📍 Out-and-Back | 11 km | 800m Elevation | ~5 Hours
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Four and a Half (Very Sweaty) Stars
🚀 The Adventure Begins
This hike has everything: forested trails, wildflower meadows, a summit with jaw-dropping views and a whole lot of uphill.
We began our journey from the parking lot at Ravenska Kočna Valley, the most popular trailhead for this route. If you want to make your hike longer (and possibly test your relationships), you can start earlier from Planšar Lake, which adds about 4km and 50 minutes round trip. Want to be extra ambitious? Start from Jezersko village and tack on another 3.8km (mostly flat) and another 50 minutes.
💡 Pro Tip: Parking at Ravenska Kočna costs €10 per car. Bring your bank card as the machine doesn’t accept cash.
Also important: there are no huts, shops, or toilets along the trail. So pack water, snacks, and whatever else you need to survive a five-hour hike in the wild (plus tissues, trust us).
🌲 Into the Forest and Across the Meadow
The first part of the trail winds steadily uphill through a shaded forest, a welcome relief on a warm summer morning. Through the trees, we caught occasional glimpses of the towering peaks all around us, leaving us equal parts inspired and slightly intimidated.
Our hiking poles once again proved their worth. (Cue group-wide gratitude for squeezing them into our tightly packed bags, despite Mandy’s strict luggage rules.)
About 4km in, we emerged into an alpine meadow straight out of a postcard. We paused for a breather, thinking we’d hit peak scenery. Oh, how naive we were.
⛰ Reaching the Summit
Beyond the meadow, the path becomes a bit more… interpretive. While it’s hard to get truly lost, the route zigzags through the trees in a way that had us second-guessing every turn.
Look out for the red and white trail markers along the path or painted on trees, they’re your best friends here.
The final ascent was steep and sweaty, and we were deeply thankful not to be herding small children up the incline. But then, suddenly: magic. We stepped out of the forest onto the summit of Goli Vrh, and the view stopped us in our tracks.
From the top, we could see the entire Jezersko Valley, flanked by craggy limestone peaks, including Triglav, Slovenia’s highest mountain and national symbol.
At the summit, a striking wooden cross made from Jezersko larch marks the spot. It’s as photogenic as it is symbolic. Best of all? The Slovenia–Austria border runs along this peak, and yes we absolutely took the cliché photo with one foot in each country.
🏞 Downhill & Done
After a leisurely lunch and some summit selfies, we packed up and began the descent. It’s steep, so bring your patience, and your poles.
Over the entire five-hour hike, we passed only two other groups, meaning we had this mountain playground nearly to ourselves. A rare and beautiful thing.
We wrapped up the day at a local restaurant, where we enthusiastically over-ordered pizza rolls, unaware that each “roll” was actually a basket of rolls. Blame our nonexistent Slovenian. Zero regrets, though, we left with full bellies and full hearts.
🧳 What to Pack for Goli Vrh
Don’t let the distance fool you — this hike demands preparation. Here’s what we recommend:
🎒 Daypack
💧 Water bottle or hydration pack
🥢 Walking poles (trust us)
⛑ First aid kit
🧢 Hat & 🕶 Sunglasses
🌧 Rain jacket (weather can shift fast)
🧥 Warm layers
🧦 Good socks
👟 Proper hiking shoes or boots
🍫 Snacks
🥪 A packed lunch
🎩 A Hat Tip to Macs Adventures
This hike was another gem arranged through Macs Adventures, and it didn’t disappoint. From route clarity to jaw-dropping scenery, it was an absolute winner.
Thanks, Macs — see you on the next trail!
Go Together Life 
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