Sviščaki - Snežnik (by road)

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 Snežnik Grda jama), where we continue on the upper right road (slightly left Mali Snežnik and Snežnik over Mali Snežnik). Few minutes higher, on a smaller saddle from the right joins the footpath from Sviščaki, where also driving road ends.
We continue on a bad road which soon turns sharply to the left and then it is in a diagonal ascent turning more and more to the right. While ascending on the mentioned road beautiful views starting to open up, which reach from the nearby Mali Snežnik, over Notranjska and Primorska all the way to Dolomites. When the road turns a little more to the right on the nearby turning point ends.
From the end of the road, where there are some benches, a nice view opens up on Veliki Snežnik, and we continue on a wide marked path which continues through dwarf pines. Next follows a diagonal ascent towards the right, and from the path increasingly beautiful views opening up, which reach over Gorski Kotar all the way to Velebit, and nicely are visible also Kvarner islands, Učka, etc. Higher, the path passes into a small indistinct valley between the both peaks of Snežnik, where at first path Matetova pot branches off to the left, and higher from the right joins also the path from Grda draga and Mašun (both paths lead over Mali Snežnik).
At the both crossings, we continue on the right path, and to the cottage on Veliki Snežnik separates us approximately 5 minutes of a diagonal ascent over a little steeper slope, where in snow there is greater danger of slipping.
When we reach the cottage, in front of it we continue left and in a minute of additional walking, we ascend on the highest not Alpine peak in Slovenia, from which a view opens up on all sides.
Description and pictures refer to a condition in the year 2015 (October).

On the way: Križišče pod Lomom (1330m), Kapetanova bajta (1460m), Obračališče (1564m)