgornji Smolnik and Šumik. Next follows a short ascent on the macadam road, which we quickly leave as the signs for Šumik and Pesek direct us left onto an overgrown cart track, which further ascends diagonally towards the right. A little further, we join another path, along which we quickly reach the NOB monument. Above the monument, the path begins to ascend more steeply and in a few minutes brings us to a saddle west of the peak Kluže.
Here we continue right (left an unmarked path to Kluže - five minutes) and initially proceed along a forested ridge, then bypass an unnamed peak on maps on the right side. Further on, at several crossings, we continue straight, and when we reach the asphalt road, we continue upwards. The asphalt road higher up brings us to a scenic saddle at the farm Globokar, and we continue straight to the next farm Harič. Behind the mentioned farm, the road turns sharply to the right, but we continue straight on a marked cart track that leads through the forest. Through the forest, at several crossings, we follow the blazes, and when we return to the road higher up, we follow it to the left. The road soon leads us out of the forest and splits into three branches.
We continue on the rightmost road, along which the blazes continue and where there are signs for the church. Just a little further, we reach the next crossroad, where we turn left towards the cottage Koča na Klopnem vrhu and the waterfall Šumik (straight leads to a nearby homestead). After a few more dozen steps, we arrive at the church of St. Mary.
At the church, the path splits, and we continue straight towards Šumik (right cottage Koča na Klopnem vrhu) and continue along the edge of the forest. Nearby holiday cottage we bypass on the right side, then the path leads us through a strip of forest. When we leave the forest, we pass by youth mountain hut Smolnik, and behind it we step onto the road where the path splits.
We continue slightly right on a cart track in the direction of estate Šumik and Peska (slightly left on the road to waterfall Šumik through virgin forest), along which we walk only briefly as the blazes then direct us slightly left onto a marked path that continues along old forest logging trails. Further on, at several crossings, we follow the blazes, otherwise mostly ascending diagonally to the left. Higher up, we reach Jelenske peči, which we notice on the left side of the path, and the path then widens and leads us out of the forest. After a short scenic ascent, we reach the macadam road, which we follow straight (sharply right to cottage Koča na Klopnem vrhu and Činžat), and along it, in a gentle descent, we arrive at a crossroad, where we turn left (right to cottage Koča na Klopnem vrhu on a marked path) towards the nearby estate Šumik.
Starting point - Sveta Marija 2:05, Sveta Marija - estate Šumik 1:05.
The description and pictures refer to the condition in June 2023.

On the way: Sveta Marija (Smolnik) (860m)