Hiking in Slovenia: 9 great hikes & walks in Triglav National Park
Slovenia may be small and have only one national park — but the country’s beautiful blue lakes and winding mountain paths offer adventures comparable to those in Europe’s bigger, more famous hiking destinations.
From easy walks around famous lakes to full-day hikes that take you straight into the heart of the Julian Alps, there is something for every nature lover. Triglav National Park, which encompasses a large part of this mountain range, is a prime hiking destination, regardless of your experience level.
This article will take you through nine amazing hikes, ranging from easy breezy to more challenging. You can choose the ones that seem the most interesting to you and incorporate them into your trip to Slovenia.
Or, if you can’t decide, simply do them all. An eight-day Slovenia adventure trip is a wonderful occasion for that. Whichever you choose, there will be plenty of beautiful scenery for you to enjoy.
Peaks of the Julian Alps near Lake Bled at sunset
Level 1: Easy & flat
Whether you’re an active lifestyle geek or a couch potato, easy and flat hikes are doable for practically anyone. The elevation gain/loss is minimal, the distance short, and you can stroll as slowly as you wish alongside beautiful lakeshores and picturesque gorges.
Vintgar Gorge walk
📏 Distance: 1.6 kilometres one way
⏱ Time needed: about 30 minutes one way
⛰ Elevation gain/loss: about 200 metres
🚶♀️ Trail type: circular
📍 Starting point: Vintgar Parking P1
Visiting Vintgar Gorge near Bled is the ideal adventure for the tired (or lazy 😉) outdoorsman. The flat 1.6-kilometre-long path follows a turquoise and aqua-blue stream. As you walk on a wooden footbridge, you are sheltered from the sun by the many trees and surrounded by the sound of rushing water.
The relaxed nature and easy accessibility of this walk make it highly popular among summer crowds. To escape the bustle of tourism, be one of the first morning visitors. There is an entrance fee of €10.
The gorge is up to 250 metres deep and you can only walk alongside it in one direction, so don’t rush! The small waterfalls, pools, and erosion pots along the way are worth inspecting for more than just a few seconds.
Once you exit the paid area, spend a moment at the bottom of Slap (Waterfall) Šum before returning to the parking lot. Those feeling especially brave can even take a quick dip in the ice-cold water.
Crystal clear water of Vintgar Gorge
Taking a dip under Slap Šum
Loop around Lake Bled
📏 Distance: six kilometres
⏱ Time needed: one to two hours
⛰ Elevation gain/loss: about 40 metres
🚶♀️ Trail type: circular
📍 Starting point: any point around the lake
A loop around the famous Lake Bled is more of a town stroll than a hike. The road is paved and popular with tourists and locals alike, so it’s not likely that you’ll be here alone. But the crowds come here for a reason and the beauty of the lake is just one of them.
You can tailor this mini adventure entirely to your liking. Feeling slow and in need of relaxation? Spend an entire day at the lake, sit at one of the beaches, and visit the castle and one of the many restaurants.
Want extra exercise? Put on your running sneakers and kick the speed up a notch. My tip to make the most out of your time at Bled is to get a SUP board at the end of the day and watch the sunset from the water.
If you visit Bled Castle, you can get some great views of the lake
Savica Waterfall mini hike
📏 Distance: 1.8 kilometres return
⏱ Time needed: about one hour
⛰ Elevation gain/loss: 130 metres
🚶♀️ Trail type: out and back
📍 Starting point: Planinski dom Savica parking lot
Savica Waterfall is Slovenia’s third most visited attraction. The walk to it is easy and short with a little bit of elevation, taking you no more than 20 minutes.
The waterfall is 78 metres high and its water flow splits into two streams underground, making it a pretty unique place to visit.
As you stand at the viewpoint, you can see the two different streams coming out of the rocks and plummeting down what is pretty much a vertical wall. Similarly to Vintgar Gorge, the entry is paid and will cost you €4 in the main season.
Walking to Savica is a nice activity to plan later in the day after a more intense hike in the Triglav National Park — or as a rest day activity combined with lounging by Lake Bohinj.
The two streams of Savica Waterfall
Walk around Lake Bohinj
📏 Distance: 12 kilometres
⏱ Time needed: two to three hours
⛰ Elevation gain/loss: about 50 metres
🚶♀️ Trail type: circular
📍 Starting point: Ribčev Laz
While Bled gets all the hype, its lesser-known cousin, Bohinj, is more than two times its size and has a scenic nature backdrop all around it. It’s an ideal place for a calm morning walk before the afternoon crowds come swarming in to relax here.
