Sviščaki - Snežnik (via Mali Snežnik)

Access to starting point:
A) From Cerknica or Nova vas na Blokah at first we drive to Bloška Polica, from there we continue driving in the direction of Lož and Babno Polje. In the settlement Pudob we turn right in the direction of Snežnik, Ilirska Bistrica, Knežak and nearby settlement Kozarišče. In Kozarišče we continue slightly left in the direction of Snežnik and also in the next crossroads, we follow the road in the direction of Snežnik. When Kozarišče ends, ends also an asphalt, and we immediately after the bridge through Mali Obrh we continue left in the direction of Mašun and Knežak. Next follows a long drive on a macadam road, on which after approximately 19 km from Kozarišče we get to a crossroad, where from the right side joins the road from Mašun. Here we continue left in the direction of Sviščaki, to where we have approximately 10 km of the macadam, at the crossroads we follow the signs for Sviščaki. After approximately 29 km of the macadam road we get to the mountain hut Planinski dom na Sviščakih, where we park.
B) We drive into Pivka, from there we continue driving towards Knežak. In Knežak at the marked crossroad we continue left in the direction of Mašun and settlement Bač and Koritnice. A little further, we go right in the direction of Mašun and Koritnice (straight Bač). After Koritnice the road starts considerably ascending, and after 18 km from the main crossroad in Knežak brings us to Mašun, from where we continue driving right in the direction of Sviščaki, to where we have for approximately 12 km of the macadam road. When we get to Mountain hut Planinski dom na Sviščakih we park.
C) First, we drive to Ilirska Bistrica, and then we continue driving towards Sviščaki (turn off is in the middle of Ilirska Bistrica and is marked, maybe it is a little poorly noticeable). At first, we are ascending on an asphalt road, and then after a little less than 12 km of ascent an asphalt is changed to a macadam. Next follows approximately 7 km of the macadam, and then we get to a crossroad right next to a mountain hut Planinski dom na Sviščakih, where we continue straight towards the nearby mountain hut, where we park.

Path description:
On the opposite side of the road as it is the mountain hut Planinski dom na Sviščakih, we notice signposts for Snežnik and Pogled na Snežnik, which point us on a macadam road which continues without changes in altitude through a meadow. On the other side of the meadow path leads past a water catchment, behind it, the path turns slightly left in the forest, through which is for some time moderately ascending. After a short ascent, we reach another road which we follow to the right, and there past some holiday cottages we get to a wider macadam road which we follow left (right main road Ilirska Bistrica - Sviščaki). Next follows an easy ascent on a wider macadam road, on which we continue, and there in approximately 10 minutes we get to a marked crossing, where the path towards the viewpoint "Pogled na Snežnik" branches off to the left, and to the right continues a marked footpath which leads on Snežnik.
We continue on the road which still leads through the forest, and there past an abyss we quickly get to a marked crossroad below Lom, which is located at 1330 meters above the sea level.
Here we continue straight as well (on the right road we can join the before mentioned footpath or we continue to a hunting cottage in Travni dolci, also from there it is possible to ascend on Snežnik, and the path isn't marked) in the direction of Snežnik on the road. Higher for some time a view opens up a little and then we get to the next crossroad (in descriptions starting point cave Snežniška Grda jama), where we continue on the left bottom road (on the right road leads normal path on Snežnik).
By the bottom road, on which we continue, at first we walk past a parking lot, and then we continue on the road which is closed for public traffic (next to a signpost there's a chain across the road). A short time we continue parallel with the upper road, after that our road turns more to the left and leads us past the cave Snežniška grda jama. Next follows few minutes of crossing, and then we join the marked path from Grda draga, where we continue right.
We continue in the direction of Snežnik, on the path which continues through a dense forest. Higher, we cross a smaller clearing, and then we return into the forest, and the path starts ascending diagonally towards the left. After few minutes of a diagonal ascent, we reach a marked crossing, where the path from Mašun joins.
We again continue in the direction of Snežnik, this time on a little more steep path which leads us past a memorial. Above the memorial a first wider view opens up, which reaches over Nanos all the way to the Alps. Further, we are ascending on a path which leads us through dwarf pines. When the steepness decreases we get to an old stone of a trigonometric point, which is situated on the summit, or few steps below Mali Snežnik, from where a view opens up on Veliki Snežnik, Istria, Primorska, Notranjska...
From Mali Snežnik we continue on the path which is barely noticeably descending on an indistinct east ridge of Mali Snežnik. Further, the path passes on the western and very panoramic ridge of Veliki Snežnik, on which continues mostly in a gentle to occasionally moderate ascent. A little further from the right joins the path Matetova pot, and a little ahead also normal path from Sviščaki.
At the both crossings, we continue straight, and then we diagonally ascend on a steeper slope of Veliki Snežnik, which is in snow dangerous for slipping. After few minutes, we reach the cottage on Veliki Snežnik, in front of which we continue left and we in few steps ascend on 1796 meters high peak.
Description and pictures refer to a condition in the year 2015 (October).

On the way: Križišče pod Lomom (1330m), Mali Snežnik (1694m)