Zgornja Bistrica (Center Vintgar) - Majalova kapelica (via Bistriški vintgar)

Access to starting point:
We drive to the center of Slovenska Bistrica, from where we go on the road in the direction of Zgornja Bistrica and Bistriški Vintgar. We further follow the signs for Bistriški Vintgar, and we park on the settled parking lot at Center Vintgar.

Path description:
From the parking lot at Center Vintgar we return to the road and we continue in the direction of Bistriški Vintgar. For a short time, we walk on the road or sidewalk, and then a path branches off to the left towards Trije kralji (path via Veliko Tinje), and we still continue on a sidewalk. Further, the sidewalk ends, and we continue on the road to the next parking lot, where there are red hiking signposts (to here 20 minutes).
We continue on a wider path which leads towards Bistriški vintgar, and at the spot where we leave the road there are signs for Roman quarry and Šmartno na Pohorju.
The path ahead is still gently ascending, and when over a small bridge we get to the right bank of Bistrica, the path becomes gradually slightly steeper.
Before the path turns a little to the left and passes on a slope, on the right we notice Roman quarry, and then we are ascending diagonally on an increasingly steep slope. On the mentioned part slightly to the right a footpath which leads towards the waterfall Šum branches off (to the waterfall leads a little less than 5 minutes long footpath which is mainly in wet on a shorter part dangerous for slipping), and we still continue on the path which is diagonally ascending on a steep slope (on this part mainly in spring time during and after the rain there is a greater danger of falling stones). When the slope becomes a little less steep from the right also demanding path which leads via waterfall Šum joins, and a little further we get to a marked crossing, where we continue right in the direction of Sveti Trije kralji and Močnik (straight - Ančnikovo gradišče).
The path ahead leads us over two bridges, and after the second we return on the left bank of Bistrica, where the path for some time leads through a lane of raspberry and bramble bushes. Further on steeper parts the path runs on stairs, and mostly on more dangerous spots there is also a wooden fence. Further, we are ascending by small waterfalls and rapids, and the path is raised a little above the riverbed of the stream, so that we observe the gorege a little more from far, only occasionally we get very close to Bistrica. Higher follows some descent, and at the crossing, we continue straight towards Sveti Trirje kralji. Next follows some ascent, and then the path and the gorge flatten out and in a gentle ascent, we get to the information board, which is situated near the Marolt fir tree, which on the other bank of the stream is slowly rotting.
At Marolt fir tree, there is a small crossing where a slightly shorter path branches off to the left towards Sveti Urh, but it is quite poorly marked. We continue straight, quickly leaving the forest and then walking along the edge of the forest to a macadam road, where we turn right in the direction of Šmartno na Pohorju and Polskava (left Sveti Trije kralji).
The path ahead leads us along a macadam road, and when the road enters the forest, we turn right off it in the direction of Šmartno. Through the forest, we walk on a cart track, and as the forest thins, the cart track becomes grassy. Next follows only a short, easy descent, and we arrive at a larger pond.
The mentioned pond we bypass on the right side, then quickly leave the forest and, with beautiful views past the farm, reach the marked crossroad, where we turn left towards Areh (right Šmartno na Pohorju and Zgornja Polskava) and then immediately right onto a macadam road that leads into the forest. In the forest, the path leads us past a cross; we quickly leave the forest and continue past individual houses. We then follow the mostly macadam road to a crossroad, where we reach an asphalt road, turn right, take a few steps forward, and join the marked path from Šmartno na Pohorju or Zgornja Polskava, then turn left downwards towards Areh and Bojtina.
After the crossroad, the road descends even a little more, and from there a marked path branches off right downwards towards Areh, and we continue on the road which is still moderately descending to the nearby crossroad. When we get to the crossroad we continue straight (right road leads forward towards Areh), where we go past the information board of Forest teaching trail, which is situated by the crossroad, and only a little further we cross also a smaller stream and behind it we continue on a slightly left road (on the right road we could also come to the homestead Majal), which a little ahead comes out of the forest. When we step out of the forest, on the right, on a smaller hill we already notice a chapel Majalova kapelica, and we continue on the road which through a narrower lane of a forest brings us to the homestead Majal.
Here we go right and by the homestead we walk to the nearby chapel.
The starting point - Marolt fir tree 1:45, Marolt fir tree - pond west from Ošelj 0:20, pond west from Ošelj - Majalova kapelica 0:40.
The description and pictures refer to the condition in January and July 2022 and May 2023.

On the way: Marolt fir tree (Bistriški vintgar) (800m), Ribnik zahodno od Ošelja (824m)