Karavanke Trail - STAGE 1: Zg. Jezersko - Preddvor

The introductory stage of the Karavanke Trail starts at Zgornje Jezersko, which is also the starting point for hiking trails to the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. The path takes us past the old church of st. Ožbolt, where we have a view of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and, further on, leads us along the right bank of the Kokra river and later under the valleys and eastern slopes of Mt. Storžič to Bašeljsko sedlo (mountain pass). We descend from the pass via Hudičev boršt and walk along scenic routes to Preddvor. 

This route is the 1st stage of the Karavanke Trail, going from Zgornje Jezersko to Kranjska Gora in a total length of 143 km.

Information on available accommodation and local offer at the Jezersko starting point is available at: 

https://www.jezersko.info/accommodation.html; 

https://www.jezersko.info/local-offer.html

We start the route at TIC Jezersko, where we turn left on the asphalt road and the path leads us to the farm Pr' Krničar, near the church of St. Ožbolt (Oswald). We continue past the church along the forest macadam path, following the signposts and markings for Lehnjakotvorni izvir (petrifying spring with tufa formation). At the intersection with a small wooden hayloft, turn left and continue to the village mainly on asphalt to the main road. Then turn right and continue along the main road to Gostišče Kanonir (pension). Before Gostišče Kanonir, turn right over the bridge and continue along the cart path next to the stream (markings 1). Then we follow the signs for Kališče or Storžič that greets us several times in the distance. The path is steep, we go through the forest and in a small clearing, in the middle of the forest, we pass the Praprotnik hut (closed). There are narrower paths here and there, it takes about 1.5 hours to the top of Bašeljsko sedlo (mountain pass) (to climb Storžič it takes an additional hour of walking, if we have enough strength in our legs). We descend slightly to Dom na Kališču (hut), with wonderful views of Lake Črnava. Passing the hut, we follow the path that leads to St. Jakob (some 2.5 hours of walking to get there), first we descend a little, then we climb a little, but there are no major climbs ahead of us. We follow the markings for St. Jakob, which can be seen in the distance on the right, but we still have quite a walk to get there. We also pass the shelter in Hudičev boršt and two sources of drinking water. At Koča na Jakobu (hut), we take some time to rest and have refreshments. We descend through the forest and dirt road past the home for the elderly and from there along the asphalt road towards Lake Črnava, across the bridge, past the playground and a small bar to the village and TIC in Preddvor, where our journey ends.

Highway:

Ljubljana–Jesenice – exit Kranj vzhod - via Zg. Jezersko