The loop isn’t the shortest but because the trail is practically flat the entire time, it’s easy to complete. Your starting point can be any point on the lake’s shore or any spot where you park your car. However, I would recommend starting in Ribčev Laz.
The Bridge (yes, that’s really what that bridge is actually called) and the Church of St. John the Baptist are easy landmarks to come back to, not to mention pretty to look at.
The “backside” of the lake before Ukanc is, in my opinion, the most picturesque and worth spending extra time at. From here things get a little less exciting as the path follows the main car road back to Ribčev Laz.
Morning reflections
Away from the crowds
Level 2: Moderate
Moderate hikes are a little more demanding in terms of distance and elevation gain/loss. They involve a lot of beautiful nature from start to finish and considerable walking — but nothing that would exhaust you for the rest of the day.
Mostnica Gorge & Voje Valley hike
📏 Distance: 11.8 kilometres return
⏱ Time needed: three to four hours
⛰ Elevation gain/loss: around 250 metres
🚶♀️ Trail type: out and back
📍 Starting point: P8 in Stara Fužina
The crystal-clear water of Mostnica River trickling over intricate rock formations, leaves rustling in the wind, and a wide-open alpine valley nested between the peaks of the Julian Alps is what makes this hike one of the most magical in Slovenia’s Triglav National Park.
The path is straightforward and highly enjoyable — especially as you get closer to the water where you can inspect the different shapes and sizes of the eroded rocks. Entry to the gorge area is paid.
This formation is called the Little Elephant
Enjoying a refreshment in Voje Valley
When the forest ends, you will gradually transition into the Voje Valley. Continue until the end where you’ll find the 21 m high Voje waterfall (also known as Šum or Mostnica waterfall).
Parking lot number eight in Stara Fužina is a great starting point for this hike as it’s the closest to Mostinca Gorge. It fills up quickly, so be one of the first people to arrive to secure a spot, especially in high season. Parking is paid.
There are footpaths on both sides of the gorge so you can switch up your views by walking on the other side on your way back.
Hike to Martuljek Waterfalls near Kranjska Gora
📏 Distance: eight kilometres return
⏱ Time needed: three to four hours
⛰ Elevation gain/loss: 500 metres
🚶♀️ Trail type: out and back
📍 Starting point: Gozd Martuljek (we started from Camp Špik where we were staying)
Martuljški slapovi (Martuljek Waterfalls) are located on the northern side of Triglav National Park near Kranjska Gora, right under the Špik mountain.
The hiking adventure required to find them is the perfect blend of calm forests and crystal-clear water streams in what I believe is a less frequented area of Slovenia’s only national park.
From Gozd Martuljek it takes about half an hour to reach the Lower Martuljek Waterfall. The trail starts with a walk through a forest. As you go on, you will find yourself on a picturesque path next to a small creek, nested between rocks on both sides — this is the Martuljek Gorge.
The picturesque Martuljek Gorge
Viewing platform at the Upper Waterfall
After that, the actual descent starts. From the Lower Waterfall (marked as Slap 1), you continue for another hour to reach the Upper Martuljek Waterfall (marked Slap 2). If you want, you can climb up to the pool at its base.
This part is for experienced hikers only and supposedly requires a bit of scrambling up, which I didn’t have the confidence to do when I visited in 2022.
Level 3: Moderately strenuous
Moderately strenuous hikes in Slovenia’s Triglav National Park feature adventures with narrow mountain paths and considerable elevation gain/loss. Tackling them requires stamina — but is rewarded with some of the best views of the peaks of the Julian Alps.
Hike to the top of Mount Vogel
📏 Distance: 11 kilometres
⏱ Time needed: five to six hours
⛰ Elevation gain/loss: 780 metres
🚶♀️ Trail type: lollipop
📍 Starting point: Vogel Cable Car station
🗺 Hiking route: Vogel Ski Hotel — Orlove Glave — Šija saddle — Mt. Vogel — Planina Zadnji Vogel — Vogel Ski Hotel
While Mt. Vogel may not be among the tallest peaks of the Julian Alps, reaching its summit is a fun and rewarding endeavour. You’ll be walking on winding mountain trails overlooking vast valleys stretching underneath you.
