Rašica (Stane Kosec Peak) (641 m)

To reach Rašica (Stane Kosec Peak), which is also the most popular destination for hikers in this hilly, forested area, we recommend starting from Mengeš, or rather the Mengeš Hut (Mengeška koča) on Gobavica. This hike, which connects two popular mountain huts, is not difficult and has no exposed sections, since it runs entirely through forest. In the summer it offers shelter from the hot sun, while in the months when the tree branches are bare, the rays of the sun penetrating through them provide pleasant warmth. The entire route is very well marked with waymarks and signposts.

From the Mengeš Hut follow the “Rašica – vrh” signpost to the next signpost, “Dobeno – Rašica”, which directs you from the car park onto a fenced track. Follow this downhill past meadows and then take the narrow path through the forest as far as the bench and hay drying rack in the middle of a large grassy area with a handful of houses at the edge of the forest. After crossing this and re-entering the forest, you come to a crossroads where a signpost offers two options for the climb to Rašica: via the “ridge path” (grebenska pot) or via the “lower path” (spodnja pot). Take the former (you can use the latter to return to the starting point).

This is the start of an easy hike along the ridge, where broad tracks alternate with narrower paths. Part of the trail crosses soft forest terrain, while other parts are rocky or gravelly. Ascents are long and not too steep. The same applies to the descents. Signposts and waymarks are excellent guides and it would be difficult to stray from the intended route. After the last climb, which is slightly steeper, you come out of the forest and find yourself at the foot of the 17-metre observation tower. In fine weather, the views from the tower’s upper platform take in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, the Karavanke range and the Julian Alps, as well as the lower-lying hills around Ljubljana. The mountain hut named after the wartime partisans of the “Rašica Company” (Planinski dom Rašiške čete) is a few dozen metres away. In recent years this has become one of the main reasons for the increasing number of visitors to Stane Kosec Peak – thanks to the excellent local dishes it serves and the always pleasant atmosphere in the hut.

Descent

You can return to the starting point by the same route you came up, which means that the return trip will also involve a number of ups and downs. Or you can opt for a mainly circular hike following a route that is mostly downhill (apart from a brief intermediate climb and the final climb up to the Mengeš Hut). If you choose the latter, retrace your steps from the summit and then follow signposts for Mengeška koča. These will lead you along a forest path, a macadam road, a narrow path through undergrowth and bushes and another broad forest track. Finally, a narrow path will bring you to a junction and a sign for “Mengeška koča – spodnja pot” (Mengeš Hut – lower path). This will bring you back to the crossroads with the signposts where you earlier chose the “ridge path”. From here the route back to the starting point follows the same path you took to descend from the Mengeš Hut at the start of the hike.

Starting point

Mengeš Hut on Gobavica (approx. 15.5 km from the centre of Ljubljana); to reach it follow the signpost in the centre of Mengeš. There is a macadam car park next to the hut. You can also take a bus from Ljubljana (bus stop: Mengeš Pavovec). After getting off the bus, follow the signs to the Mengeš Hut, either along the road or along the fitness trail (approx. 30 min).