Ruška koča na Arehu - Mali Šumik waterfall
Starting point: Ruška koča na Arehu (1246 m)
Starting point Lat/Lon: 46.4956°N 15.5077°E
Time of walking: 2 h 15 min
Difficulty: difficult marked way
Difficulty of skiing: no data
Altitude difference: -356 m
Altitude difference (by path): 100 m
Map: Pohorje 1:50.000
Access to starting point:
A) From highway Ljubljana - Maribor we go to the exit Rače - Fram, and then we follow the signs for Fram. We continue through the center of Fram, and then we start ascending towards the settlements Kopivnik, Planica and Frajhajm, and higher we follow the signs for Areh. When we join a wider road we go left and still follow the signs for Areh. We park on a large parking lot near Ruška koča na Arehu.
B) We leave Štajerska highway at exit for Slivnica and Rogoza, and then we follow the signs for Pohorje and Areh. The path ahead leads us through Spodnje and Zgornje Hoče, Slivniško Pohorje, and after the settlements we follow the signs for Areh. We park on a large parking lot near Ruška koča na Arehu.
Path description:
From the parking lot near Ruška koča na Arehu we go on the road in the direction of Žigartov vrh, Šumik and Cojzarica. After approximately 10 minutes of walking on the road which leads through the forest, we get to a marked crossing, where we continue left towards Bajgot and waterfall Šumik (straight - Žigartov vrh).
The path ahead returns into the forest and leads us on a worse forest road, and from which soon a path branches off to the left downwards towards the source of Polskava (5 minutes), and we continue straight. After some time, we go from the bad road slightly right, on a cart track which ascends diagonally on slopes of Žigartov vrh. Cart track quickly flattens and it brings us to a marked crossing, where from the right side joins the path which leads via Žigartov vrh and is a little longer than ours.
We continue straight and we are gradually descending through the forest, and lower we cross another forest road. Also further we mostly walk on cart tracks on the path which few times ascends and descends again, and at the crossings we follow the blazes. After a little longer descent we get to NOB monument, where we reach the macadam road.
We walk on the road only few 10 strides and the path splits.
We choose the right path in the direction of Pesek (left - Sveti Trije kralji) and we for some time leave the road, and a little ahead we cross another road, and we continue straight on a worse forest road, by which we are accompanied by blazes. Next follows some of a light ascent, and then we go past the hunting observatory, and the road gradually changes into a cart track. A little further, we go from the cart track slightly right, and then we start descending diagonally. Lower, we cross the road Areh - Osankarica, and a little lower we reach the road Areh - Šumik.
When we reach the road Areh - Šumik we go left, and from the left joins also a marked path from Sveti Trije kralji and Osankarica. We still continue on the road, and then we quickly get to the starting point Bajgot na Šumiku, where one of the paths branches off right downwards towards Ruše (path Holcarska pot through the valley of Lobnica).
We continue in the mentioned direction, by which there are also signs for waterfall Mali and Veliki Šumik (straight - estate Šumik, Koča na Klopnem vrhu...).
The path ahead starts lightly descending by Lobnica, and we soon get to warnings, that the path further is very steep and slippery. A little further, we over the footbridge cross Lobnica, and we are then descending on the right bank of Lobnica, where we gradually pass over on steeper slopes. Further at harder spots we get help from iron spikes and steel cables, and a little lower with the help of fixed safety gear we descend on a shorter wall. Below the wall the slope is still quite steep and dangerous for slipping, and we are descending mainly without fixed safety gear.
Even a little lower we get to the spot, where there is a stamp, and then we on a secured path descend to the vantage point for waterfall Veliki Šumik.
Veliki Šumik waterfall we continue on a path, which is still descending by Lobnica on in parts steep slopes. A little further with the help of steel cables we cross the stream Verna, which by high water level changes into several smaller waterfalls. And only a little further over a small bridge we cross river Lobnica. And immediately after the bridge we notice signs for waterfall, which is 9 meters high.
From the sign, we see the waterfall from above, and if we want to see it from below we continue on a path, which at first ascends after that descends to a crossing. Here we continue right downwards on a steep path, which quickly brings us to the riverbed of Lobnica, from which a view opens up on waterfall Mali Šumik.
Ruška koča na Arehu - waterfall Veliki Šumik 2:00, waterfall Veliki Šumik - waterfall Mali Šumik 0:15.
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