This hike begins at the top station of the Vogel Cable Car, a place that offers panoramic views of Lake Bohinj below. From Vogel Ski Hotel you can hop on the Orlove Glave chairlift to save yourself a one-kilometre ascent. Otherwise, continue towards the top station of the chairlift on foot and further on to Šija saddle.
Overlooking Lake Bohinj from the top station of Vogel Cable Car
The last section to the top of Mt. Vogel is the trickiest one, but also the most rewarding. After all, there’s no feeling quite like standing on the top of a mountain.
This portion of the trail is steep and rocky but secured with pegs and cables. You don’t need any special equipment and I’d recommend you put away your hiking poles, as they will only get in your way.
We did the hike on a slightly foggy and windy day. This required extra caution as to where we were stepping but the hike was still manageable.
Nearly at the top of Mt. Vogel
Hiking in the fog makes for some magical pictures
Hike to Črno Jezero (Black Lake)
📏 Distance: around five kilometres
⏱ Time needed: three hours
⛰ Elevation gain/loss: 670 metres
🚶♀️ Trail type: out and back
📍 Starting point: Koča pri Savici, Ukanc
The hike to Črno Jezero (Black Lake) can be described as a sweet torment. In a span of just about 2.5 kilometres, you’ll be tackling a 670-metre elevation difference in a steep, continuous ascent.
The trail is exposed at times, offering amazing views of Lake Bohinj below and the Julian Alps around you. While this is a plus point for some, the hike is not recommended for those suffering from vertigo.
The best part comes when you reach the top of the mountain. Unobstructed views as far as the eye can see are pretty spectacular. From there, you connect onto a forest path which will take you to the lake.
Črno Jezero lies about 1200 metres above sea level. If you visit in the late summer months, it’s possible that there won’t be as much water as you’d expect. However, it’s still a great place to enjoy some tranquillity and afternoon snacks.
Tucked away from the rest of the world
Forest path leading back from the lake
Level 4: Full-day hiking challenge
As the name suggests, a full-day hiking challenge takes, well, a full day. With a distance of more than 20 kilometres and elevation gain/loss exceeding 1000 metres, you will not only be challenged but you’ll also have the opportunity to really immerse yourself in the landscapes of the Julian Alps. And who wouldn’t be up for that?
Seven Lakes Valley hike
📏 Distance: over 26 kilometres
⏱ Time needed: 8+ hours
⛰ Elevation gain/loss: around 1200 metres
🚶♀️ Trail type: lollipop
📍 Starting point: Planina Blato
🗺 Hiking route: Planina Blato — Koča na Planini pri Jezeru — Planina Dedno Polje — Zasavska koča na Prehodavcih — Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih — Planina Ovčarija — Planina Dedno Polje — Planina Blato
The Seven Lakes Valley hike is one of the most rewarding I have ever done. Forests, meadows, valleys, and mountaintops make for beautiful everchanging scenery as you work your way through the different elevation zones.
The first lake you’ll see on this hike is next to Koča na Planini pri Jezeru
The most spectacular features of this hike are however the gorgeous lakes. From small and barely noticeable ones in the shades of deep green to vast and bright blue ones sparkling in the summer sun, their splendid display does not end.
To begin the hike, drive via a toll road from Stara Fužina to Planina Blato (€20/day). Park here and follow the trail to Koča na Planini pri Jezeru, where you can grab refreshments.
On Planina Dedno Polje, enjoy some freshly made yogurt before making your way up to Zasavska koča na Prehodavcih. The descent to Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih is the best part of the hike and offers first-class views of some of the most beautiful lakes in the valley.
You really need to pay attention to not miss any body of water on this hike
The view of Jezero v Ledvicah as you descend from Zasavska koča na Prehodavcih
It is for this reason that I recommend you follow the loop from Planina Dedno Polje counterclockwise. There are multiple ways to go about this hike, so do your research and study the map to assess the different options before you hit the trail.
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Hiking in Slovenia’s Triglav National Park is a great way to get acquainted with the country’s natural beauty. Start small by visiting the stunning lakes of Bled and Bohinj and as your trip progresses, challenge yourself to the longer and more difficult hikes this little piece of paradise has to offer.
Which of these hikes will you be adding to your Slovenia itinerary? Are there any others you would add to the list? Let me know in the comments!