Corn Crake Nature Trail - Iški morost Nature Reserve

Route Description

The Ljubljana Marshes is a huge area full of walking paths, bike trails and above all unspoiled nature. The geographical name indicates the area between the city of Ljubljana, the town of Vrhnika, the Krim Mountain and the town of Škofljica.

This area is a tectonic collapse from two million years ago, formed at the junction of the Alpine and Dinaric area with tectonic subsidence. The Sava River carried large amounts of gravel, which caused the damming of the Ljubljanica River at the confluence and thus the flooding of the entire marsh area. Due to the millennia-long sediments, the lake was slowly backfilling. Some six thousand years ago, however, the lake dried up and a huge swamp was formed.

The edge of the moor, the hills especially, was inhabited some time ago. Interestingly enough, people used the stones of Roman tombstones in the construction of the Iška vas Village. While driving by the Črna vas Village, do not forget to observe the St. Michael’s Church designed by the Slovenian architect Jožef Plečnik. A part of the Ljubljana Marshes is dedicated to conserving the unique natural environment of the wetland area known as the Iški Morost. The reserve is crossed by a 1.3-kilometre (0.14-mile) nature trail called Koščeva pot (Corn Crake Trail). The trail, called after a rare and endangered bird species (the corn crake), offers a unique insight into the wetland wildlife and animal species. The reserve is open 24/7 and you can visit it at any time.

Drive in the direction of the Črna vas Village, through the Jezero Village until you arrive at the Lipe Village. At the road sign, which indicates the end of the village, turn right and countinue for 2 kilometres (1.42 miles) in that direction. When you arrive to the information boards for the reserve, you can park there or turn left over the bridge to the other side of the Iška Stream.