I spent a night in solitude in the attic of Bivak pod Spikom, one of the most beautiful shelters that I have seen, and here is my first-hand report about the hike.
The Bivak pod Špikom (Bivouac below Špik) is a shelter for alpinists located at the foothills of the mountain Spik (Špik) in Julian Alps, Slovenia.
The ground floor area is fully equipped but locked, and the key can be collected in the valley. However, there is an attic that is always open. You will need around three hours to get there from the village.
Bivouac below Spik coordinates, numbers & details
- Elevation: 1420 m (4659 ft).
- Coordinates: 46.457058 °N /13.818338°E.
- Route difficulty: walk-up.
- Places to sleep in the attic: 8.
- Equipment in the attic: a few sleeping pads available.
- Elevation difference from the valley: 720 m (2362 ft).
- Time needed to the bivouac: up to 3 hours.
Access and map
Below you have the interactive and zoomable map which I prepared for you. The marker 1 shows the position of camping Spik where I stayed with a tent, it is in the small village Gozd Martuljek.
You might want to know that you start from the same area when you go to the nearby Bivak za Akom described in a separate text here in the site.
The marker 2 shows the location of the Bivak. It is completely in the forest and close to the magnificent rock walls above it. If you zoom out, you will see all access roads. The area is very close to the Austrian and also Italian border.
Below is the view from the camp, the bivouac is directly under the sharp peak which is Spik mountain that I climbed a few years earlier.
Note that finding a parking in the village is practically impossible. So try at the camping, perhaps they will allow you to leave the car, this is what I did.
Route description
If you start from the camping, cross the road and bridge and start walking in the direction of the forest which is in the south direction. The route is with signs, and below you can see one which is deep in the forest. Note that this is the direction for yet another bivouac, Bivak za Akom.
All the time this is a walk through the woods, so you are in a pleasant shade, nothing to worry about sun protection. Moments with views are limited, below is one, and it shows my view back to the village.
High on the route you will be at the water source shown below, this is the only one, so make sure you refill your bottles. If you see some plastic canisters, this is left there on purpose, not somebody’s trash.
So use one and carry enough water with you if you plan to stay the night in the bivouac. On your way back, you can bring it with you and leave at the source.
I was there early in season, and as you realize the source is strong, but I have no information of how this is later in summer. Make sure you have water with you.
The route is easy to follow all the time, and here is how the bivouac will appear above you after all:
In the attic of the bivouac
The lower area is locked. I did not need the main part of the bivouac, so I did not bother trying to get the key. Walk around and you will see wood stairs to the attic. The roof is high, but there are cross beams that are low. I was bumping with my head into them regularly and it was painful.
I arranged my bed on the floor as you may see in the picture below. The area is clean, and I did not see anything that would suggest presents of mice around.
There is a suitcase where there are a few very thick inflatable mattrasses, but I think they are not insulated, just to know if you go there in winter. I did not use them. My guess is they keep them in the suitcase to avoid eventual damages by mice.
The picture below is taken next morning, the table and benches in front of the bivouac with my breakfast:
Here below you can see my views to the area for true alpinists. This is Spik of course, I climbed the mountain earlier by the normal route which is on the opposite side, you can read my report here. The route is visible in the map given above.
From the picture below you realize that it has even solar-powered electricity which is available in the ground floor room:
There is a big rain water container on the side, see it in the picture below. In the past, I have been in situations to drink such water after filtering and purifying it. I know that the taste is not so great, but you will drink it if you have no other options.
There is even an outhouse a few meters away:
Using the ground room of Bivak pod Špikom
When it is cold, it is better to use the ground floor room than the attic where I stayed. I have not been in the ground area, but from what I know, it is fully equipped.
There should be 6 beds with mattresses, blankets, and pillows. It is equipped with a wood burning stove and a gas stove, and with some cooking equipment. You have already seen about solar electricity.
Wood is not available outside, and this makes it different from Bivak za Akom. But there is a locked side room visible in the photos here, perhaps it is stored there.
To get the key for the ground area, here are contact data for the person in charge in the village:
- Mihaela Oman
- E-mail: info@pd-gozdmartuljek.si
- Phone: +386 4 588 08 65
- GSM +386 40 515 471
Please see more about my tour in this video:
Equipment
You do not need any special equipment, the path is easy to follow and without any exposed passages. So, you can do the tour with any hiking shoes or boots. I used my Mammut Sapuen GTX boots, but this was mainly for testing.
I also had a pair of Komperdell trekking poles, and I carried my Crua Outdoors graphene sleeping bag, Sea to Summit Camp Plus Self-Inflating Mat, and Forclaz inflatable pillow. This is why I used a larger backpack.
In one of the pictures you have seen my coffee pot and MSR Pocket Rocket stove.
Final thoughts
In summary, spending the night in the attic of Bivak pod Špikom proved to be a straightforward experience. The three-hour hike from Gozd Martuljek was manageable, with clear signs and a shaded forest path that made it pleasant despite the 720-meter elevation gain.
The bivouac itself, perched at 1420 meters, offered a practical shelter with its open attic, wooden floor, and a few sleeping pads. Water was available at the source along the route, though I carried extra just in case.
The solitude and the proximity to Špik’s imposing north walls made it a solid base for anyone exploring the Julian Alps.
The location ties directly into the broader alpine network near the Austrian and Italian borders, with access roads visible on the map. From the village, the bivouac’s position under Špik’s sharp peak stood out, a reminder of my climb years before.
Parking was tricky, but the campsite sorted it out. The attic worked fine for a quiet night, though the low beams were a hassle. For alpinists or hikers wanting a no-frills stopover, this spot delivers; functional and tied to the rugged beauty of the Slovenian Alps.
Thank you for reading and let me know if you have questions, there is a comment box below. For more texts about mountains in this area please check under the category Slovenian Alps. In particular, check my text about the nearby Bivak za Akom, you can visit it directly from the Bivak pod Spikom.
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