Zadnjica - Križ (via Bovška vratica)

Access to starting point:
From Kranjska Gora, drive over Vršič Pass towards Bovec or vice versa, but only to the 50th hairpin turn of the Vršič or Russian Road (near the village of Trenta). Here, turn onto a side road, along which after a few hundred meters we park at the parking lot by the road.

Route description:
From the parking lot, continue along the road, which passes a few houses, mostly weekend cottages, and in about 15 minutes brings us to the point where the road forks into two parts (there used to be a parking lot at the junction, but parking is now prohibited).
From the old parking lot, head left onto the road towards Pogačnikov dom on Kriški podi (the right road leads towards Prehodavci and Dolič). After another 15 minutes of walking, the road brings us to the lower station of the cargo cableway, where it ends.
Continue the ascent along the marked hiking trail, a mulatiera, which moderately ascends through the forest. The trail, rising above the valley of Beli potok, soon brings us to very steep slopes (danger of falling rocks), across which a wide path leads. The trail then crosses the Veliki Presek gully, after which we reach a short exposed ledge, which we cross with the aid of a fixed cable. Further on, the path returns to the forest, where it moderately ascends in numerous switchbacks. A bit further, the trail brings us under a small overhang, where we can notice numerous sticks that hikers place to prevent the rock from falling into the valley (the sticks are placed more for fun than seriously). The trail then crosses a few smaller gullies, then passes a chapel and brings us to a larger gully. With some caution (easy), we cross the mentioned gully, after which in a few minutes of further walking we ascend to a pleasant rest area (two benches along the trail). Further on, we cross another large gully (possibility of snow in early summer), then the path returns to the forest. Higher up, the forest becomes sparser, the trail somewhat steeper and increasingly scenic.
The trail, which continues ascending along the old mulatiera, then passes two more benches and brings us to a belt of dwarf pines, beyond which we enter a more rocky area. Further on, we ascend across smaller screes along an increasingly scenic trail that higher up brings us to a pleasant spring (source).
Just a few dozen steps above the mentioned spring, we reach an unmarked junction where an unmarked trail branches right towards Spodnje Kriško jezero, which is two minutes away; we continue slightly left along the still wide alpine trail. The trail further leads past smaller ruins, which we follow all the way to a marked junction where the trail from the Vrata valley joins from the right. Continue left and after two minutes of further walking arrive at Pogačnikov dom on Kriški podi.
From the hut, continue past the upper station of the cargo cableway along the marked trail, which in two minutes of gentle descent brings us to a marked junction, where we continue slightly right towards Križ and Škrlatica (left to Razor and Planja). Further on, moderately ascend across the vast Kriške pode along the trail that passes a spring and numerous sinkholes and brings us to a less noticeable junction (there is a small cairn at the junction). Continue left (straight to Zgornje Kriško jezero 5 minutes) along the marked trail, which for a short time ascends more steeply, then turns right, where it crosses a small scree.
Continue along the trail, which higher up crosses the steep slopes of Kriški rob. When the trail at the end of crossing Kriški rob brings us to the ridge, our gaze is drawn to the 2382 m high Šplevta (a mountain in the shape of an Indian). Further on, the trail steeply ascends through rugged rock (danger of slipping) and brings us higher to Bovška vratica.
Continue right towards the summit of Križ (straight to Škrlatica, Dolkova špica, Krnica and bivouac on Rušje), which is only ten minutes away. The trail further first gently ascends along the narrowing ridge, then with the aid of a fixed cable steeply ascends across a slightly exposed rock slab, beyond which we reach an interesting passage through a natural chute. With some skill, we ascend through the narrow chute to the scenic Križ.
Starting point - Na placu 0:15, Na placu - lower station of cargo cableway 0:15, lower station of cargo cableway - Na Utrci 2:00, Na Utrci spring below Kriški podi 1:05, spring below Kriški podi - Spodnje Kriško jezero 0:05, Spodnje Kriško jezero - Pogačnikov dom 0:20, Pogačnikov dom - Bovška vratca 1:15, Bovška vratca - Križ 0:15.

Along the route: Na placu (714m), Spodnja postaja tovorne žičnice (797m), Na Utrci (1506m), Izvir pod Kriškimi podi (1877m), Lake Spodnje Kriško jezero (1880m), Pogačnikov dom na Kriških podih (2050m), Bovška vratca (2378m)

The trip can be extended to the following destinations: Križ, Stenar

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