Grda draga - Snežnik (via Mali Snežnik)

Access to starting point:
A) From Cerknica or Nova vas na Blokah we first drive to Bloška Polica, from there we continue driving in the direction of Lož and Babno Polje. In the settlement Pudob we turn right in the direction of Snežnik, Ilirska Bistrica, Knežak and nearby settlement Kozarišče. In Kozarišče we continue slightly left in the direction of Snežnik and also in the next crossroads we follow the road in the direction of Snežnik. When Kozarišče ends, the asphalt also ends, and we immediately after the bridge over Mali Obrh continue left in the direction of Mašun and Knežak. There follows a long drive on a macadam road, after which after approximately 19 km from Kozarišče we arrive at a crossroad, where from the right the road from Mašun joins. Here we continue left in the direction of Sviščaki, to which there is still approximately 10 km of macadam, at crossroads we follow the signs for Sviščaki. After approximately 27 km of macadam road we arrive at the hunting cottage in Grda draga, about 100 m further also to the mountain and information boards, near which we park.
B) We drive to Pivka, from there we continue driving towards Knežak. In Knežak at the marked crossroad we continue left in the direction of Mašun and settlements Bač and Koritnice. A little further we go right in the direction of Mašun and Koritnice (straight Bač). After Koritnice the road starts to ascend more noticeably, then after 18 km from the main crossroad in Knežak it brings us to Mašun, from where we continue driving right in the direction of Sviščaki, to which there is still approximately 12 km of macadam road. 2 km before Sviščaki we arrive at a larger grassy plain named Grda draga, where we first notice the hunting cottage, about 100 m further also the beginning of the marked mountain path to Snežnik. When we arrive at the Planinski dom na Sviščakih we park.
C) First we drive to Ilirska Bistrica, then we continue driving towards Sviščaki (the turn-off is in the middle of Ilirska Bistrica and is marked, perhaps a little less noticeable). At first we ascend on an asphalt road, then after less than 12 km of ascent asphalt changes to macadam. There follows still approximately 7 km of macadam, then we arrive at a crossroad in the immediate vicinity of the Planinski dom na Sviščakih, where we continue straight towards the nearby mountain hut on Sviščakih. From the mountain hut we continue driving towards Mašun, where after a further 2 km of macadam we arrive at Grda draga, where we park at the mountain boards.

Route description:
From the starting point in Grda draga we head onto the footpath in the direction of Snežnik and Snežna Mati Božja. The path first leads us along the edge of the meadow, then behind a smaller feeding site, which we bypass on the right side, it takes us into the forest, through which we first ascend gently, then moderately on a cart track. The cart track has some junctions, we follow the path along which we notice the blazes. Higher we reach the chapel of Marija Snežna, the path continues further on the cart track, which has some junctions. Also at the mentioned junctions we follow the blazes, then we cross the forest road, where from the right the path from the starting point Sviščaki and Snežniška Grda jama joins, to the left the road continues, which leads towards Pekel.
We continue in the direction of Snežnik, on the path which continues through dense forest. Higher we cross a smaller clearing, then we return to the forest, the path starts to ascend transversely to the left. After a few minutes of transverse ascent we reach a marked junction, where the path from Mašun joins.
We continue again in the direction of Snežnik, this time on a somewhat steeper path, which leads us past a memorial. Above the memorial the first extensive view opens up, reaching across Nanos all the way to the Alps. We continue ascending on the path which leads us through dwarf pines. When the steepness eases we arrive at the old stone of the trigonometric point, which is located on the summit, or a few steps below the summit of Mali Snežnik, from where a view opens onto Veliki Snežnik, Istria, Primorska, Notranjska...
From Mali Snežnik we continue on the path, which descends barely noticeably along the indistinct eastern ridge of Mali Snežnik. Further the path passes to the western and very panoramic ridge of Veliki Snežnik, along which it continues mostly in a gentle to occasionally moderate ascent. Somewhat further from the right Matetova pot joins, a little further also the usual path from Sviščaki.
At both junctions we continue straight, then we ascend transversely on the steeper slope of Veliki Snežnik, which is dangerous for slipping in snow. After a few minutes we reach the Zavetišče na Velikem Snežniku, in front of which we continue left and in a few steps ascend to the 1796 m high summit.
Description and pictures refer to the condition in 2015 (October).

Along the route: Kapelica Marije Snežne (1300m), Mali Snežnik (1694m)

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