Zvodno - Tolsti vrh above Celjska koča (via Suhi potok and on ski slope)

Access to starting point:
From the highway Ljubljana - Maribor, we take the Celje - center exit and continue driving in the direction of Laško and Zidani Most. The road leads us through the center of Celje, and then before the Savinja brings us to a roundabout with a fountain. Here we continue "straight" over the first bridge (direction Laško and Zidani Most) and follow the road to the next traffic-light-controlled intersection, where we continue left over the second bridge across the Savinja. Immediately behind the bridge at the intersection we continue right. After approx. 500 meters we arrive at the underpass under the railway track (on the right side a large parking lot and the starting point in Zagrad), we drive through it and continue straight past the fire station in Zagrad. We follow the road through the village, and higher up in Zvodno it brings us to a smaller intersection at the bus stop, where we notice signs and signposts for Grmada to the right, Hudičev graben straight, parking lot 1.2 km straight. We continue straight towards the new parking lot (2020), and the road gradually flattens and narrows. The new parking lot - our starting point is located right by the road before the fish farm. Here we can park and set off on a trip along paths that lead either past Marija, or through Hudičev graben, or through Suhi potok. We can also reach the starting point from Dolenjska and Zasavje. In this case, we first drive to Rimske Toplice and then through Laško to the above-described second bridge, from where we continue according to the description.

Route description:
From the starting point the signpost for Hudičev graben directs us back in the direction of Celje, but after a few meters we do not continue sharply to the left towards Hudičev graben, but continue along the asphalt road for approx. 300 meters, only then do we turn sharply to the left into the forest, where we follow the signposts for Pečovniška koča and the marked path through the forest in the direction of Suhi potok. Soon at the junction we join sharply to the left onto the marked path coming from the right from the abandoned quarry. Immediately after the junction follows a sharp right turn, where for easier orientation there also stand two stone cairns. We continue steeply upwards towards the top of the abandoned quarry, where the well-trodden and marked path is soon joined by the bed of Suhi potok. In the area between Bavč on the left side and Grmada on the right side nothing indicates that the stream is dry, as it playfully gurgles. Soon before a large rock and the sign with a mischievous message we reach the junction, where we continue to the right towards Pečovniška koča and Grmada (to the left the path leads towards Bavč). The path is somewhat narrower further on and crosses a road and the steep slope of the forest upwards. Soon we reach the meadow section and Pečovniška koča is already in sight. From the hut, following the signposts in the flat section, we continue along the wide path towards Čater, where we turn right towards Celjska koča. From there we proceed to the nearby Adventure Park, where we continue steeply uphill into the meadow section right by the ski slope. All the way to the top of the highest upper station of the ski lift we enjoy beautiful views of the nearby hills and Celje. At the upper station we enter the forest and after a few-minute ascent along the western ridge we reach a vantage point, from where the Posavje hills are visible towards the south and west. From here it is only a few steps to the vegetated summit.

Along the route: Bavč (692m), Grmada above Celje (718m), Hotel Celjska koča (652m), Pečovniška koča on Grmada (620m)

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