Extensive forests

Rogla is a high, forested plateau on the Pohorje range in northeastern Slovenia, at an altitude of around 1,500 metres, and the forests that cover it are the reason most people come. Pohorje is a broad, rounded mountain range, not a sharp-peaked one, and its long ridges and gentle slopes are blanketed with spruce, fir and beech, broken by clearings, mountain pastures and peat bogs. The air is cool and clean, the snow lies reliably in winter, and the whole landscape has a calm, enveloping quality. On a summer day, the forest is a green canopy with shafts of light falling on moss and fern, and on a winter day it is a quiet white world of snow-laden branches.

The forests offer a great deal of room to walk. Marked trails run through the woods in all directions, linking clearings, mountain huts, viewpoints and the other features of the plateau, and walkers can choose between a short stroll of an hour and a full day's hike. Cyclists use forest roads and trails, and in winter the same routes become cross-country ski tracks and snowshoe paths. Rogla is also the site of a well-known sports centre that athletes use for high-altitude training, so you may meet runners and cyclists in training on the paths. Mushroom picking is a tradition, and the forests are rich in fungi in late summer and autumn, though you should know your species or go with someone who does, and respect local rules on collecting.

A highlight for visitors is the Treetop Walk Pohorje, an elevated wooden path that winds among the trees at canopy height for roughly a kilometre and ends at an observation tower. It gives a different perspective on the forest, a bird's-eye view of the treetops, the surrounding valleys and distant ridges, and it is suitable for families and older visitors, since the gradient is gentle. A ticket is usually required for the walk, so check the current price and hours. The forest itself is open to everyone and carries no admission charge.

The forests are home to a range of wildlife, including deer, birds such as woodpeckers and owls, and many smaller creatures, and they are part of a wider mosaic of habitats on Pohorje. Other features of the plateau include the Peat bog, the Lakes, the Pohorje Hills and the Ski slopes, as well as Rogla Zoo, Zlodej's Adrenaline Toboggan, Cheesemaking Lamperček – Obrul and Meglič Organic Farm, so there is plenty to fill a stay.

Dress in layers, since the weather on the plateau changes quickly, and wear waterproof footwear on muddy trails. The forests suit families, walkers, cyclists and anyone who wants a change from city life. One of the pleasures of Rogla is that the forest is simply there. Rogla’s trees are the real attraction.