Okrepčevalnica Zelena dolina - Boč (via Balunjača)

Access to starting point:
From the Rogatec - Majšperk road, on the southern side of the settlement Stoperce, we turn left towards Okrepčevalnica Zelena dolina (from the Majšperk direction, we turn right). There follows some gentle to moderate ascent along the Beneščica stream and we arrive at the parking lot next to Okrepčevalnica Zelena dolina.

Route description:
From the parking lot we continue along the road ahead, with markers accompanying us along the path, which higher up direct us left from the road onto a footpath that temporarily ascends more steeply through the forest. A few minutes further we return to the asphalt road, but leave it after just a few steps and in the middle of the right bend continue straight onto the marked cart track, which ascends transversely under the high-voltage power line route. A little further the cart track widens into a road and we follow it left, crossing the slopes to the left.
During the crossing we pass a weekend house, then continue through the forest where the path takes us past the NOB monument. When the crossing ends, behind the farmhouse we reach a marked junction where we go right towards Boč (left to Ložno and Donačka gora).
This is followed by ascent along the asphalt road, from which we occasionally get a nice view of the surrounding hills, higher up the road levels out and brings us past a chapel to the hamlet Ravnocerje.
Here we go behind the farmhouse on the right, right onto the marked cart track along which we ascend to a marked junction where we join the path from Cerovec pod Bočem.
The path ahead ascends transversely along the cart track and quickly brings us to the ridge west of Ravnocerje. Here the path turns slightly left (sharply right to the top of Ravnocerje 3 minutes) and leads us past a spring visible under the path. For a short time we continue along the forested ridge, then the path turns right and goes onto the slope, where at several junctions we follow the markers. Higher up we go left from the cart track onto the marked footpath (the cart track joins the forest road a little further), next to which we notice a sign reading forest reserve Boč. The path continues along the left, sunny side bypassing the highest point of Plešivec, located on an indistinct summit, then we gradually start descending. Lower we reach a marked junction where we join the path from Cerovec pod Bočem, we continue to the nearby road.
When we reach the road we go left, left also at the nearby intersection (right Makole). This is followed by some descent along the gravel road, upon leaving the forest past a shrine we arrive at an intersection from which we go straight (left the road leads into the valley towards Rogaška Slatina) and bypass the Gavez farmhouse on the left side, on the right the nearby Rogaška Slatina hunting lodge.
Behind the lodge we descend to the second road and follow it right. When the road starts ascending a marked path branches right towards Formin and Makole, we continue along the asphalt road which starts ascending. After a short ascent the road forks, we continue along the slightly left road which starts descending (slightly right road leads to a private house). This is followed by descent along the gravel road which somewhat lower brings us to an intersection where we go right downhill towards Boč. We continue descending, at the next intersection where we join the path from Makole we go left. Just a little further we go right. From the last intersection we walk along the road only briefly, then go left onto the marked path which ascends along the cart track to the place where the forester's hut once stood, now a new lodge is being built (status May 2022).
Here we step back onto the road which we follow left (across the road an unmarked path to Boč, or we can join the road leading towards Boč). Further we walk along the road which crosses the slopes of Boč to the left, along it we first still gently ascend, later also slightly descend.
Some 10 steps before reaching the asphalt road a shady path to Boč branches right, we continue to the road where we continue right. When the road turns left we continue slightly right and with the path along the poorer road going into the forest, at the junction go right in the direction of the path via Balunjača and climbing path to Boč (left downhill Dom na Boču - 2 minutes).
The path ahead leads along a gentle road ascending transversely to the left and crossing the power line route. Upon reaching the south-western ridge of Boč the Detičkova path from Zgornje Poljčane joins from the left, we continue along the road to its end at the turning area.
We continue left along the trampled, improved and partly fenced path which soon brings us to a junction where we leave the usual easy path to Boč. We head left towards the climbing path and path via Balunjača. This is followed by a short, fairly level transverse ascent left to the cliffs where the first protections appear. The path is not particularly demanding but especially in spring and after rain exposed to falling rocks.
At the start of the secured section a very demanding secured path to Boč branches right, we continue straight towards the path via Balunjača. This is followed by transverse ascent along the steep slope where especially when wet greater caution is needed. After the next secured section we arrive at the Balunjača cave, just a few dozen steps further there is another cave. The steepness of the slope above the caves eases somewhat, the path turns right and ascends transversely above the steep part. When the terrain levels, the climbing path joins from the right.
We continue slightly left and at the red hiking signs join the usual path. Further we follow markers to the fenced military area which we bypass on the right side. For a short time we walk without major elevation changes, then ascend again and quickly reach the summit of Boč with the viewpoint tower. In nice weather it is worth climbing it as a wonderful view opens in all directions.

Along the route: Plešivec (at Boč) (822m)

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