Kozjak nad Pesnico - Tojzlov vrh

Access to starting point:
We drive to Spodnja Kungota, then follow the road towards Zgornja Kungota. In the settlement Kozjak nad Pesnico we turn left towards Gaj and Urban and then park at a suitable place. Best on the section where the road enters the forest.

Route description:
From the main road Spodnja Kungota - Zgornja Kungota we head onto the road that leads towards Gaj nad Mariborom and sv. Urban. The path first leads across the flat section, at the edge of the forest we continue on the right wider road. 50 m ahead we go left, then we start to ascend through the forest, soon the blazes direct us right onto a footpath that ascends to the ruins of Pahlejev grad, which we bypass on the left side. After the castle we gradually return to the asphalt road, along which we continue to the junction where the path from Zgornja Kungota joins from the right.
When we return to the forest we leave the road again as the blazes direct us right, where we temporarily ascend more steeply. A little further the path levels out and descends in a few steps to the road, which we reach at a smaller junction.
We continue along the marked road, which continues through the forest for a few more minutes; when we leave the forest we continue along the panoramic ridge, where the path leads past a few houses. Further on, from the ridge we pass back to the slope and arrive at a triangular junction in the middle of which there is a signpost.
Here a marked path (road) branches left towards sv. Urban, but we continue straight, bypassing the Nabašec homestead on the left side. Here we descend slightly, then arrive at a marked junction where a cart road to sv. Urban also branches left.
Here too we continue straight and just a little further at the smaller junction straight again. A slight descent follows, then we arrive at the next marked junction, where we go left towards Bresternica (right cart road towards Gaj nad Mariborom) and then immediately right onto the road beside which there are signs for Večernikova smer to Tojzlov vrh.
From the junction we ascend transversely along the macadam road, when we leave the forest we bypass the Večernik homestead on the right side. Behind the homestead the road levels out temporarily, and from the road a nice view opens towards the church of Sv. Križ in Gaj nad Mariborom. The path further leads past a chapel, after which we return to the forest through which we ascend more steeply. The steepness eases when we reach the asphalt road, which we follow left, quickly arriving at the settlement Gaj nad Mariborom. Only an easy ascent through the settlement follows and we arrive at the cemetery, where we turn left; right after the junction we are already at the church of Sv. Križ, where the stamp box is located by the road.
We continue past the church and follow the blazes for Tojzlov vrh. The settlement Gaj nad Mariborom soon ends, and we bypass the nearby farm on the right side. Just a few dozen steps further we go left from the road onto a cart track that ascends along the edge of the forest, crossing the asphalt road at the chapel. We also continue ascending along the edge of the forest, then pass the Iglič homestead, after which following a short descent we return to the asphalt road.
Approximately one minute of easy descent follows and the path from the Šiker homestead joins from the right.
We continue straight and ascend along the panoramic section, where another path from the Šober settlement joins from the left.
We walk along the panoramic road for a short time, from which a nice view opens towards Sv. Urban and the surrounding hills, then the road returns to the forest. A few minutes of moderate ascent follow and we arrive at Planinski dom Kozjak or Planinski dom Obrtnik on Tojzlov vrh.
Before the hut we go right onto the cart track beside which there are signs for the summit. After a few steps the path enters the forest, through which it ascends gently and after a few minutes brings us to the forest-covered summit, where there is a stamp box and the NOB monument.
Starting point - Sv. Križ 1:35, Sv. Križ - Planinski dom Kozjak 0:25, Planinski dom Kozjak - Tojzlov vrh 0:05.
Description and pictures refer to the condition in November 2021.

Along the route: Sveti Križ (Gaj nad Mariborom) (575m), Planinski dom Kozjak (690m)

We recommend: trips from the same starting point, similar trips, summit register