Hiking Gontarska Planina, Slovenia

Gontarska Planina is a quiet and underrated hiking destination in the Polhov Gradec Hills, offering a peaceful escape into nature not far from Ljubljana. The route leads through forest paths where the sounds of everyday life quickly disappear, replaced by fresh air, trees, and the relaxing rhythm of walking through nature.

This enjoyable hike combines a steady uphill climb with peaceful forest scenery, a small hidden waterfall, and a rewarding viewpoint near the summit. The route becomes more relaxed once you reach the plateau, where the landscape opens up and the walk continues through quieter surroundings.

For me, Gontarska Planina is one of those places that is easy to return to. Its peaceful trails, natural surroundings, and beautiful views make it a great choice when you want to spend a few hours outdoors away from busier hiking destinations.

Starting the Hike in Trnovec

The hike begins in the village of Trnovec, where parking is available near the starting area. This is also the same starting point used for the hike to Osolnik, making it a useful reference if you have already visited that trail.

From here, the route quickly enters the forest and leaves the village behind. Fresh air, trees, and quiet surroundings make for a pleasant start before the steeper sections of the route begin.

Following the marked path through the forest, you gradually gain elevation on the way towards Gontarska Planina.

Walking Route to Gontarska Planina

The route follows the forest trail uphill from Trnovec. You continue walking through the forest until you reach a small saddle, where you turn towards Gontarska Planina.

From here, the trail becomes very steep, and you gain a large part of the elevation in this section. This is the most demanding part of the hike, as the path climbs sharply towards the plateau.

Once you reach the top of the steep section, the route becomes much more level. From here, you continue walking across the landscape towards Gontarska Planina, with the final part of the route being much more relaxed.

Eventually, you reach the viewpoint at Gontarska Planina, where you can stop, take a break, and enjoy the surrounding landscape.

Summit and Views

At the top of Gontarska Planina, the forest opens up and the landscape becomes more spacious and peaceful. A bench and a summit register provide a nice place to stop and take a break after the steep climb.

From the viewpoint, you can enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding hills and the Ljubljana Basin in the distance. After the demanding uphill section, the open landscape and peaceful atmosphere make reaching Gontarska Planina especially rewarding.

My Experience

I enjoy hiking to Gontarska Planina and have returned here more than once. The trail is peaceful from the beginning, with the forest providing a quiet and relaxing atmosphere as you gradually make your way uphill.

The section after the small saddle is the most demanding part of the hike. The trail becomes very steep and you gain a lot of elevation in a relatively short section. Once you reach the plateau, however, the hike becomes much more relaxed and feels more like a pleasant walk through the landscape.

I especially enjoy the final part towards the viewpoint at Gontarska Planina. After the steep climb, it is nice to slow down, enjoy the surroundings, and take in the views. The peaceful atmosphere is one of the reasons I like coming back here.

For me, Gontarska Planina is a great choice when I want a quieter hike surrounded by nature. It offers enough of a challenge on the steep section while still giving you plenty of time to enjoy a relaxing walk and beautiful scenery at the top.

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Hike Details

• Starting point: Trnovec, Slovenia
• GPS Coordinates: 46.114080, 14.337570
• Elevation: Gontarska Planina – 894 m
• Hiking time: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes one way
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate, with a very steep section after the small saddle
• Parking: Available near the starting area in Trnovec
• Trail type: Forest trail with a steep uphill section followed by a more level walk towards Gontarska Planina
• How to get there: Reach Trnovec by road and follow the forest trail uphill. Continue until you reach a small saddle, then follow the route towards Gontarska Planina.
• Scenery: Peaceful forests, natural surroundings, open landscape, and views of the surrounding hills and the Ljubljana Basin
• Recommendation: Comfortable hiking shoes and enough water are recommended, especially because of the steep uphill section.

Best Time to Visit Gontarska Planina

Gontarska Planina can be visited throughout the year, with each season offering a different experience.

Spring brings fresh greenery and pleasant forest surroundings, while summer provides shade during the steeper forest section. Autumn is especially beautiful when the surrounding hills are covered in colourful foliage.

Winter can also be peaceful, but snow and ice may make the steep section more difficult and slippery. Because the route is very steep, I recommend suitable hiking footwear, especially during the winter months.

Trail Conditions

The trail is mostly a peaceful forest route, but the conditions change as you get closer to the small saddle and the steep section towards Gontarska Planina.

After the saddle, the trail becomes very steep, and this is where most of the elevation gain is made. In wet, snowy, or icy conditions, this section can become considerably more difficult and slippery.

The upper part of the route is more level and easier to walk once the steep climb is completed. Good hiking footwear with proper grip is recommended, especially in winter or after wet weather.

What to Bring

Because the route includes a very steep uphill section, I recommend suitable hiking footwear with good grip. This is especially important in winter, when snow or ice can make the steep section more difficult.

Bring enough water and weather-appropriate clothing, as the conditions can change during the hike. A small backpack is useful for carrying water, snacks, and other personal items.

A camera is also worth bringing, especially if you want to capture the peaceful forest, open landscape, and views from Gontarska Planina.

Why Visit Gontarska Planina?

For me, Gontarska Planina is a great choice when I want a peaceful hike without the crowds found on some of Slovenia’s more popular mountain routes. The forest keeps the route quiet and relaxing, while the steep section gives the hike enough of a challenge to make reaching the top feel rewarding.

I especially like the change in the route after the steep climb. Once you reach the plateau, the hiking becomes much more relaxed, and you can enjoy walking through the landscape towards the viewpoint.

The combination of peaceful forest, the challenging uphill section, open surroundings, and beautiful views makes Gontarska Planina a place I enjoy returning to. If you are looking for a quieter hike where you can enjoy nature at your own pace, I definitely recommend it.

Photography

Gontarska Planina offers nice opportunities for nature and landscape photography throughout the hike. The forest provides peaceful woodland scenes, while the more open landscape near the top gives you a wider view of the surrounding hills.

The viewpoint at Gontarska Planina is the highlight for photography, especially on clear days when the Ljubljana Basin and surrounding hills are visible in the distance.

I also like the contrast between the forest section and the open landscape near the summit. Different seasons give the area a completely different appearance, with fresh greenery in spring and colourful forests in autumn.

Final Thoughts

Gontarska Planina is a peaceful and rewarding hike that combines a steep uphill section with a much more relaxed walk across the plateau towards the viewpoint. The quiet forest surroundings make the route enjoyable, while the steep climb gives the hike a little more character.

I really like this mountain and often come back here because the steep ascent is a great workout and good training for longer and more demanding mountain hikes. Once the steep section is behind you, you can slow down and enjoy the landscape on the way to the viewpoint.

For anyone looking for a quieter hiking destination with a challenging climb, peaceful nature, and rewarding views, I think Gontarska Planina is definitely worth visiting.