Oljševa
Olševa (other name Gavca) is a mountain range in the Karawanks. Olševa rises above Koprivna, Solčava, and Remšenik (Remšenik / Remschenig is a valley on the Austrian side of Olševa). From its grassy summit, which also has a box with a mountain registration booklet and a stamp. From the top, there is a beautiful view of Peca, Uršlja gora, Smrekov mountain range, Raduha, Logar Valley, and the mountains above Savinja valley, Košuta, Obir, and mountains in the Austria.
Hiking trails
Podolševa (Rogar) - Govca (Olševa) | Difficulty: 4 | Duration 2:10 h
Hiking details:
- Time: 2 hours and 10 minutes
- Difficulty: Challenging marked trail
- Elevation gain: 689 meters
- Elevation gain along the route: 720 meters
- Map: Kamnik and Savinja Alps 1:50,000
- Recommended equipment (summer):
- Recommended equipment (winter): Crampons, ice axe
The hike from Podolševa (Rogar) to Govca (Olševa) is a direct route. Here’s how to get to the starting point:
a) Drive to Luče (from Mozirje or Kamnik, via the Volovljek pass (Kranjski Rak)). Continue towards Logar Valley. In the village of Solčava, leave the main road to Logar Valley and turn right towards Podolševa, Spodnje Sleme pass, and Črna na Koroškem. After a few kilometers, at the Podolševa intersection, turn left towards the scenic road (right to Spodnje Sleme pass and Črna na Koroškem). Continue towards the church of the Holy Spirit, and park a few hundred meters before the church, near the Rogar farm.
b) Drive to Črna na Koroškem (from Raven na Koroškem or Šoštanj via the Spodnje Sleme pass). Continue towards Luče. Initially asphalt, the road becomes gravel and leads to a junction of several roads at the Spodnje Sleme pass. From the pass, continue towards Solčava, then slightly lower, turn right towards the scenic road (the left road leads to Solčava). Continue towards the church of the Holy Spirit, and park a few hundred meters before the church, near the Rogar farm.
Description of the route:
From the starting point, walk to the Rogar tourist farm, then turn left onto a path that ascends through the forest. Higher up, another path from the church of the Holy Spirit joins from the left. Continue right on the marked trail towards Olševa. The path becomes a trail, leading quickly to the national border. After ascending along the border for a while, reach a marked junction, where you continue right towards Potočka Zijalka (left to Remšenik / Remschenig).
From the junction, a steep climb of about 10 minutes brings you to the karst cave called Potočka Zijalka. Continue on the marked path towards Govca, starting another steep ascent. Shortly, reach another junction, where the left path goes to Obel kamen (1911 m). Continue right towards Govca (the highest peak of Olševa). Traverse the steep slopes of Olševa, using some steel cables on exposed sections. The path turns left, joining the trail from Obel Kamen peak. Continue right, ascending steeply on increasingly panoramic terrain. The path levels out, leading along a scenic ridge, quickly reaching the highest peak of Govca.
Zadnji travnik - Oljševa (Gavca) | Difficulty: 2 | Duration 1:45 h
Hiking details:
- Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy marked trail
- Elevation gain: 547 meters
- Elevation gain along the route: 560 meters
- Map: Kamnik and Savinja Alps 1:50,000
- Recommended equipment (summer):
- Recommended equipment (winter): Ice axe, crampons
Access to the starting point:
a) Drive to Črna na Koroškem (from Raven na Koroškem or from Šoštanj via the Spodnje Sleme pass). Continue towards Koprivna. Ascend along the Meža River, paying attention to the sharp left turn. At this turn, turn right towards Olševa (continue on the asphalt road to Sveti Jakob) onto a gravel road that gradually steepens. Ascend along the Meža River for some time, then a somewhat rougher gravel road turns sharply left. A bit higher, there’s a sharp right turn, and then the road diagonally ascends to the right. When fairly high up, the narrower road branches off to the right towards Govševa Planina, but continues straight, following the gravel road to a clearing where you’ll see directional signs for Olševa and Planinski dom Kumer. Park at a suitable place near the mountain directional signs.
