Vodel - Gradovec

Access to the starting point:
a) Take the Bohinjska Bistrica exit from the roundabout in the direction of Soriška planina and Tolmin. Continue through Bohinjska Bistrica, then at the beginning of the left-hand bend continue straight on towards Ravne v Bohinju. From the crossroads onwards we start to climb steeply, and when the road is laid, it leads us to the above-mentioned village. At the end of the village the asphalt ends, and we take the macadam road first across the meadow, and then the road passes into the forest, where it first leads us past the former Mountain Home of dr. We then drive for some time and cross the Polje - Črna prst path, and after the crossing we arrive on the slopes of Pezdenica, where we go round the ridge in a semicircle. When on the other side of the ridge the road turns more sharply to the right for the first time, we become alert as we then park at the first suitable place along the road. From where the asphalt ends to the starting point is 6. 5 km.
b) From Rovtarica or Soriška planina descend to Bohinjska Bistrica, then at the beginning of the above-mentioned place continue left in the direction of Ravne v Bohinju. From the crossroads onwards we start to climb steeply, and when the road is laid, it leads us to the above-mentioned village. At the end of the village the asphalt ends, and we take the macadam road first across the meadow, and then the road passes into the forest, where it first leads us past the former Mountain Home of dr. We then drive for some time and cross the Polje - Črna prst path, and after the crossing we arrive on the slopes of Pezdenica, where we go round the ridge in a semicircle. When on the other side of the ridge the road turns more sharply to the right for the first time, we become alert as we then park at the first suitable place along the road. From where the asphalt ends to the starting point is 6. 5 km.

Path description:
From where you parked, follow the road back to the bend, and a few 10 metres after the bend, cross a metal steel cable (a cross drain across the dirt road), after which you continue sharp right up the bank (there is usually a cairn at the point where you leave the road). There is a minute or two long climb up the slope straight ahead, with individual cairns pointing the way, and then you reach a clearly visible old hunting track, which you just cross, as the cairns point you straight up onto a fainter, but mostly traceable, path, which climbs steeply with the help of individual cairns. At the part where there are more fallen trees, you have to follow the path more carefully, and then you arrive at the edge of a rather overgrown torrential gully. In the last part of the gully, climb steeply across a partly exposed passage, then join the better-beaten path, which you follow in a straight direction (to the right in the descriptions, the starting point is Pod Debelo glavo).
The way forward leads through the valley between Pezdenica on the left and Ventijami on the right. Walk along the valley for a few minutes and then arrive at a clearing, at the edge of which is the Ventije hunting lodge.
After the hut, we continue along the valley for a few more minutes, and then the path climbs steeply and, with occasional fine views that reach all the way to Triglav, leads us a step higher, to a flatter world where the path splits into two parts.
Continue on the right-hand path (the left-hand path leads to the watering-hole and meadow at Dolga Planja), which then climbs gently up a series of small valleys surrounded by dwarf pines. A little higher up, another path branches off to the left towards the watering-place mentioned above, and we continue to the right, where we can already see mountain pasture Poljana and above it Raskovec. A slight descent follows, and when we reach mountain pasture, another path from the starting point Pod Debelo glavo joins us from the right.
Continue left here and walk to the nearby shepherd's hut.
From the shepherd's huts, continue along the right-hand side of mountain pasture, and we walk along the edge of mountain pasture to where a well-traced track branches off to the right and begins to climb through the dwarf pines zone. After a short climb, the path turns sharply to the right, and then after a good 10 minutes of further walking leads us to a less visible crossroads where a path (later a trackless path) branches off to the left towards Raskovec. Continue on the wider right path, which is slightly further on, and then leads us in a moderate ascent to the prevala south of Gradovec (1692 m). On this pass there is usually a cairn which points to the right onto a cut path which continues through the dwarf pines zone. We continue to climb, first moderately and then quite steeply, along the southern and increasingly scenic ridge of Gradovec. With beautiful views of the mountains surrounding Bohinj, you quickly reach the summit, which, like the last part of the trail, is clear-cut.
Head - mountain pasture Poljana 1:15, mountain pasture Poljana - Gradovec 40 minutes.
Description and figures refer to the situation in 2016 (June).

On the way: Lovska koča Ventije (1305m), Planina Poljana (1466m)

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