Gračani – Šumarev Put (Runolist mountain hut)

Walk north along Gračec street and on the left-hand side, you’ll see trail markers for trails no. 55 and no. 57. Take that steep side path, and at the last house, go left and up the stairs to reach the start of trail no. 57.

You’ll climb via gentle switchbacks until you reach the junction with trail no. 55. Trail no. 57 continues straight uphill toward a plateau called Jelačić Plac. This section is a bit more demanding due to a gully running through the middle. You’ll reach a crossing with a cycling trail, and after that the trail levels out toward Jelačić Plac. Cyclists also use this part of the trail, so be extra cautious.

On the flat section, the trail is quite wide, as it’s used by forestry workers for logging. After Jelačić Plac, the trail makes a right turn and climbs more steeply toward Tusti Vrh. The incline is not difficult, and you’ll soon reach level ground near Tusti Vrh, where the trail becomes a forest road originally built for cable car construction. Follow this road until you reach the cable car and a beautiful viewpoint. Shortly after, at a junction, leave the forest road and turn right uphill onto the hiking trail. This part of trail no. 57 is narrow and crosses the Sljemenska Cesta road twice before merging with trail no. 15 at the elevation of Brestovac. From here, you can continue toward the summit of Medvednica via trail no. 15. Keep heading uphill, and after a third crossing of the Sljemenska Cesta road, you’ll come to another junction with trail no. 15, which veers left. You, however, continue right on trail no. 57. This section is narrow and scenic, leading gently downhill toward trail no. 14. After crossing trail no. 14, continue on trail no. 57 toward Šumarev Put. Here the path becomes wider and passes through a beautiful young forest. Toward the end, turn steeply right onto a narrow hiking path, and in a right-hand curve, you’ll descend onto Šumarev Put (trail no. 16), where trail no. 57 ends. If you continue along Šumarev Put, you’ll reach the Runolist mountain hut in about 15 minutes.

Trail no. 57 is significantly easier than trail no. 55 and leads to the Brestovac area. It connects with trail no. 15, which takes you directly to the summit of Medvednica. If your goal is Brestovac, this is definitely the easiest route. From there, it continues to Šumarev Put, which leads to the Runolist mountain hut.