Šmartno na Pohorju - Sveti Trije kralji

Access to starting point:
We leave the Styrian motorway at the Slovenska Bistrica south or north exit (depending on which direction we are coming from), and then we drive to the centre of Slovenska Bistrica, from where we head for the road in the direction of the settlement Šmartno na Pohorju. A few kilometres of ascent follow, and we follow the road in the direction of the mentioned settlement. When we arrive at Šmartno na Pohorju, we park on a smaller arranged parking lot next to the cemetery and the church of St. Martin.

Path description:
From the parking lot, in a few steps we walk to the main road which leads through the settlement, and we follow it to the right, where the blazes also direct us. For a short time, we walk through the centre of the settlement, then with beautiful views we walk to a smaller intersection by a somewhat larger chapel.
Here we continue straight (right Ruška koča na Arehu - path over Frajhajm) and a few minutes further we arrive at the next marked intersection, from which we continue left towards sv. Trije kralji (straight Ruška koča na Arehu). We bypass the nearby houses on the left side, then continue along the pasture. Further, we descend lightly on a poorer road; when the road turns sharply left, we continue straight on the path that goes into the forest. The path ahead leads us past a trough with water, then Knafelc blazes direct us to the left (straight gostišče Dovnik). A little further, over a small bridge, we cross the stream Devina, and we follow the blazes. Next follows a short steep ascent, then the path levels somewhat and leads us out of the forest, where we go across the meadow diagonally to the right. Higher at the edge of the forest we reach a cart track which brings us to the lower pond in Ošelju.
We bypass the mentioned pond on the right side and on a poorer road in two minutes we reach the upper pond in Ošelju.
We bypass the upper pond on the left side, just a little further we reach an asphalt road, where we go right in the direction towards sv. Trije kralji and Oplotnica. We continue past a few more houses, then go left (straight and after a few metres right Areh), where we pass by a farm onto a meadow. While walking on the meadow a beautiful view opens up on Boč and Veliki vrh; when we arrive in the forest, we then quickly reach a pond.
We bypass the upper pond on the left side, just a little further we reach an asphalt road, where we go right in the direction towards sv. Trije kralji and Oplotnica. We continue past a few more houses, then go left (straight and after a few metres right Areh), where we pass by a farm onto a meadow. While walking on the meadow a beautiful view opens up on Boč and Veliki vrh; when we arrive in the forest, we then quickly reach a pond.
We bypass the mentioned pond on the left side, then continue on the path which brings us in a few minutes to a macadam road, which we follow to the left. The road quickly brings us out of the forest, and we descend along it to a marked junction by the bridge over Bistrico.
A little before the bridge an abandoned path branches off to the right, leading past the farm Jesenek towards sv. Trije kralji; just before the bridge a marked path through Bistriški Vintgar joins us from the left, but we continue straight over the bridge to a smaller intersection, where we go right towards sv. Trije kralji (straight sv. Urh).
Next follows an ascent towards the farm Močnik, still before the farm we go right onto a cart track, which first ascends gently through the forest. A little higher we join another cart track, higher at several junctions we follow the blazes. Further we go past a trough with water, then at a smaller intersection we reach an asphalt road, which we just cross.
This time too we continue in the direction of sv. Trije kralji, a little further an abandoned path joins us quite unobtrusively from the right, leading past the homestead Jesenek. Some more ascent through the forest follows, then we join the path which leads over Velika Tinje.
We continue straight, where a few minutes of gentle to moderate ascent follow, then we already arrive at Hotel Jakec, above which is the church of sv. Trije kralji.
Starting point - ponds in Ošelju 0:35, ponds in Ošelju - pond west of Ošelju 0:10, pond west of Ošelju - sv. Trije kralji 1:30.
Description and pictures refer to the condition in January 2022 and May 2023.

On the way: Ribnika Devin v Ošelju (812m), Ribnik zahodno od Ošelja (824m)