Zgornja Bistrica (Center Vintgar) - Ponds Devin in Ošelj (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 organized parking lot at Center Vintgar.

Route description:
From the parking lot at Center Vintgar we return to the road and 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 the Three Kings (path via Velika Tinja), and we still continue on the 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 ascend 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 St. Three Kings 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 ascend by small waterfalls and rapids, and the path is raised a little above the riverbed of the stream, so that we observe the gorge a little more from afar, only occasionally we get very close to Bistrica. Higher follows some descent, and at the crossing, we continue straight towards St. Three Kings. 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 St. 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 St. Three Kings).
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 go right in the direction of Šmartno na Pohorju and Zgornja Polskava (left and then immediately right Areh). In a gentle descent we continue past a few houses, then signposts and blazes direct us left onto a macadam road, along which we quickly arrive at the upper pond Devin in Ošelj.
This pond we also bypass on the right side, and at the smaller crossroad we go right and in two minutes descend to the lower pond.
Starting point - Marolt fir tree 1:45, Marolt fir tree - pond west of Ošelj 0:20, pond west of Ošelj - Devin ponds in Ošelj 0:10.
Description and pictures refer to the condition in July 2022 and May 2023.

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

We recommend: trips from the same starting point, similar trips