Mountain Biking on Velika Planina

Mountain biking on Velika Planina combines a cable car ride with riding on a high Alpine pasture plateau above Stahovica and Kamnik in central Slovenia. The lower cable car station is on Kamniška Bistrica-Kokrsko 2, and bikes are allowed on the cable car, which carries riders up to the plateau. The plateau is known for its traditional herdsmen huts, and the riding follows pasture tracks between them over roughly 10 to 20 km, taking two to five hours. The terrain is mostly open grassland and gravel with moderate gradients, but at around 1,500 m altitude the surfaces can be rocky, wet or muddy, so riders need basic mountain biking skills, reasonable fitness and comfort with loose surfaces. Children who can ride confidently on rough tracks can join with adult supervision, though age limits are not published.

Riders bring their own bike and equipment, including a helmet, gloves, a warm layer and a spare tube. The cable car is operated by Velika planina d.o.o. (phone +386 1 832 72 58), and the published 2024 price was about EUR 18 for the lift with a bike, which should be confirmed on velikaplanina.si. No guide or briefing is included, so riders are responsible for route choice and safety. Weather can change quickly at altitude, with cold winds, fog and thunderstorms, and mobile coverage can be patchy. In an emergency, riders should call 112 or alert staff at the cable car or the huts. Cattle graze on the plateau during summer, so gates should be closed and animals given space.

The best season is June to September, when snow has cleared and the cable car operates normally. The cable car closes for maintenance from 15 October to 15 November, so late autumn trips should be checked in advance. Weekdays are quieter than weekends, when hikers fill the cable car.