Zgornja Polskava - Žigartov vrh (through Polskavski vintgar)

Access to starting point:
a) Leave the Ljubljana - Maribor motorway at the Slovenska Bistrica north exit, then follow the signs for Slovenska Bistrica. When we reach the old Celje - Maribor road, go right and drive to the centre of Zgornja Polskava settlement, where the described trail starts near the fire station. Park at one of the parking lots in the settlement.
b) Leave the Maribor - Ljubljana motorway at the Fram exit and follow the signs for Fram; when we reach the old Maribor - Celje road, follow it left, then drive to the centre of Zgornja Polskava settlement, where the described trail starts near the fire station. Park at one of the parking lots in the settlement.

Path description:
From the place where we parked, first walk to the Zgornja Polskava fire station and continue along the side road that runs along the Polskava. The gentle road leading through the settlement splits at the Kalan inn.
Continue slightly right in the direction of the path through Polskavski vintgar or Ruške koče na Arehu (left to vas Kočno and shorter path to Sv. Treh Kraljev), passing first some houses, then the gentle road continues across meadows and through forest, at junctions follow the markers. When the asphalt ends, the road becomes somewhat steeper and enters the narrower part of the gorge called Polskavski vintgar. Here we mostly ascend transversely through the forest; when the road turns from northeast to southwest, soon notice a marker on the right directing us right downward to the trail down to the Šum waterfall.
From the waterfall, continue left and return to the road on another somewhat less steep path, continuing the mostly transverse ascent. After a while, the road levels out completely and via a bridge brings us to the left bank of Velika Polskava, continuing along the stream. A bit further, behind a larger rock with marker, the path splits.
Left branches the marked path to Šmartno na Pohorju, we continue straight along the wider gravel road.
A little further, temporarily leave the forest; from the junction where a path to the farm branches right, continue straight.
The path gradually transitions from the slope into the valley of Mala Polskava, arriving at a somewhat larger junction from which we continue straight (here the Slovenian mountain bike trail continues left; to Areh also possible along the left road).
Also at the next two junctions go straight; the path gradually changes from road to cart track, which ends behind the picnic area or turns into a gully.
After the clearing at the end of the picnic area, cross the pasture fence, then continue across the currently abandoned pasture where the path fades. Continue along the lower edge of the pasture near the stream; after later crossing the stream, the trail leads to a cart track, from which when it moves away from the stream go right to the footpath. Follows transverse ascent right along a poorly visible trail, carefully following markers; higher reach a wider cart track which we temporarily leave continuing on the marked shortcut. The wider cart track leads through forest a while longer, then ascends more steeply bringing us to pastures across which we ascend to the Jerebič farm.
From the junction some 10 m behind the farm go right, bypass Vošnik farm on the right and right after it reach the next junction from which go straight into the forest. Walk the gravel road only briefly as markers direct slightly left onto initially overgrown trail ascending the forested ridge. Leaving the forest, along the forest edge past a bench temporarily descend back to the gravel road left minutes ago. The path ascends along meadows to the Fric - Spodnji Fregl homestead; above the farm enter forest again on footpath, following markers at numerous junctions. Higher cross wider asphalt road twice; third time continue left along it. Soon leave this road too, going slightly left on marked path past left side of sv. Areha church and mini golf course to Ruška koča na Arehu.
From the hut continue straight to Žigartov vrh walking to asphalt road, go left, then along road to Šumik, Cojzerici and Žigartov vrh. Initially path leads past larger parking lot, then road enters forest and ascends gently. After about 10 minutes further arrive at marked junction where path to Šumik waterfall and Bajgot branches left. Continue straight on wider gravel road, but a minute later go left as signs for Žigartov vrh direct left onto poorer forest road ascending to nearby ski slope. Continue along ski slope edge; higher path goes slightly left into forest. Continue through forest following markers to summit few minutes away.
Starting point - Šum waterfall 1:15, Šum waterfall - Areh 3:45, Areh - Žigartov vrh 0:30.

On the way: Šum Waterfall (Polskavski vintgar) (465m), Ruška koča na Arehu (1246m)