SAVA IV
Length
11.2
Length 11.2 km ​
Time needed
02:00
Time needed 02:00 ​
Največja strmina vzpona[%]
3
Greatest slope of the ascent: 3 %
Greatest slope of the descent: 3 %
Average slope of the ascent: 2 %
Length of ascents above 5%: 0.30 km
The lowest point of the route: 289 m
The highest point of the route: 273 m
Difference in altitude: 79 m
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Poraba kalorij
1959
Consumption of energy for men: 1959 kJ (468 kcal)
Consumption of energy for women: 1608 kJ (384 kcal)
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Difficulty
Difficulty: Medium demanding ​
Quality of the surface
Quality of the surface: Mixture
Primerna obutev: Hiking boots
​
Short description

The flat circular road runs along the left and right banks of the Sava River; it enables you to enjoy the river in all seasons and takes you to the yet undiscovered corners of the waterside area.
Water environment, forest, meadow and field surfaces, including recreational urban areas exchange along the route. The route runs mostly along field paths, cart tracks and macadam and is diverted away from the settlements.
After heavy rains, difficult conditions must be observed - the paths are often partially flooded, especially on the northern side of the Sava River near Sneberje Bridge. The route in this section is suitable only in dry weather.
Due to demanding orientation and intertwining of numerous paths, it is recommended to accurately follow the map or the travelogue along the central section of the route which runs over Jarški prod (the Jarše Gravel Bank).

Course

RIC Sava – Obrije – Poljske poti ob Savi – Sneberje - sneberski most – poljske poti na Jarškem produ in Tomačevskem produ – most črnuške vpadnice – Tomačevo – RIC Sava

Starting point at Sava Recreational and Educational Centre (RIC)
Start at the car park of Sava Recreational and Educational Centre (RIC). Head past a small zoo to the children's playground and the gate that marks the end of 1,200-metre long sample footpath, cycling lane and equestrian lane between Tomačevo and the RIC. Follow the path which runs along the current of the Sava River.

Past horse paddocks to the kennel training site
You reach the paddocks along a cart track. Turn left at the first paddock and follow the path through the area. With the paddocks behind, the new agricultural surfaces and buildings soon appear in front of you on the northern slopes of Obrije. Continue straight ahead at the first crossroads (one of the paths also leads to Obrije). Turn to the macadam path at a residential cabin log at the second crossroads and continue to Šmartno Football Club Sports Park. Cycle along the fence of the football court and slowly approach the Sava River. Large puddles emerge after heavy rains in this area, but you can avoid them by going across the meadow parallel with the cart track. You'll soon reach the crossroads where one path turns left and leads down towards a river bank; however, you take the right along the cart track , past the fields and through the small 'forest' of Japanese knotweed . Puddles can be also found here after heavy rains, but they are more difficult to avoid, so you'll have to find your way around them. The training site of Krim Sports Kennel Club is located along the route, where you can take a look at the skills of trained dogs. Continue along the macadam at the edge of a larger meadow , and past a small recreation centre . Then proceed along the cart track towards Sneberje Bridge where you'll cross the Sava River.

To the bridge over the Sava River
The cart track runs just next to the bank of the Sava River . There is a monument to the victims of National Liberation War in front of the bridge on a small slope, just right from the route. Ascend the concrete stairs to the main road and cross the Sava River along the pavement . From the bridge on the Sava River, you can see all the way to Krim on the south, while the neighbouring motorway bridge can be seen on the east .

On the northern side of the Sava River
Continue along the pavement of the main road and after approximately 350 metres, you'll reach the crossroads with a tall tree . Turn left to the path which runs down the slope and takes you to the Sava embankment. Under the bridge of the main road turn right to the riverside forest path. After heavy rains, you can face difficulties here, namely, half a kilometre of the path is basically flooded and it is thus impassable , . If you wish to cross this section, you'll need a pair of wellingtons or you'll have to choose another day for the trip. The route then runs away from the bank of the Sava River and the riparian forest. It continues along a cart track and slowly ascends to the fields and meadows at Jarški prod.

