Koča pri Savici - Velika Zelnarica (via Vrata)

Access to starting point:
From highway Ljubljana - Jesenice we go to the exit Lesce and follow the road towards Bled and forward towards Bohinjska Bistrica. We continue driving towards the lake Bohinj (Ribčev laz), where we come to a crossroad, where we continue straight on the left (south) side of the lake in the direction of Ukanc and waterfall Savica. This more and more narrow road, we then follow to a large parking lot at the mountain hut Savica. The parking lot is payable.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we go on the road which over a bridge crosses a river Savica. Further, we follow the path in the direction of Triglavska jezera. At first gently sloping path soon becomes steep and is ascending on the lower southern slopes of Komarča. After a good half an hour of walking, the path becomes even steeper and it brings us to technically demanding spots. The path on a wall of Komarča is nicely routed, but still at every step, the caution is needed, so that we don't slip. On harder spots we have fixed safety gear for help which help us to ascend safer to the top of the wall. The steep ascent, which lasts approximately one hour ends with a view into the valley on a parking lot, where we have parked the car. The steepness then decreases and the path in five minutes of easy walking brings us to the lake Črno jezero.
At the beginning of the lake, the path on the mountain pasture Viševnik and Pršivec branches off to the right, and we continue straight on the right side of the lake. On the other side of the lake, the path brings us to the next crossing. We continue straight in the direction of the mountain hut Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih (left Komna). The path ahead is ascending below the walls of Stador on the right and virgin forest Lopučnica on the left. Eventually, the path brings us on a grassy clearing, where the marked path turns right steeply upwards. After 15 minutes, the steepness decreases and after additional 15 minutes, the path brings us to the next crossing, where we continue left (right mountain pasture Ovčarija, Dedno polje and Blato). A gentle ascent follows to the spot, where in front of us we notice lake Dvojno jezero. The path ahead slightly descends to the lake and then continues on the right side. Here we come to a crossing, where right upward, the path to Tičarica branches off. We continue on the bottom path, which after few minutes of additional walking brings us to the mountain hut Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih, which we see in front of us.
At the mountain hut, we go in the direction of Triglav straight ahead. Only few meters from the mountain hut, we bypass artificial lake Močivec, which is a source of drinking water at the mountain hut. The path is then moderately ascending through the valley Dolina Triglavskih jezer upwards. During the ascent, we can admire walls of Tičarica and Kopica on the right, and on the left views opening up towards the ridge of Špičje. The path ahead brings us to the next crossing, where we continue slightly right on the path in the direction of Prehodavci and Triglav (left Veliko Špičje). Forest by the path becoming thinner and the path brings us to largest Triglav lake Ledvica. The path bypasses the lake on the right side over extensive scree, which slowly but persistently filling up the lake. Nice high mountain path then brings us to the next lake Zeleno jezero, which has a characteristic green color.
Immediately after the lake signs for Hribarice point us to the right upward (left Prehodavci). Further, we are ascending on the scree towards Hribarice. After approximately half an hour ascent from the lake Zeleno jezero we come to a crossing, where we continue right in the direction of Zelnarica (straight Hribarice). The path ahead at first crosses moderately steep slopes, and then it brings us to a slightly exposed ledge below Vršaki (undemanding). Next follows a shorter descent, then the path starts ascending towards the saddle Vrata (saddle between Zadnji Vogel and Velika Zelnarica), where there is the next crossing. We continue right in the direction of Zelnarica (straight valley Za Kopico) on the path which ascends diagonally over relatively steep slopes. We follow this path approximately 10 minutes (almost to the saddle between the both peaks of Zelnarica), and then we leave the marked path and we go right on a poorly beaten footpath which in few minutes of a moderate ascent brings us on a slightly exposed ridge, which we then follow to the peak. And we reach it after good 15 minutes of walking on unmarked and in parts poorly visible path.
The starting point - Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih 3:00, Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih - Velika Zelnarica 3:00.

On the way: The lake Črno jezero (1294m), Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih mountain hut (1685m), The lake Jezero v Ledvicah (1831m), The lake Zeleno jezero (1988m), Vrata (2192m)