Home › All routes › Rakove ravni - Velika planina - Mala planina
Rakove ravni - Velika planina - Mala planina
Cycling route · Upper Carniola · Gravel, MTB
- Length
- 14 km
- Elevation gain
- 450 m
- Duration
- ~1,5 h
- Difficulty
- hard
- Region
- Upper Carniola
- Route type
- Gravel, MTB
- Surface
- asphalt 1 km · gravel 13 km
- Suitable for
- E-bike, MTB, Gravel
From the Rakove ravni car park, a wide gravel road climbs up to Velika planina, one of Slovenia’s most beautiful high-altitude plateaus. Most of the ascent follows a well-maintained gravel road and is not technically demanding. Riding across the plateau itself requires a little more skill, as does the descent via Mala planina, where the trail becomes rockier. Along the way, you’ll enjoy expansive views, a traditional shepherds’ settlement and lush pastures where cattle graze during the summer months.
Points along the route
Rakove ravni
0 km
Rakove ravni
The route starts at the Rakove ravni car park. After a short stretch of asphalt, we turn onto a wide gravel road that begins a steady climb towards Velika planina. A few minutes into the ascent, views start to open up towards Marjanine njive and the surrounding hills.
Gravel Climb
The climb mostly follows a wide, well-compacted gravel road. At weekends there can be a little more traffic, while on weekdays you will only come across the occasional car. Just before the plateau, a short descent and one more brief ramp await, and then the landscape suddenly opens up.
Velika planina
6 km
Velika planina
Up on the plateau, expansive meadows, characteristic wooden shepherds’ huts and panoramic views of the Kamnik–Savinja Alps await. In the summer months, traditional grazing takes place here, so cows roam freely across the pastures.
Shepherds’ Settlement and the Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows
We continue towards the shepherds’ settlement along a somewhat rougher and steeper track, where a little more bike-handling skill is needed. At the top, one of the largest preserved shepherds’ settlements in Europe awaits, with its characteristic oval wooden huts. Above the settlement stands the Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows, from where wonderful views of the surrounding peaks open up in clear weather.
Refreshment Stop
Several mountain huts and food providers operate on Velika planina, where we can grab a bite to eat or simply refill our bottles at the nearby drinking fountain. It is an ideal spot for a short rest before continuing.
Mala planina
10 km
Descent over Mala planina
In places, the descent is steep, rocky and technically more demanding than the climb, so it calls for good bike control and some caution. Lower down, the surface improves again and the gravel road brings us back to Rakove ravni.
Velika planina is one of the most popular hiking and cycling destinations in Slovenia, where high-mountain nature, rich pastoral heritage and views of the Kamnik–Savinja Alps come together. Thanks to its steady climb, the route also suits less experienced gravel riders, while a few more demanding sections on the plateau and on the descent provide just the right amount of challenge. It is a trip many riders happily return to.