Lobnica Stream

The Lobnica is a mountain stream in the Pohorje, the broad wooded range between Maribor and the Mislinja valley in northeastern Slovenia. It rises in the damp forests around Šumik and runs down through a steep, shaded valley, over rock steps and through pools, with moss on the stones and old beech, fir and spruce on the slopes. Because the upper valley is part of a protected forest reserve where trees have been left to grow old, the Lobnica has a feel of untouched woodland that is rare in Central Europe, and the sound of running water follows walkers for most of the route.

The stream is one of the main attractions of the Šumik area. Paths follow it upstream, with wooden bridges and steps that carry walkers over the wettest and steepest sections. Along the way there are several waterfalls, among them the small Mali Šumik and, farther up, the larger Veliki Šumik, which is the best known of the falls and the high point of most walks. The rocks of Pohorje are crystalline, so the water is soft and clear, with a brownish tint in places from the forest floor, and the pools below the falls are cold even in summer.

The valley also carries traces of human history. For centuries, Pohorje forests were used for timber, charcoal and glassmaking, and streams like the Lobnica were harnessed to move wood down to the valley. Wooden log chutes carried felled trees from the high forest, and the remains of old mills and works can be found along the water. These traces are modest but worth looking for, and information boards along the educational trail tell the story of the forest and its use. Local stories add colour, with tales of gold in the stream and of the spirits of the forest.

The walk is suitable for most people who can handle uneven ground, but wet rock and roots can be very slippery, and good footwear is essential. Children should be kept close at the waterfalls and bridges. The forest stays cool in summer, and in spring it is full of birdsong and flowers, while in autumn the beech leaves turn gold and copper. In winter, ice and snow can close or hinder parts of the path, so check conditions first.

The stream suits walkers, families with older children, photographers and anyone who enjoys wild, quiet woodland. It combines well with the Šumik Waterfall Trail, the Lobnica primeval forest, the Silent Lake and the nearby Partisan hospital Jesen, which together make a full day in the Pohorje.