b) Drive to Luče (from Mozirje or from Kamnik via the Volovljek pass (Kranjski Rak)). Continue towards Logarska Dolina. In the village of Solčava, leave the main road to Logarska Dolina and turn right towards Podolševa, Spodnje Sleme pass, and Črna na Koroškem. Further on, the road loses its asphalt surface. After a few kilometers, at the intersection in Podolševa, turn right towards Črna na Koroškem. The road, mostly diagonally ascending, leads to the Spodnje Sleme pass. From the pass, the road descends, and you follow it towards Črna na Koroške. After descending into the valley, turn left at the intersection and then ascend along the Meža River. A bit higher, a road branches off to the right towards Kumro, but continue straight on the main road for about 1 km, or until a sharp left turn. At the beginning of the turn, notice signs for Olševa, directing you right onto a gravel road. Continue ascending along the Meža River for some time, and then a somewhat rougher gravel road turns sharply left. A bit higher, there’s a sharp right turn, and then the road diagonally ascends to the right. When fairly high up, a narrower road branches off to the right towards Govševa Planina, but continues straight, following the gravel road to a clearing where you’ll see directional signs for Olševa and Planinski dom Kumer. Park at a suitable place near the mountain directional signs.
Route description:
From the unorganized parking area, head left towards Olševa on a path that continues along a cart track, entering the forest after a few meters. After about 3 minutes on the cart track, markers guide you slightly left onto a worn and arrow-marked footpath. Higher up, markers reappear, and the path returns to the cart track. Continue the ascent on the gradually steeper cart track, which later levels out and turns right. From the point where the cart track turns right, walk a few tens of meters, then markers guide you left onto a steeper footpath, quickly leading to the Foršnerc hunting bivouac.
From the bivouac, continue straight and then, after a few meters, turn left uphill. The path starts to ascend more steeply through partly larch forest, which becomes sparser higher up. After a few minutes of ascent, the path levels out, leading to a small cirque. After a few minutes of moderate ascent, the path becomes steeper again, guiding you across increasingly panoramic sunny slopes of Olševa. Higher up, the path turns left and ascends crosswise through a small gully, climbing over scree to reach Olševa’s ridge.
Reach the ridge at a marked junction, turning right towards Govca, the highest peak of the mentioned ridge (left towards Spodnje Sleme pass and Raduha). The path continues mostly on the left, southern side of the ridge, crossing some steeper and in two places, exposed slopes (especially slippery in wet or snowy conditions). The slope becomes somewhat gentler, but the path ascends more steeply. Enjoying beautiful views towards the mountains above Logarska dolina, quickly reach a side ridge, and in a few minutes, climb to the main ridge of Olševa. Here, the path turns left, and after a few more steps, you reach Govca.
Spodnje Sleme - Olševa | Difficulty: 2 | Duration: 3 h
Hiking details:
- Time: 3 hours
- Difficulty: Easy marked trail
- Elevation gain: 675 meters
- Elevation gain along the route: 705 meters
- Map: Kamnik and Savinja Alps 1:50,000
- Recommended equipment (summer):
- Recommended equipment (winter): Crampons, ice axe
Access to the starting point:
a) Drive to Luče (from Mozirje or from Kamnik via the Volovljek pass (Kranjski Rak)). Continue towards Logarska Dolina. In the village of Solčava, leave the main road to Logarska Dolina and turn right towards Podolševa, Spodnje Sleme pass, and Črna na Koroškem. The road loses its asphalt surface, and after a few kilometers at the intersection in Podolševa, turn right towards Črna na Koroškem. The road, mostly diagonally ascending, leads to the Spodnje Sleme pass. Park at a suitable place at the mentioned pass.
b) Drive to Črna na Koroškem (from Raven na Koroškem or from Šoštanj via the Spodnje Sleme pass). Continue towards Luče. Initially asphalt, the road becomes gravel higher up and leads to the intersection of several roads at the Spodnje Sleme pass. Park at a suitable place at the mentioned pass.
Route description:
From the starting point at the Spodnje Sleme pass, follow the narrow road marked for Olševa. Initially walk on the road, then markers briefly lead you into the forest, where you continue on a forest path for a short while. The path returns to the road, and you walk on it for about half an hour or until the junction at Zgornje Slemen. Continue on the marked trail towards Olševa, which quickly leads to a pasture, where the ascent begins. Initially, ascend along the pasture fence, then the path turns slightly to the right and starts to ascend more steeply through the forest. After a steep climb for a while, when you emerge from the forest just below Lepi Vrh (1616 m), the path levels out and transitions to a gentle and panoramic ridge.
From Lepi Vrh onward, walk along the scenic ridge. The path is gentle, allowing you to observe the peaks above Logarska Dolina and Robanov Kot. The path leads over the inconspicuous summit of Odenični hriber (1863 m) and the somewhat more pronounced Gladki Vrh (1850 m), where a trail from Podolševa joins from the left.
