Koča na Starem vrhu - Mladi vrh (via Stari vrh)

Access to starting point:
We drive to Škofja Loka and turn in the direction of Železniki. In the village Praprotno, just after the inn »Pr Birt« we turn left onto a side road in the direction of STC Stari vrh and on a narrow, but all the time asphalt road through the settlement Zapreval we drive all the way to the parking place at the upper station of the 6-seater chairlift or to the inn and boarding house Gostišče in penzion Stari Vrh.

Route description:
From the parking lot, we step a few meters back on the road by which we arrived, to a poorly visible footpath that rises steeply across the meadow (ski slope in winter) diagonally to the left upwards to the edge of the meadow (here the blazes begin) and then leads us very steeply upwards along the left edge of the meadow to the upper station of the ski lift, where we notice the start cabin and next to it a newer log cabin – snack bar »Na vrhu«.
We bypass the start cabin on the right side and soon behind it we see the blaze and caption on a wooden sign »razgledišče 10 min«. We follow a poorly visible footpath which soon quite steeply ascends and leads us mostly along the ridge, where it a few times very steeply ascends to an individual rocky peak and then from it again equally steeply descends, until it brings us to the previously mentioned vantage point, where there is a bench and inscription book. From this spot a nice view opens up on Poljanska dolina, which later from the path is no longer visible.
From the viewpoint the path steeply descends to the saddle between Stari vrh and Mladi vrh and then again equally steeply ascends mostly along the edge of the slope and on the wide ridge of Mladi vrh. A little above the saddle we run into some younger trees and branches thrown onto the path, and immediately after them we see a newly built bad forest road, which we only cross and continue with the steep ascent. About 500 m below the summit there is on a sign attached to a tree the warning »tišina, gamsi«. Because of the leaves unfortunately a completely quiet walk is not possible, as in many places we wade through leaves to the ankles and it is necessary to be very careful, as we do not see the ground (rocks, roots) or the edge of the path, an awkward step can cause a nasty fall or slip on considerable steepness.
On the summit of Mladi vrh there is a small, somewhat wobbly bench, inscription book and stamp, the view is due to the trees quite limited, completely open only towards the east. From the summit a marked footpath leads further in the direction of Blegoš.
We return along the same path to the saddle between Mladi vrh and Stari vrh, here we can decide either for the return along the approach path, or choose the easier (unmarked) path, which at the saddle barely visibly branches off to the left and leads along the northern slope of Stari vrh.
The branch-off is marked on a tree with a drawn large letter »S« and directional arrow, and again »S« on the next tree on the left side of this path. After some 10 meters of path the footpath widens and becomes nicely visible, to the left below us through sparse trees we see a forest road, which otherwise leads almost to the previously mentioned saddle. After a few minutes of walking the path narrows again and becomes barely visible and constantly leads us in moderate ascent along the steep slope. Later the path widens again, slowly changes into a wider, abandoned bad forest road or cart track, which becomes wider and better visible. Twice from our path other cart tracks branch off to the right upwards, which lead upwards, we moderately descend and soon notice below in front of us the upper station of the six-seater chairlift and the parking lot.
General impression of the path: Technically undemanding path, but strenuous due to the steepness and in fog locally orientationally difficult, in wet due to abundance of fallen leaves and steepness danger of slipping. The path is well marked with mountain trail blazes and signs of the European footpath, the path itself is (in autumn, due to abundance of fallen leaves) for the larger part more difficult to follow, occasionally practically invisible. All the time we walk in sparse beech forest, there are not many views neither on the path nor on the summit.

Along the route: Stari vrh (1217m)

The trip can be extended to the following destinations: Koprivnik

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