Located right above Tržič and Podljubelj Pass (Loibl Pass), on the border between Austria and Slovenia, Košuta slopes are magnificent and green.
Some mountains draw their power from drama—jagged peaks, exposed ledges, daring ascents. Others, like Košuta, pull you in with quiet grace.
Sprawled across the border between Slovenia and Austria, Košuta isn’t a single summit—it’s a 12-kilometre-long grassy ridge in the Karawanks, one of the longest of its kind in the country. Here, the hiking is never hurried. The views stretch endlessly. The trail hums with birdsong, cowbells, and your own breath.
Our journey to Veliki Vrh (2,088 m) wasn’t about conquering a peak—it was about walking a line. A line between countries, between forest and pasture, between motion and rest.
A Morning at Matizovec – Where the Hike Begins
We arrived early to Matizovec (915 m), a quiet mountain farm above Tržič. The road up—narrow, scenic, and patched with early sunlight—already felt like a prelude to something peaceful.
We parked just below the farm and took a short path leading into the woods. The first half-hour was spent beneath a canopy of pine and beech, the trail steadily climbing along an old cart track. Soon, the forest thinned and gave way to alpine meadows and that special kind of mountain silence that asks you to walk more slowly, and listen more deeply.
Through the Forest and Into the Meadow: Arriving at Kofce
From the woods, the trail opened suddenly onto the wide pastures of Kofce. The Dom na Kofcah mountain hut (1,488 m) stood gently against a backdrop of cliffs and clouds, with picnic tables outside and the scent of herbs and woodsmoke in the air.
We paused here, as many do. Not for urgency, but for the sheer pleasure of it. While sipping tea made from local mountain herbs, we looked up at our destination—Veliki Vrh—its grassy pyramid catching the morning sun.
Around us, children laughed from a playground behind the hut, goats grazed nearby, and other hikers quietly laced up their boots. You don’t pass through Kofce. You settle into it, even if only for a while.
A Steady Climb – Slow Steps Toward the Sky
Leaving the hut, the trail moved upwards over rolling green hills, dotted with wildflowers and watched over by the occasional hawk. The path was well-marked, steadily rising toward the ridge, always keeping Veliki Vrh in sight, like a compass.
After 15 minutes, we reached a cross adorned with a bench—a natural viewpoint and a place to pause. From here, the ridge revealed itself in full: a wave of soft green stretching west toward Kladivo and east toward Toplar.
We took the route directly toward Veliki Vrh, the southern side of the ridge, winding along a scenic path that meandered across dwarf pine and limestone, brushing against the edge of the borderline between Slovenia and Austria.
This part of the climb is where the world seems to breathe wider. There’s no rush. The peak comes slowly, as if it’s waiting for you to notice everything else first—the valleys, the clouds, the changing colors of the grass.
At the Summit – Veliki Vrh (2,088 m)
And then, after about two hours from Matizovec, we stood at the top.
Veliki Vrh, though not the highest point on the Košuta ridge, feels like a natural pinnacle. The view in every direction is panoramic and generous. To the north, the Austrian Alps roll outward in layers of blue. To the south, Slovenia unfolds in folds of green, with Triglav and the Julian Alps quietly present in the distance.
There were jackdaws circling playfully overhead, swooping low and curious. A few trail runners passed through quickly—but most of us sat, ate slowly, and let the moment stretch.
Sometimes, the best thing about a summit is not needing to leave it too soon.
Descending Over Kofce Gora – A Different Way Down
Instead of retracing our steps, we opted for a circular route, descending via Kofce Gora (1,967 m). The trail meandered gently along the ridge, tracing the contours of the grass like ink on parchment.
We passed over a short section secured by a steel cable—undemanding, but a nice reminder of the mountain’s more rugged side. Soon after, the trail melted back into soft green meadows. We were once again surrounded by the quiet rhythm of cowbells and wind.
Back at the Hut – Tea, Stew, and the Art of Staying Still
We returned to Dom na Kofcah around midday. The smells from the kitchen—mushroom soup, barley stew, and the famous Tržiška bržola (a lamb or mutton dish)—made it impossible to just pass by.
Inside, wooden tables buzzed softly with conversation. Outside, hikers leaned against the railings, mugs in hand, eyes on the peaks.
Even if you’ve already been to the summit, the spirit of Košuta is very much here—in the food, the laughter, the presence of people enjoying the mountain for the sake of it.
Trek Goat Tips for Košuta (Veliki Vrh)
- Route: Matizovec – Kofce – Veliki Vrh – Kofce Gora – Kofce – Matizovec (circular)
- Time: 4.5 to 6 hours (with generous breaks)
- Altitude Gain: ~1,170 m
- Highest Point: Veliki Vrh – 2,088 m
- Best Season: Late spring to autumn; early autumn is especially beautiful
- Recommended Gear: Standard hiking shoes, layers, water, sun protection; in winter, crampons
- Ideal For: Families (up to the hut), beginners seeking a summit, anyone craving open-space ridge walking
Conclusion – A Ridge Worth Returning To
Košuta doesn’t dazzle with sharp ridges or demanding climbs. Instead, it welcomes. It opens wide. It lets you breathe.
The trail to Veliki Vrh is one of space, softness, and slow joy—where each meadow and ridgeline offers something new, and yet comfortingly familiar.
You walk it not to test your limits, but to rediscover your pace. To find a place where the sky feels closer, and where grass under your boots feels better than concrete under your feet.
When you leave, it’s not the summit you’ll miss most—but the sound of silence broken only by bells and birdsong.