The former railway that ran east from Rateče is now the route of a cycling trail that leads from Kranjska Gora to both Rateče and the other side, to Jesenice. The trail is suitable for a family outing and is used not only by cyclists but also by skateboarders and hikers. Please be considerate of others, as cyclists are the fastest users of the trail. Many children do their first miles of cycling on this flat, wide, and paved route, the ideal spot to get used to two wheels.
We start the ride from Kranjska Gora, passing Podkoren on the opposite bank of the Sava Dolinka River, along the sunny side of the valley shaped by ancient glaciers. Just beyond Podkoren, we reach the Zelenci Nature Reserve and the emerald-green springs of the Sava Dolinka River. The very name Zelenci, meaning green, suggests the colour of the small lake, which is situated on marshy terrain. Shortly after Zelenci, the valley opens up and the Planica Valley, which is home to the world-renowned ski jumps, branches off to the south. Just a little further and we reach Rateče, the last village before the border with Italy and one of the coldest places in the country.
