Kriška planina - Košutna (via planina Košutna)

Access to starting point:
A) From highway Ljubljana - Jesenice we go to the exit Vodice, and then we continue driving to a first traffic light crossroad in Vodice, where we continue left in the direction of Cerklje na Gorenjskem and Brnik. When we get to the main roundabout in Spodnji Brnik we continue driving in the direction of Cerklje and ski slope Krvavec. At the end of the settlement Cerklje na Gorenjskem we leave the main road which continues towards Velesovo and Visoko and we continue driving slightly right on a road in the direction of the ski slope Krvavec. Further, we get to the village Grad, where signs for settlement Ambrož pod Krvavcem point us to the right on a steep asphalt road (straight bottom station of the cable car on Krvavec and Štefanja Gora). When the steepness on a steep road decreases a little, we will get to a crossroad, where we continue left in the direction of the settlement Ambrož pod Krvavcem (straight settlement Ravne, Apno and Šenturška Gora). A little further, the road for some time descends a little and then it is ascending through occasionally quite panoramic slopes. Higher, we get to Ambrož pod Krvavcem, where on the left side we bypass church of St. Ambrož and tourist farm Pr Ambružarju. From the tourist farm ahead road passes into the forest and is ascending through it all the way to the mountain pasture Jezerca, where there is a large parking lot. The road here flattens and it turns left and about 500 meters ahead brings us to a crossroad, where we continue right in the direction of the mountain pasture Kriška planina (straight upper station of the cable car and mountain hut Planinski dom on Gospincu). Next follows only a short steep ascent and we get to the parking lot by the edge of the mountain pasture Kriška planina.
Now the road from the mountain pasture Jezerca to Kriška planina is closed for public traffic, this extends the path for approximately 15 minutes.
B) From highway Jesenice - Ljubljana we go to the exit Kranj - east, and then we continue driving towards Brnik, Komenda and Mengeš. When we get to the main roundabout in Spodnji Brnik we continue driving in the direction of Cerklje and ski slope Krvavec. At the end of the settlement Cerklje na Gorenjskem we leave the main road which continues towards Velesovo and Visoko and we continue driving slightly right on a road in the direction of the ski slope Krvavec. Further, we get to the village Grad, where signs for settlement Ambrož pod Krvavcem point us to the right on a steep asphalt road (straight bottom station of the cable car on Krvavec and Štefanja Gora). When the steepness on a steep road decreases a little, we will get to a crossroad, where we continue left in the direction of the settlement Ambrož pod Krvavcem (straight settlement Ravne, Apno and Šenturška Gora). A little further, the road for some time descends a little and then it is ascending through occasionally quite panoramic slopes. Higher, we get to Ambrož pod Krvavcem, where on the left side we bypass church of St. Ambrož and tourist farm Pr Ambružarju. From the tourist farm ahead road passes into the forest and is ascending through it all the way to the mountain pasture Jezerca, where there is a large parking lot. The road here flattens and it turns left and about 500 meters ahead brings us to a crossroad, where we continue right in the direction of the mountain pasture Kriška planina (straight upper station of the cable car and mountain hut Planinski dom on Gospincu). Next follows only a short steep ascent and we get to the parking lot by the edge of the mountain pasture Kriška planina.
Now the road from the mountain pasture Jezerca to Kriška planina is closed for public traffic, this extends the path for approximately 15 minutes.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we go on the road in the direction of the mountain pasture Planina Koren. The road then through the underpass brings us to a quarry, where we leave it. With an ascent we continue on a pleasant otherwise poorly visible path which runs by the edge of grazing fence. The path which becomes better visible then leaves grazing area of the mountain pasture Kriška planina and passes into terrain covered with dwarf pines. After a short ascent, the path brings us to a nice vantage point, from which a nice view opens up through a valley of Korošica. Further, the path starts steeply descending and after few minutes we are already 60m lower. The path then flattens and from the right joins the path from the previously mentioned valley. Further, we cross a lane of a forest, and the path then again starts ascending. During the ascent unmarked path which leads on a saddle Razor branches off to the left, and we continue on a marked path, which after additional few minutes brings us on the south part of the mountain pasture Planina Koren. The path then past a watering-place for animals descends to shepherd cottages on the mountain pasture.
Here at the cottage slightly right (direction southeast) path, which runs on the mountain pasture Planina Košutna branches off. The path at first crosses slopes almost horizontal, and then it brings us on technically demanding spot. The path steeply ascends over a shorter rocky jump, where we have fixed safety gear for help. The path then flattens and past a cross brings us to the mountain pasture Planina Košutna, where there stands a chapel and shepherd hut.
From the mountain pasture, we continue on a poorly beaten footpath which goes on the left side of the chapel into dwarf pines. The path ahead is slightly ascending on a moderately steep and panoramic slope of Košutna. When the path entirely flattens path to the summit of Košutna branches off to the right (turn-off is marked, but the path wrongly marked). This very poorly visible path, we then follow all the way to peak which we reach after 15 minutes of additional walking (we stick to the left passages, even though the trail blaze in the lower part goes right).
The path is marked but in some parts hard to follow. If we lose footpath we look for a passage among dwarf pines and in doing so, we have to be careful, not to get lost in dwarf pines.
Kriška planina - Planina Koren 1:15, Planina Koren - Košutna 50 minutes.

On the way: Planina Koren (1675m), Planina Košutna (1778m)