Snežniška Grda jama - Veliki Snežnik (via Mali Snežnik)

Access to starting point:
a) From Cerknica or Nova vas na Blokah we drive to Bloška Polica, from where we continue towards Lož and Babno Polje. In the settlement Pudob we turn right in the direction of Snežnik, Ilirska Bistrica, Knežak and the nearby settlement Kozarišče. In Kozarišče we drive slightly left towards Snežnik and also at the following intersections follow the signs for Snežnik. At the end of Kozarišče the asphalt ends, and immediately after the bridge over Mali Obrh we turn left in the direction of Mašun and Knežak. A long drive on a macadam road follows. After approximately 19 km from Kozarišče we arrive at an intersection where the road from Mašun joins from the right. Here we continue left towards Sviščaki. We still have approximately 10 km of macadam road to there, and at intersections we constantly follow the signs for Sviščaki. After a total of approximately 29 km of macadam we arrive at Planinski dom na Sviščakih, after which at the intersection we turn left in the direction of Snežnik. We continue driving on the road on which the marked footpath also runs. On it we drive another approximately 3.5 km to the intersection where a forest road closed to public traffic branches off slightly to the left. We park at a suitable place by the intersection.
b) We drive to Pivka, from where we continue towards Knežak. In Knežak at the marked intersection we turn left towards Mašun and the settlements Bač and Koritnice. A little further we go right in the direction of Mašun and Koritnice (straight Bač). After Koritnice the road starts to climb noticeably. After 18 km drive from the main intersection in Knežak we arrive at Mašun, from where we turn right towards Sviščaki. We still have approximately 12 km of macadam road to there. When we arrive at Planinski dom na Sviščakih, we drive another about 50 meters towards Ilirska Bistrica, then turn left in the direction of Snežnik. We continue driving on the road on which the marked footpath also runs. On it we drive another approximately 3.5 km to the intersection where a forest road closed to public traffic branches off slightly to the left. We park at a suitable place by the intersection.
c) First we drive to Ilirska Bistrica, then continue towards Sviščaki (the turn-off in the middle of Ilirska Bistrica is marked, but perhaps somewhat less noticeable). The entire regional road to Sviščaki is asphalted. After approximately 19 km of ascent we arrive at the intersection in the immediate vicinity of Planinski dom na Sviščakih, where we turn right in the direction of Snežnik. We continue driving on the road on which the marked footpath also runs. On it we drive another approximately 3.5 km to the intersection where a forest road closed to public traffic branches off slightly to the left. We park at a suitable place by the intersection.

Route description:
Our starting point is at the intersection near Snežniška Grda jama, where we head onto the left, lower road (the right road leads along the usual path to Snežnik).
Along the lower road we first walk past the parking lot, then the path runs along the road that is closed to public traffic and secured with a chain next to the traffic sign. For a short time we walk parallel to the upper road, then our path turns more to the left and leads us past Snežniška grda jama. A few more minutes of traversing follow, then we join the marked path from Grda draga, where we turn right.
We continue the ascent towards Snežnik along the path that leads through dense forest. Higher up we cross a small clearing, return to the forest, and the path begins to ascend transversely to the left. After a few minutes of transverse ascent we reach a marked junction, where the path from Mašun joins from the right.
We head again towards Snežnik, this time along a somewhat steeper path that leads past a memorial. Above it the first extensive view opens, reaching across Nanos all the way to the Alps. We continue ascending through dwarf pines. When the steepness eases, we arrive at an old trigonometric point stone that stands just below the summit of Mali Snežnik. From here a wonderful view opens onto Veliki Snežnik, Istria, Primorska and Notranjska.
From Mali Snežnik we continue along the path that descends almost imperceptibly along the indistinct eastern ridge. Further on the path passes onto the western, very scenic ridge of Veliki Snežnik, along which we walk mainly in a gentle to occasionally moderate ascent. A little further the Matetova path joins from the right, and a little later also the usual path from Sviščaki.
At both junctions we continue straight, then we ascend transversely along the steeper slope of Veliki Snežnik, which is dangerous for slipping in snow. After a few minutes we reach Zavetišče na Velikem Snežniku, in front of which we turn left and in a few steps ascend to the 1796 meter high summit.

The description and pictures refer to the situation in October 2015.

Starting point - Mali Snežnik 1:00, Mali Snežnik - Snežnik 25 minutes.

Along the route: Mali Snežnik (1694m)

We recommend: trips from the same starting point, similar trips, panorama, summit register