Ščuka (The Pike)

The starting point is the parking lot at the end of the village of Dolenje Jezero. From there, return through the village and turn left onto a gravel road toward Dolenja vas. After about 2 km you’ll reach the village, cross the bridge, and turn left. Soon the climb begins, and at the top you can stop at the Cvinger viewpoint, which offers a stunning view of Slovenia’s largest intermittent lake.

From here, a 10-km ride along the foothills of the Javorniki Hills begins, rewarding you with magnificent views of Lake Cerknica and Mount Slivnica. The trail also passes the ruins of Karlovec Castle, tied to the legend of the lake’s creation, runs above the Jamski zaliv cove with sinkhole caves such as Velika and Mala Karlovica, and continues past Skadulca Cave.

After about 10 km you’ll reach a crossroads, where you turn left toward the village of Otok – the only Slovenian village located on an island. From Otok, just a few more kilometers of flat road along the lakeshore bring you back to the starting point.

The final stretch of the route also follows the Drvošec Educational Trail, giving you the chance to stop at one of three viewpoints: the Kuharca and Klejni vrh observation platforms, or the 10-meter Otočec observation tower.

The trail is marked with a pike icon, which you can follow on signposts along the entire route.

For an extra touch of fun on your cycling trip, take along Look, a Pike! – a unique interactive cycling adventure, available for purchase at the Visitor Center Lake Cerknica.

A detailed map of all cycling routes in the mystical land of Lake Cerknica is also available at the Visitor Center Lake Cerknica for the affordable price of 2.00 €.