Planinska koča Grebengrad - Čevo (čez Balkun)

Access to starting point:
a) We leave the A4 Zagreb - Varaždin motorway at the Breznički Hum exit and then drive approximately one kilometer continuing on the parallel road towards Novi Marof, where we turn left in the direction of Podrut. Along the valley we drive past the drinking water spring Curek to the village Jelenšćak, where after crossing the railway tracks we reach a somewhat wider road, where we continue right in the direction of Topličica.
When we arrive in Topličica, after the first part of the settlement and a short section with meadows and pools on the right, just before the second part of the settlement we turn sharply left. The road takes us past the water intake to the village, where at the first intersection we continue right. After approximately half a kilometer we turn left at the intersection. The initially steep road soon levels out and loses its asphalt surface. On a fairly good gravel road after approximately 2 km we reach a small parking area on the right side of the road below the Planinska koča Grebengrad.
b) We leave the A4 Zagreb - Varaždin motorway at the Novi Marof exit and continue right. When we arrive in Topličica, a wooden sign for Grebengrad directs us right onto a narrow road. We drive on it for approximately one kilometer, where at the intersection we turn right. The initially steep road soon levels out and loses its asphalt surface. On a fairly good gravel road after approximately 2 km we reach a small parking area on the right side of the road below the Planinska koča Grebengrad.

Route description:
From the parking area we walk along the road to the intersection at the hut. Only a few steps on a somewhat steeper track separate us from the hut. Straight ahead leads the direct path to Veliki Lubenjak and Čevo, but we continue left past the abandoned house and further along the track. After approximately five minutes we reach a junction, where a short path branches left to the ruins of Grebengrad castle.
We continue right along the track, which ascends unevenly to the next junction. Here the direct path from the hut joins from the right. Left branches the path to Veliki Lubenjak, but we continue slightly left along the track.
The track initially leads us across a meadow east of Veliki Lubenjak, then enters the forest. We descend slightly to the hunting observation post on Mačkovica, where the path across Veliki Lubenjak joins it shortly before from the left. The junction is unmarked. Then the track ascends and descends steeply, later repeatedly ascending and descending along an indistinct ridge. When it begins to turn right, we watch for a left branch marked only with sparse blazes. The path descends and begins to traverse right, where we merely cross the track and continue along the path that soon widens into a track. After a few minutes we reach a small clearing, where we watch for an unmarked right branch. The path crosses the eastern slope of an unnamed peak and soon rejoins the track. We descend gently for some time, then follow the blazes along a very steep track eroded by a ditch in the middle. At the end of the steep section the blazes direct us right onto a path initially overgrown with ferns. After a short forest section we reach a heavily overgrown track, where we must watch for nettles and thorns. The path then ascends steeply across an indistinct ridge, then crosses on gentler terrain to a small saddle. A steep ascent follows, then traversing the slope northeast of the peak Pšenac. Soon we reach a marked junction, where the path from the village Bela joins from the left. Here we continue right in the direction of Čevo. The path mostly descends unevenly along a forested ridge. Along the way we encounter a large rock with the inscription K.T., marking a control point. There is no stamp here. Shortly after we notice a larger clearing on the left and descend to the saddle above it. The path then begins to ascend and gradually moves off the ridge to the eastern side, soon passing to the northern side of Mali Čevo. After approximately half an hour of walking from the junction we again reach a junction at the saddle between Mali and Veliki Čevo. Here the path to Čevo via the viewpoint Malo Čevo branches right, but we continue left in the direction of Balkun.
The track is initially gentle, then we quickly leave it and turn right onto a rather steep path. In approximately 10 minutes of walking we reach the ridge, where we join the path from Podevčevo to Čevo. At the junction there is a small natural window, and the path on this section is protected by a rope railing. We continue right and after a short steep ascent reach Balkun. Here there is a small wooden hut, and on the rocky edge also a cross and a pavilion. A fine view towards Varaždin opens up. We continue along the rocky path and in approximately five minutes reach the forested summit of Čevo.
The description and photos refer to the situation in August 2026.

Along the route: Grebengrad (476m), Mačkovica (470m), Balkun (546m)

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