Pri Mlinču - Mangartska koča (via Gladki rob)

Access to starting point:
A) Over the border crossing Rateče we drive to Italy, after that in Trbiž / Tarvisio we turn left in the direction of Predel / Cave del Predil. After few 100 meters we go once again left in the same direction, and then at the crossroad by lake Rabeljsko jezero / Lago del Predil we continue straight on the main road in the direction of Slovenia (right Nevejski preval (Na Žlebeh) / Sella Nevea). Next follows few hairpin turns and driving through the tunnel, and then we get to the border crossing Predel, after which we again drive into Slovenia. Further, we start descending, and then before the bridge with largest arch in Julian Alps (bridge over the stream Mangartski potok (on the road sign marked bridge Predel 129 meters)) we turn left in the direction of Mangart. Immediately after the crossroad side branch of the road branches off, where there is a marked parking lot.
B) From Primorska we drive to Log pod Mangartom, and from there we continue driving towards Italy. Before we get to the border crossing Predel, after the bridge Predel (bridge over the stream Mangartski potok) we turn right in the direction of Mangart. We park immediately after the bridge on a marked parking lot by side branch of the road.

Path description:
From the starting point, we continue on the asphalt road which leads towards the saddle Mangartsko sedlo, and we are ascending there to first right turn, or to the spot, where it crosses the stream Mangartski potok. At the mentioned turn, before we cross the bridge, we continue straight on a footpath in the direction of the mountain pasture Mangartska planina. We continue with a nice view towards Mangart, on the path which is ascending parallel with the stream and a little higher we cross also landslide Stože, which happened in November 2000. When we leave the area of landslide we gradually pass into the forest, through which we moderately ascend to the western edge of the mountain pasture Mangartska planina.
When we step on the mountain pasture we walk to the near shepherd hut, behind which we continue on a little overgrown path which leads over mountain pasture. After the crossing of the mountain pasture we get into a lane of a forest and then we quickly reach narrower lane of a meadow, on which continues old abandoned road (to here possible also, if we continue through mountain pasture on the road and then at the first crossing left in the direction of Mangartsko sedlo). The worse road or cart track is ascending gently, after that when we cross a torrent it finally changes into a mountain path. Next follows few minutes of a moderate ascent, and then we cross an asphalt road. On the other side of the road, we ascend on gentle stairs, and then we reach clearing, where the path turns left and starts relatively steeply ascending. After few minutes of the ascent, we again reach the road, and there we continue to the nearby turn, where from the road, the path branches off on which we continue.
Here the marked path continues on the road, and we continue on an unmarked footpath which passes into the forest. Further, we are steeply ascending on the path which at first still runs through the forest, after that increasingly beautiful views opening up, which reach towards Rombon, Jerebica... Higher, we return on the road, on which with the exception of some shortcuts we continue to part, where starts longer crossing towards the right. After we cross quite mighty gully of torrent Nakel, we will soon on the left side of the road notice shorter stairs, on which we ascend to the nearby grassy slope, where we continues relatively easy to follow, but still unmarked path. The path soon turns left and it ascends diagonally to the edge of gully, where there stands a metal pole with pink and yellow band. Here the path again turns towards the right, and is then ascending diagonally over a little steeper grassy slopes. The path, from which increasingly beautiful views opening up and which runs on an old mule track higher brings us to ruins, which are located a little above next gully. On old mule track we continue on a steeper slope, which leads us towards the gully. Only a little before we reach the gully, unmarked path splits into two parts, and we continue straight to the gully (left path leads directly to a saddle Mangartsko sedlo) through which runs smaller stream and there is also settled water catchment. On the other side of the gully, we at first gently ascend on a wide mule track, which leads us over a steep slope, and then after the slope break slope flattens and becomes grassy. Mule track starts moderately descending, and then it brings us to a crossing, where we reach a marked path which leads towards the saddle Mangartsko sedlo. Here we go right (left saddle Mangartsko sedlo), and then we turn left and we descend to the nearby mountain hut.
Description and pictures refer to a condition in the year 2016 (July).

On the way: Mangartska planina (1295m)

Trip can be extended to: Mangart