After a short descent, you reach a small saddle, where a path descends to the right towards the Mountain Hut on the Kumer Farm. Continue straight towards Govca. The path continues on the left, mostly on the southern side of the ridge, crossing some steeper and in two places, exposed slopes (especially slippery in wet or snowy conditions). The slope becomes somewhat gentler, and the path ascends more steeply. Enjoying beautiful views towards the mountains above Logarska dolina, quickly reach a side ridge, and in a few minutes, climb to the main ridge of Olševa. Here, the path turns left, and after a few more steps, you reach Govca.
Podolševa (Sveti Duh, Strevc) - Oljševa via Obel Kamen | Difficulty: 3 | Duration: 2:30h
Hiking details:
Path Name: Via Obel kamen
Hiking Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Difficulty: Challenging marked trail
Elevation Gain: 694 meters
Elevation Gain Along the Route: 740 meters
Map: Kamnik and Savinja Alps 1:50,000
Recommended Equipment (Summer): Helmet
Recommended Equipment (Winter): Helmet, Ice Axe, Crampons
Access to the starting point:
a) Drive to Luče, then continue towards Logarska Dolina. In the village of Solčava, before the bridge over the Savinja River, leave the road to Logarska Dolina and continue right towards Podolševa and Črna na Koroškem. After about 5 km of ascent, reach the intersection, and turn left towards Sv. Duh (right to Črna na Koroškem), then drive on the Solčava panoramic road to the Strevc tourist farm, located below the church of Sv. Duh. It’s approximately 8 km from the main road to the starting point.
b) Drive to Črna na Koroškem, then continue towards Koprivna and Solčava. Drive along the valley by the Meža River for a while, then turn left towards Solčava and Logarska Dolina. Climb to the Spodnje Sleme pass, descend to the intersection, and turn right towards Sv. Duh, and continue on the Solčava panoramic road to the Strevc tourist farm, located below the church of Sv. Duh. It’s approximately 23 km from the center of Črna na Koroškem to the starting point.
c) Via the Pavlič’s Saddle border crossing (Austria), enter Slovenia and start descending towards Solčava. Shortly after the Majerhold Mountain Hut, turn left towards Podolševa and the Solčava panoramic road. Drive along the panoramic road to the Strevc tourist farm, located below the church of Sv. Duh. It’s approximately 10 km from the Pavlič’s Saddle border crossing to the starting point.
Route description:
From the starting point, follow the path towards Olševa, St. Lenart, and Potočka Zijalka. Bypass the Strevc tourist farm on the left side, and the path ascends above the farm into the forest, where you continue on a forest path for a short distance. Quickly reach a gravel road, and climb it to a small intersection.
From the intersection, continue sharply to the right (straight to St. Lenart), and continue the ascent on the gravel road without any markings. After a few minutes, join the marked path that passes by the Rogar tourist farm. Continue left on the path towards Potočka Zijalka, Obel Kamen, and Govca. Ascend on a well-trodden and gradually steeper path, which higher up reaches the national border. After a few minutes of steep ascent, a path from Austria joins from the left.
Continue to the right, and after about 10 minutes of ascent, reach the archaeological site of Potočka Zijalka.
Continue on the marked path, which bypasses the cave on the right side and, with the help of safety aids, ascends on the right side of a fairly steep ravine. A little further, cross the ravine with the help of spikes, then ascend steeply out of the ravine. The path remains steep, becoming increasingly panoramic with each gained vertical meter.
On a small ridge, the path forks, choose the left path towards Obel kamen (straight to Oljševa). Follow a steep ascent over mostly grassy slopes, which are overgrown with scree higher up. When you reach the main ridge, you’ll notice the first logbook and stamp on the first sub-peak. A short ascent from the first sub-peak leads to the next sub-peak, where the second logbook is located next to the cross.
Continue to the right, and the path leads you along the panoramic border ridge of Olševa, where you mostly walk on the Slovenian side of the ridge. After a few minutes of relatively flat walking, the path ascends more steeply and brings you to Obel Kamen.
Continue along the ridge, initially with some short descents and ascents, then reach a short challenging descent. After the challenging section with no safety aids, descend for a short time, then the path turns left and crosses the slopes to join the usual path leading to Oljševa.
From the junction, a short ascent follows, and the path returns to the ridge. On the ridge, a non-marked path from Zadnji Travnik almost imperceptibly joins from the left. Continue straight, and in a few minutes, ascend to the highest peak of Olševa.
Starting Point – Potočka zijalka: 1:10
Potočka zijalka – Obel kamen: 0:50
Obel kamen – G (finish point): 0:30
