Radeljski prelaz - Sveti Pankracij (Radelca) (Austrian path)

Access to starting point:
We drive to Radlje ob Dravi, and then we continue driving towards the mountain pass Radeljski prelaz. After a few kilometers of ascent we get to the border crossing Radelj, where we park.

Route description:
On Austrian side of the mountain pass, we notice hiking signposts, including for the mountain hut Kapunerhütte, which point us sharply right on a macadam road. We ascend on the road to the edge of the forest, where we continue left, on the road which is closed for public traffic. For a few minutes we ascend on the road, and then blazes point us slightly to the right on a marked footpath which ascends through a clearing and from which a view opens up a little. Above the clearing, the path passes into the forest and on the Austrian side bypasses the peak Radelj (784 m). During the crossing a nice view opens up temporarily towards Golica / Koralpe, and then the path reaches the national border, along which it continues. Next follows an ascent by the edge of a meadow, where on the left stands a larger private cottage, and with nice views, we ascend to the upper edge of a meadow, where the path returns into the forest. Through the forest, we follow the blazes, and the path temporarily reaches a cart track at the sign.

From the cart track, we go immediately slightly right and we ascend through the next clearing, from where again a nice view opens up, this time a little more on the Slovenian side, where we clearly see Uršlja gora and Peca. Higher, the path for some time runs by a mesh fence, and later it starts slightly descending. Next follows a light diagonal descent and crossing of a cart track, and then we already get to the mountain hut Kapunerhütte.

From the hut, we continue towards Sveti Pankracij / St. Pongratzen, where we start ascending diagonally through the forest. Higher, the path turns right and then quickly brings us to the national border, where in a few steps we descend to a marked junction.

From the junction, we continue slightly left in the direction towards Sveti Pankracij (straight on the ridge - unmarked path on Kapunar, slightly right - border building and Slovenian path to the church of St. Pankracij, sharply right - Radlje ob Dravi) and on the north side we bypass peak Kapunar. Lower, at the trough with water we reach a worse road and we follow it to the right, and we walk there to the hunting cross, where we get very close to Slovenian path. We continue on the Austrian side of the national border, and the path later brings us to the farm Waldgregor, where we for some time step out of the forest. The path soon returns into the forest, where we follow the blazes, and at the junctions we stick to Austrian path. Eventually we also go past the farm Hubenlenz, from where again a nice view opens up towards Austria, and the path when it returns into the forest, passes on slopes of the peak Pongrac (994).

Further for quite some time, we walk away from the national border, and at the junctions we still follow the blazes and signs for the church of St. Pankracij. Next follows some more walking through the forest and then we reach the road, and there on the right side we bypass a lonely house, and we soon leave the road and then on a cart track we reach a marked junction at the national border, where we join the path past Sveti Urban.

We continue left, at first still a little downwards, a little after the chapel, in a minute of additional walking, we ascend to the church of St. Pankracij, from which a beautiful view opens up mainly towards Austria, and for even more beautiful view we can in season ascend on a lookout tower.

Radeljski prelaz - Kapunerhütte 1:20, Kapunerhütte - Sveti Pankracij 1:40.

Description and pictures refer to the condition in May 2019 and December 2018.

Along the route: Kapunerhütte (1003m)

The trip can be extended to the following destinations: Sveti Urban (Radelca), Kapunar / Kapunerkogel

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