Over Jarše and Tomačevo gravel banks
In a short bend, the cart track turns back to east, but only to the first crossroads where you turn left on the path to the west. The right path leads to a nearby farm and back to the main road. You can use this path if the paths along the Sava River are flooded. A view on the left extends over the fields and to the forests along the Sava River , while the right side offers a view of the Belinka factory in Šentjakob . After some 500 of metres of a winding cart track along a small forest, you'll reach the crossroads. Turn left there towards the Sava River and continue right along the southern edge of the forest to the west. After approximately 600 metres of mostly flat macadam, the road turns perpendicularly towards the buildings on Brnčičeva Road, while you continue straightforward to the field path . Now you have to carefully follow the map or the following directions, because it is difficult to orientate from here on due to numerous intertwined paths. After 250 metres of walking along the field path , turn left to a bad cart track which joins from Brnčičeva Road and then runs along the embankment towards southwest . You'll reach the embankment after 200 meters. The view from the top of the embankment resembles the view from the top of a small ski jump . After a steep and slippery cart track descend into 'the valley', cross a wide macadam path and continue straight on the macadam road, which turns right after one hundred metres or more. The most difficult orientation section is now behind you. Pine trees appear along the road now. You'll reach the crossroads of macadam paths after 150 metres, where you turn left towards the Sava River. The macadam path leads to the riverbank from where the view of the river opens up again. Turn right to a shady riverside path . Suddenly, a beautiful gravel embankment along the Sava River appears which is perfect for relaxing, taking in the view or even jumping in the water. Similar places along the river are in abundance. Everyone can find their spot for relaxing and enjoying the nature . A view of the eastern part of the river island opens up here . When continuing through the riverside forest, you soon reach an observation riverside platform, from where you can see a huge gravel bar in front of the river island. Continue cycling along the Sava River and, after approximately 150 metres, turn towards north to the road at Jarški prod Water Plant. A large meadow appears in front of you and, for a moment, a beautiful view of Planjava and Ojstrica in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps opens up . Cycle along the cart track on the southern edge of the meadow and through the forest , along the Sava River and to the bridge of Črnuče radial road , where you again cross the Sava River. From the bridge, you can see the rapids of the Sava River and over the blocks of flats in Ježica, you can see all the way to the Polhov Gradec Dolomites .
On the south bank of the Sava River, descend under the bridge of Črnuče radial road and continue along the new footpath towards the starting point. Equestrian path is also arranged next to the footpath, so you may meet a horseman or two . White paddock fences are on the right side , . The starting point of this 11-kilometre long route is not far away. There are no inns in the vicinity, so you can sit on one of the many benches nearby and feast on the food or drinks which you've brought with you or you can simply head somewhere else.

The Sava River
The Sava River represents an important ecological area which greatly contributes to the preservation of biotic diversity. The riparian zone with gravel bars, islands and flooded riverside forests appears more or less densely along the entire current of the Sava River all the way to the settlement of Sava (near Litija) where the river enters the gorge. There are 28 species of fish in the Sava River (7 of them are protected) and 9 species of amphibians (all protected). The river is a nesting area for more than 100 species of birds. It is also a wintering area and/or migratory route for numerous species of duck, grebe, goose, heron and other water birds.

Vegetation on gravel bars of the Sava River
South of Črnuče and Šentjakob, in a small curve on the left bank of the Sava River, an interesting mosaic of meadow and forest communities developed on former gravel bars of the Sava River. It consists of various plant groups: from the smallest pioneer groups of herbs located just next to the river, to the semidry meadow groups and bushes and various forest types, including climax systems of oak and beech trees. Despite the closeness of the urban centres, the nature has been surprisingly well preserved in this area. Gravel bars in the vicinity of the Sava River have well-preserved natural and semi-natural vegetation which has been kept in a good state due to the traditional use of land, and are an excellent natural science classroom in the proximity of Ljubljana. The preservation of the gravel bars is thus so much more important, as they can serve as a testing site for sustainable maintenance methods and an educational or pedagogical area within the reach of the citizens and inhabitants of the surrounding areas. The importance of preserving sustainable use of the Sava gravel bars is so much greater, because the most important drinking water catchments in this area are located in the gravel depths under the Sava River.

