Ruška koča na Arehu - Koča na Klopnem vrhu

Access to starting point:
From the south Maribor arterial road at the traffic light crossroad we turn towards the settlement Hoče, and on the road which is completely asphalted, after 18 km we get to Areh. The entire path is equipped with appropriate signposts.

Path description:
From the parking lot on the west side we head onto a macadam road, along it through the forest approximately 0.6 km, until we reach the edge of the forest. Here we have two options available: either we go a little further and then left uphill along the ski slope following the signs over the highest point of Žigartov vrh, or we opt for the left well-trodden and wide path over the southeastern slope of Žigartov vrh; this path is 15 minutes shorter than the previously mentioned variant. We choose the latter and turn left onto the comfortable path, which initially runs flat, enters the forest, then rises slightly until the variant path from Žigartov vrh joins from the right (*30 min). The path descends slightly; on a smaller overgrown clearing a view opens up through the trees for a moment, which the trees then hide again. We cross a macadam road, across the flat we bypass a larger clearing on the left side and then begin descending from Peršetov vrh, where we are. We reach the NOB monument (*40 min), where the path levels out again; about 30 m from the monument is a junction of mountain paths, the left path leads to Tri kralje, our path turns right, as indicated by the "Pesek" sign on the tree. Through young forest we walk about 200 m and come to the junction of macadam and forest roads. We cross the macadam road and continue straight along the forest road to its end on a smaller clearing. The path now rises slightly for a short time through the forest, at the top slightly left and then right downhill, we cross an overgrown forest clearing, followed by another ascent. We are on Bajgotov vrh; the path bypasses its highest point from the north side and in calm weather we hear the roaring from the Šumik waterfall. The path starts descending steeply into the upper reaches of the Lobnica valley, we cross a macadam road, a few more meters through the forest (or along the road around) and arrive at the place called Bajgot, which is also a known junction of mountain paths (*45 min, from Areh under 2 hours). We are at the lowest point of our tour; at this spot is the confluence of Lobnica, Kraljščica and Črnava. A large macadam parking lot is available, in the little woods on the sides benches and tables are arranged for hikers. We are right at the edge of the protected area and if time permits, we can visit the Veliki Šumik waterfall, to which it is about 20 minutes descent, return along the same path. From the parking lot westward along the road, which immediately at the first right bend crosses Lobnica, already after a minute we leave the road and turn left uphill into the forest, as the signpost for Klopni vrh indicates. The path quickly levels out, we cross the forest road to Osankarica (here there is also a branch of the mountain path to Pesek and Osankarica), another about 50 m uphill through the forest and we arrive at another forest road, along which we turn left. Along it past a larger clearing, where there is a cluster of houses, then we turn left downhill from the road—signpost Klopni vrh (*20 min) (in bad weather we can continue along the mentioned road, which ascends gradually). The path leads us through the forest; after a while we notice the outlines of a forest road above us, the path follows it all the time until it joins it in the final section. Below Sekretarjev vrh the road ends (*45 min); here we turn right into the forest down a gentle slope. We reach a fork (*15 min); the left path leads past Tihega jezera ("Falski tajht") and over Treh žebljev to Osankarica, our path turns right. The path still descends, we cross two more small streams and arrive at a good cart track, leave the forest and across the flat arrive at the NOB monument on our left side. Continuing, our path leads straight and slightly downhill and transitions to a forest road; from the right side a view begins to open up. On the left side we encounter the branch of the path to Pesek; at the junction of forest roads we go straight and arrive at the destination (*15 min).

On the way: Tehe Veliki Šumik waterfall (950m)

Trip can be extended to: Klopni vrh