Velika Milanja (General)

The Milanja ridge lies on the western slopes of the Snežnik Plateau. The highest peak on the ridge is Velika Milanja (1,099 m). From the summit, there is a view of Brkini, Čičarija with Učka and Slavnik, Vremščica, Nanos, the Kvarner Bay with Cres and the Pivka Valley; to the east, the forests of the Snežnik Plateau with its highest peak, Veliki Snežnik (1,796 meters above sea level). There are several trails leading to Velika Milanja, though they are not marked with hiking trail markers; however, you can follow the mountain biking trail markers, as the Slovenian Mountain Biking Trail also leads to the summit. East of the summit lies a picturesque rocky outcrop with a natural window; locals call it “Zob.” In the wider area, there are numerous remains of underground bunkers or caverns, as the locals call them, which were built by the Italian army at this strategic location in the 1930s as a second line of defense against Yugoslavia. If we set out along the Milanja ridge toward the west, we first pass the peak of Bela Ovca (1,030 m above sea level), and then, following a section of the ridge called Volovja Reber, we reach the westernmost peak, Milanka (948 meters above sea level). In late spring, we can admire beautiful flowers on the karst meadows of the Milanja ridge; the Carniolan lily, the spiked lily, the Turkish lily, the saffron lily, the common pasqueflower, the Illyrian iris, golden root, mountain gentian, Liburnian savory, and many others. The trail usually starts at Črne njive above Ilirska Bistrica.