Pohorje cable car - Žigartov vrh (via Mariborska koča)

Access to the starting point:
a) Leave the Styrian motorway at the exit for Slivnica and Rogoza, then follow the signs for Pohorje and Areh. The road continues through Spodnje and Zgornje Hoče, Slivnica Pohorje, and after the settlements follow the signs for Areh, and higher up follow the signs for Mariborska koča and the Bellevue Hotel. Park in the parking lot between the top funicular station and the Bellevue Hotel.
b) Leave the Styrian motorway at the exit for Slivnica and Rogoza, then follow the signs for the ski resort Maribor Pohorje. Park on the outskirts of Zgornje Radvanje, in the large parking lot at the foot of the ski slope, then walk to the bottom station of the funicular (return price for an adult is EUR 6 - November 2022), which takes you to the Bellevue Hotel, where the route described above begins.

Path description:
At the upper funicular station we see the mountain direction signs, and we turn right in the direction of Mariborska koča and Ruška hut na Arehu. A little further on, a short path branches off to the right to the nearby church of St. Bolfenka, and we continue along the marked path which runs parallel to the asphalt road. The path ascends gently to moderately, and forks behind a small statue of the Virgin Mary.
Continue slightly left in the direction Mariborska koča (straight ahead Maribor lookout post. . . ) and cross the slopes to the left and follow the signs. After a few minutes of crossing, you will come fully close to the asphalt road, then climb slightly and at the hamlet of holiday cottages you will first reach a macadam road and then an asphalt road. When we reach the asphalt road, we join the path that leads past Mariborski razglednik, and we continue straight on and after a few 10 steps further walking we reach the next crossroads, where we go right. It is only about 100 m of walking before you reach Mariborska koča, which offers a beautiful view towards the eastern Karavanke Mountains.
Go around the hut on the left and then continue right towards Ruška hut na Arehu.
There is a short climb and you reach a road, along which you continue your ascent. The road forks a little higher up, and we continue slightly left (slightly right Log and Bistrica ob Dravi). A few minutes higher we reach a marked path leading via Mariborski razglednik, and we go left here and continue along the wider cart track leading through the forest. A little further on, the path to Hotel Zarja branches off to the left, and we continue straight on in the direction of Ruška hut. There is a cross-climb up the slopes of Sedovec Peak, then we descend to a small pass where the path from Fram joins us.
Continue straight ahead and climb mainly gently along the macadam road, which leads us past a few graves. After a while, you reach the main road towards Areh, continue along it for a short distance, and then turn slightly left onto a footpath, which quickly leads you to the Church of St Areh.
From the church, cross the meadow and you will arrive at the Ruška hut on Areh.
From the hut, continue right towards Žigartov vrh and walk to the asphalt road, where you go left and then continue along the road towards Šumik, Cojzerica and Žigartovemu vrh. At first, the path still leads along a large parking lot, but then the road goes into the forest and climbs gently. After about 10 minutes of further walking, you arrive at a marked crossroads where the path to the left branches off towards the Šumik waterfall and Bajgot. Continue straight ahead on the wider macadam road, from which turn left for a minute or so, as the signs for Žigartov vrh direct you left onto a worse forest road, which leads you up to the nearby ski resort. Continue along the edge of the ski slope, and higher up the path goes slightly left and into the forest. Continue through the forest, following the signs, and follow this path until you reach the summit, a few minutes away.
Starting point - Mariborska koča 0:40, Mariborska koča - Ruška koča 1:10, Ruška koča - Žigartov vrh 0:30.
Description and pictures refer to the situation in March, May and November 2022.

On the way: Mariborska koča (1086m), Ruška koča na Arehu (1246m)

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