Jarški prod Water Plant
Jarški prod Water Plant, the fourth water plant of the central Ljubljana water supply system, began operating in 1982 and is the only water plant on the left bank of the Sava River. It is located just next to the route, south of the industrial zone at Brnčičeva Street, in the area of the former gravel bars of the Sava River. Jarški prod Water Plant is one of the most important water sources for the supply of Ljubljana and has a long-term prospect of supplying Ljubljana with water, because the available amount of groundwater enables substantial pumping of drinking water.
Unfortunately, this water catchment area is quite burdened due to dense population, traffic, industry, agriculture and gardening in the immediate vicinity of the water plant. Enormous amounts of waste from illegal dumping sites are scattered in the area of Jarški prod Water Plant. Apparently, much more time will have to pass before people start responsibly treating the nature and water sources.

Monument to the victims of National Liberation War in Sneberje
An iron plaque with the names of the members of Liberation Front who were killed by the members of the Black Hand organisation during National Liberation War is mounted in a large rock. The monument was unveiled in 1955 and was moved to the present location in 1979. It is now located on the right bank of the Sava River at Sneberje Bridge and is registered in Cultural Heritage Register of the Republic of Slovenia.

Sava Recreational and Educational Centre
The area along the Sava near Tomačevo which was, until recently, marked by shanty settlements, illegal buildings and piles of common and construction waste, has now been transforming into an area for socialising, recreation and education. In addition to cycle lane, footpath and equestrian path (about 1,200 metres long), the centre also includes a large children's playground, a small animal farm, horse paddocks, riding ground and arranged area for picnics.
Special attention is paid to children. Recreation and educational section for children is located near the equestrian centre. Mentors from the equestrian centre enable children to become acquainted with horses and other animals on the animal farm, and teach them about breeding and keeping the animals and about healthy and natural way of life.
Sava Recreational and Educational Centre was co-financed by the Municipality of Ljubljana and European Regional Development Fund.
The project of regional development along the Sava River won't stop with Tomačevo area. The Municipality of Ljubljana is trying to attract other municipalities along the river (from the source of the river and to the country border) to help arrange the embankments of the Sava River. In accordance with this vision, a joint cycle lane or footpath would connect all municipalities along the Sava River to the Slovenian-Croatian border.

Šmartno Football Club Sports Park
Young football players of Šmartno Football Club are training under professional supervision of trainers and teachers in the idyllic surroundings of Šmartno on the edge of Ljubljana. Football fields of Šmartno Sports Park have natural grass and arranged wardrobes. The sports park offers endless possibilities for undisturbed development of sports way of life as well as education of the young for conscientious and fair work and development of good mutual relationships.

Krim Kennel Society
Krim Kennel Society was established in 1980. Its purpose is training dogs and educating their owners. Activities and areas of interest, which the Society covers with its work, have substantially broadened over the years. The Society organises basic training courses for dogs, kennel sports courses (agility, rally obedience, flyball), rescue dog training courses, and includes a group of show dogs.

 

Boccacio Pizza Restaurant in Šentjakob
An inn and a Pizza Restaurant next to the main road between Sneberje and Šentjakob.

Pečnikar Inn in Šentjakob
In Šentjakob, at the road Ljubljana-Litija (if you make a small detour from the route), you can eat at Pečnikar Inn, a classic Slovenian inn with an excellent offer of roasted meat and beef soup.

 

Franja Family and School Marathon
The annual Franja Family and School Marathon is held in June and is intended for families with children, schoolchildren and cycling beginners. The 28-kilometre long route is easy, without ascents and runs along entirely closed roads. It runs from BTC City through Šmartno ob Savi and Sneberje towards Šentjakob and Dol and turns to Dolsko, and then finally returns to the starting point.