Medvednica trail

The Royal Trail that explores Medvednica inside and out. The first 15 km follows the routes of the Gorščica and Plazur trails, after which it descends to Gornje Vrapče, explores the Ponikve meadow, the abandoned Bizek quarry, and reaches the location with the best viewpoint on Medvednica – Kamene svate. It reconnects to the Plazur trail and, after climbing over 500 Horvat's steps, concludes at the Hunjka meadow. In short – only for experienced ultrarunners!

The trail is designed as the final preparation for the 60K 🙂 Once you've got this one under your belt, you'll be ready to tackle the royal route next year. Essentially, the trail follows the 60K route, with only the first segment to Gorščica omitted. Along the trail, you'll encounter three magnificent ascents – Sljeme, Plazur, and Horvatove Stube, so there's no shortage of challenges. If you've completed the 15K and 30K, it's time for the 45K!

With its length and elevation gain, the trail is tailor-made for experienced trail runners. There are three challenging ascents on the trail that will leave a lasting impression on the participants. The first part of the trail follows the Gorščica trail, after which it circles around the highest (Sljeme) and the fifth highest (Veliki Plazur) peak of Medvednica, crosses the Red Descent, and ultimately passes through the 500 Horvat steps.

The trail is designed for beginners in trail running. The first 9 km are run on wide and well-maintained macadam roads (Markuševec and Vidovec), and the rest on a wide and well-maintained hiking trail. The trail circles the eastern part of Medvednica and passes right by Gorščica – a popular family outing spot. More or less, the first half of the trail is a gentle descent, and the second half is an ascent. There are no difficult sections on the trail that a trail beginner cannot easily overcome.

The trail is designed for individuals who want to try trail racing for the first time or road runners curious about trail running. It's short, fast, and doesn't involve much ascent – perfect for beginners. The first 2 km are on wide and well-maintained macadam, the next kilometer on a well-kept forest/forestry road, and the final 1.5 km on a well-maintained hiking trail (1M). The trail features gentle descents ideal for some faster running and equally gentle ascents for slow running or brisk walking. There are no challenging sections on the trail that a trail novice cannot easily handle.

The route for the Team Race is identical to the Plazur trail (divided into three sections), with the first section being identical to the Gorščica trail. The second and third sections have slightly fewer kilometers than the first but include more challenging ascents, making it difficult to determine which section is easier or more challenging. The first section goes over Gorščica and finishes at Hunjka. The second section encompasses the highest peak (Sljeme) and the fifth highest peak (Veliki Plazur) of Medvednica, concluding near Grafičar. The third section crosses the red descent and ultimately passes through the 500 Horvat stairs. The trail will be marked with ribbons and signs.

Involving children in sports and recreational activities is our great novelty. Every year, we witness a large number of children eagerly awaiting their parents, running with them, and motivating them in the final meters before the finish line. This year as well, we have decided to allow them to experience the joys of trail running, competition, and have fun running through forest paths, all while their parents tackle the 5K, 15K, 30K, or 60K distances.