Set into the “Trnovski Gozd”mountain area in Slovenia overlookingAjdovščina, Vipava Valley, Julian and Kamnik Alps; Mali Golak Peak (1495 m) peak is simple but wonderful hiking trip.
The approach is accessible mostly over the dense forest and “Iztok Lodge – Iztokova Koča pod Golaki Lodge”offering a lot of hiking joy.
In the Heart of the Forest: A Slow Hike to Mali Golak
Set deep within the gentle embrace of Slovenia’s Trnovski Gozd, Mali Golak (1,495 m) doesn’t demand attention with height. It offers something more subtle: quiet. A stillness that hums through the pine needles, a calm that trickles through mossy roots. The highest peak of the Golaki range, Mali Golak is a reminder that not all greatness comes with grandeur. Sometimes, it walks softly, under a forest canopy.
Approaching the Forest: The Road to Predmeja
Our journey began in the south-western hills above Ajdovščina. Predmeja, a small settlement perched at 933 m, is the most popular trailhead to reach Mali Golak. From here, we stepped off the asphalt and onto the path. It wasn’t long before the hum of the valley faded and the forest gathered us in.
The beech and pine trees stretched tall above us, filtering the sunlight into soft, dappled patterns on the trail. There was no rush. This wasn’t a hike about the summit. It was about the way there.
Among the Trees: The Climb Begins
From the Tiha Dolina sports park, we followed the trail marked for Korenina, then joined the cart path to Golaki. It was early, the air still cool. The path climbed gently at first, then steeper through forest, over mossy stones and beside old logging roads.
Here, nature speaks quietly. The trail winds through sections of virgin forest. Capercaillie live here, as do deer and foxes. And while we didn’t see them, we felt them. Their world is undisturbed.
After crossing a forest road, we left the gravel behind and rejoined the soft path, where roots and rock shared space beneath our boots. A short descent brought us to the edge of a great sinkhole—a pause for thought, for breath.
On the Ridge: The Last Steps to the Summit
Climbing again, the path curled toward an indistinct ridge, through a patch of dwarf pine. The trees thinned. We met the trail from Iztokova Koča and followed it together to the final rise.
The summit of Mali Golak is simple: a clearing, a sign, a registry book. But the view is extraordinary. On a clear day, all of Slovenia lies at your feet. To the north: the Julian Alps, Kamnik and Karavanke. To the south, the Vipava Valley and the distant Adriatic. Westward, the Dolomites glimmer. And below, the green folds of Trnovski Gozd whisper their ancient stories.
Descending to Iztokova Koča: A Hut in the Woods
After time on the summit—unhurried, grateful—we descended via the path to Iztokova Koča pod Golaki. The hut appears slowly, nestled in the trees above a bend in the forest road. Built in memory of a WWII partisan, the lodge welcomes hikers with warmth and shelter.
Tea steamed in chipped mugs. Soup simmered behind the counter. The lodge offers 25 seats, 11 beds, and the kind of silence only forests can hold. It’s a place to linger.
Back to Predmeja: The Forest Fades
The final leg to Predmeja is gentle. The forest, once vast and mysterious, now felt familiar. With every step, we returned to the world outside the woods, but a part of us stayed with the trees.
Why Hike Mali Golak?
Because it doesn’t ask you to conquer anything. It invites you to walk quietly.
Because it offers wildflowers in spring, golden trails in autumn, and silence all year round.
Because it shows that beauty isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it’s slow. Green. Rooted.
Because in a country of peaks and postcards, Mali Golak is the kind of mountain that makes you want to whisper.