Plaz Črlovec - Vrtaški vrh (via Vrtaška planina)

Access to starting point:
We drive to Mojstrana, and then we follow the signs for valley Vrata. On the road through the valley Vrata we drive to the road sign 8 km or few 10 meters ahead to gulley Plaz Črlovec, where there is the beginning of the described path. Parking in the area of TNP is allowed only on a marked parking spots.

Path description:
From gulley Plaz Črlovec we return on the road few 10 meters back, and then we continue on a side road which continues towards the northeast. The path ahead leads us past the gate, and after the gate unmarked path branches off to the left, which leads towards Kukova špica and Njivice, and we continue straight and we still walk on the road. While walking on the road, the path leads us past the mountain pasture Višek, and behind it we quickly get to a stream Peričnik, which we cross over the footbridge. On the other side of the stream only a short time we walk on the road, and then we go left on a well-beaten forest path, on which we start ascending through the forest. After few minutes, the path splits, and we continue left (straight well-beaten shortcut (path on shortcut is shorter for approximately 10 minutes and also easier)) on the path which gradually starts ascending steeply. After a short ascent, we get to the vantage point, and above vantage point path becomes pretty steep. For some time we are steeply ascending, and then we get below the cliffs of Lengarjev Komen (1520 meters), where we continue right. Next follows crossing of partly vegetated scree and behind it also few grooves and gullies, where the footpath is narrower and mainly in wet dangerous for slipping. When the slope becomes less steep, from the right joins shortcut, and the path is again becoming steeper and steeper. Higher, we are again steeply ascending, and the slope also becomes steep. Next follows some diagonal ascent, and then we get to steel cable, from which we get help at short steep ascent on the exposed slope. When fixed safety gear end we are on a nice vantage point, from which a nice view opens up through a valley Vrata and mountains above it. Next follows crossing of a grazing fence, and then we continue right and for few minutes we walk without large changes in altitude. After few minutes, we go slightly left and we ascend to shepherd cottage on the mountain pasture Vrtaška planina.
From the mountain pasture, we continue in the direction of Vrtaški vrh and Sleme, and the path, when passes into the forest turns a little to the left and starts moderately to occasionally steeply ascending. Higher, the path flattens and leaves grazing area (on this part old path on Vrtaški vrh branches off to the right). Further in a gentle ascent, we cross more and more panoramic and occasionally steeper slopes, and after a time we get to a pasture on Njivice, where we get to a nice small valley.
At the beginning of a small valley from the left almost unnoticeably joins "upper path" from gulley Črlovec, and we continue to the nearby marked crossing.
From the crossing, we continue right in the direction of Vrtaški vrh (straight Sleme), where the footpath over a grassy slope at first isn't very easy to follow, but when we get into a lane of dwarf pines, it isn't hard to follow the anymore. Few minutes we are ascending through dwarf pines, after that on an unmarked crossing we continue left and in few minutes of additional walking, we ascend on Vrtaški vrh.
The starting point - Vrtaška planina 1:45, Vrtaška planina - Njivice 1:20, Njivice - Vrtaški vrh 0:20.
Description refers to condition in the year 2018 (August), and pictures are from various periods.

On the way: Planina Višek (975m), Vrtaška planina (1460m), Njivice (1820m)