Trail nr. 19: Karst Forest Educational Trail
HIKING AND CYCLING TRAILS
Starting point
At the Zg. Lome/Sp. Lome crossroads
The Črni Vrh Plateau is famous for winter sports, especially the Trnovo Marathon. Year round, it offers numerous possibilities to spend active time in nature and learn about the natural and cultural heritage of the area. On the north, it rises steeply above the Idrijca River Valley; on the South, it is surrounded by steep peaks that offer amazing views onto the Adriatic Sea and Mt. Triglav.
Karst Forest Educational Trail is a flatlands trail in the vicinity of Predgriže. It offers a comfortable walk for you to enjoy in the fresh air and relax in the pristine forest at the edge of the Trnovo Forest Plateau.
The trail never feels the same: eash season has its own charms. Along the 2.4-km path, you can see a few features of the Karst world, typical Karst rocks with fossils, and the characteristics of the forest ecosystem.
You will need a good hour to walk this easy circular trail. It is especially well-suited for families with children as they learn how to behave in the forest along the path and you can also walk this trail with the TeachOUT mobile app – a virtual guide leading you from one point to another and offering you exploration tasks and challenges that you can solve with your children. Entertainment for the whole family!
Attractions
- Limestone pavement
- Sinkholes
At the borders between dolomite and limestone, the concentration of Karst phenomena is even bigger. Sinkholes often appear also in dolomite – where dolomite thrusts onto the limestone. As the limestone under the dolomite is more karstic, the overlying dolomite is gradually flushed in the undergrownd hollows. This is how reproducer sinkholes are made. - Lower Cretaceous rudist limestone
This limestone was made in the shallow and warm seas that were home to numerous rudist shells. These were interesting because their shape resembled a cow’s horn or a cornet. When they died out, their remained present in fossil form: up to this day, you can see their varied shapes (circles, cow’s horn/ellipse) in the rocks. - Flora
The autochthonous forest here is composed of fir and beech trees with some maple and ash (dinaric beech-fir forest). Due to the afforestation in the recent past, fir was gradually substituted by spruce. In the recent years, forestry compatible with nature is gaining value and so the fir is again reclaiming its place and its numbers are growing. In the undergrowth, we can find numerous flowers, ferns, mosses, lychens, and fungi. - Hrvat Cave
- Trails in the vicinity
Matuckar Trail
The High Karst Trail
Kampare Trail
Panoramic summits above Črni Vrh - Panoramic Summits
Javornik
Velika peč
Špičasti vrh
Local services
Trail map
Trail description
Reaching the starting point:
From the direction of Ljubljana: take the second exit at the Godovič roundabout and continue towards Črni Vrh nad Idrijo. Pay attention to the Lome exit sign where you make a sharp left turn onto an asphalt secondary road. After around 500 m, you will reach the Spodnje Lome/Zgornje Lome crossroads, which is your starting point. Park carefully on the side of the road where the road is slightly widened.
From the direction of Nova Gorica: from Črni Vrh nad Idrijo continue towards Godovič. Drive past the petrol station and continue some 500 m on the main road. When you see the Lome exit sign, take a gentle right turn onto an asphalt secondary road. After around 500 m, you will reach the Spodnje Lome/Zgornje Lome crossroads, which is your starting point. Park carefully on the side of the road where the road is slightly widened.
You can also reach the starting point (i.e. the Spodnje Lome/Zgornje Lome crossroads) by bike. In this case, park your car on the Črni Vrh nad Idrijo main square, take the main road towards Godovič, and take the turn towards the Ski Bor ski slopes. Continue a bit further and descend down the field road onto the secondary road that connects the main road with our starting point,
From here on, you can walk (or cycle) the trail in the direction of Spodnje Lome.
Trail description:
Head in the direction of Spodnje Lome and after 200 m you will notice the first attraction on your way: limestone pavement. On the both sides of the road, you will see numerous sinkholes, which are another typical Karst phenomenon. Continue for some 200–300 m and pay attention to the rocks on the right side of the road. In the last turn before the educational trail forks onto a macadam road, you will se circles, ellipses, or cornets in the rocks on the right side of the road. These are fossilised remnants of rudist shells that lived 100–66 million years ago. Contionue on the asphalt road and only a few ten metres later you will see that the trail forks onto a macadam road leading left into the forest. Along the trail, you can observe the typical birch-fir forest which is autochthonous for this area. In the undergrowth, you can find numerous flowers, ferns, mosses, lichens, and fungi. After taking in the peaceful scenery, you can continue further on the trail and a marking pole will direct you towards the centre of the forest. Walk along the narrow path and after aroun 300 m you will reach the Hrvat Cave. Return to the road and continue on it. Along the road, you can see the signs of forestry. Soon, you will come out of the forest and reach a few houses. Stroll towards the main road, turn left onto the main road, and after 20 m, turn onto the field road that will take you back to the starting point.
Trail option:
The Karst Forest Educational Trail can also be cycled; it is a great starting trail that can be extended into the High Karst Trail and connects to the Matuckar Trail in Zadlog.
You can also walk the trail with the help of the TeachOUT mobile app.
VISIT IDRIJA
