Kozjak Mountain Foothills

Mozirje lies in the Upper Savinja Valley, where the broad floor of the valley meets the first wooded slopes of the mountains that frame it to north and south, and the hills around the town are a good introduction to the walking country of the Savinja region. The slopes are covered with mixed forest of beech, fir and spruce, with meadows and farms in the clearings, and above them rise the ridges of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps to the north and the plateau of Golte to the south. Information about the hills known locally as the Kozjak foothills is limited, so the paragraphs below describe the general character of the area, and a local map or the tourist office will help to choose a route.

The terrain suits gentle walking. Paths and forest roads climb from the town and the surrounding villages through the woods, passing farmsteads, chapels, haymaking meadows and viewpoints that look over the valley and the river. Gradients are usually moderate, so the walks are suitable for families and for people of average fitness, and many can be done in a few hours. Some routes are marked and link up with longer trails that lead higher into the mountains, so the foothills are also a starting point for days in the Alps. The surfaces are mostly forest tracks and trails, which can be muddy after rain, and sturdy shoes are advisable. Mountain bikers use the forest roads, and in winter cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are possible when there is enough snow.

The forests are rich in wildlife. Deer and wild boar live in the woods, foxes and hares cross the meadows, and many species of birds, from woodpeckers to buzzards, can be seen or heard. In spring the woodland floor is covered with wood anemones, cyclamen and other flowers, in summer the meadows bloom, and in autumn the beeches turn gold and copper, which makes the late season especially beautiful. Mushrooms are abundant after rain, though collecting is subject to local rules and visitors should only pick what they know to be safe.

The area connects with other attractions. Mozirje has an Alpine flower garden, the river path along the Savinja and a cultural centre, and the road up the valley leads to Luče, Solčava and the Logar Valley. The Golte plateau, reached by a cable car from the valley, is a ski area in winter and a high plateau for walking in summer.

The foothills suit families, walkers and cyclists who enjoy quiet forest country. Autumn is the best time, and weather is usually stable in September. Carry water, a map and a rain layer, and tell someone your route.