The Julian Alps are a mountain range that stretches from northeastern Italy to Slovenia. On clear days, hikers are confronted with a wall of stunning, rugged mountains, many of which fall inside Triglav National Park. Mount Triglav, Slovenia’s highest peak (9,396 feet) is such an important national symbol it is featured on Slovenia’s coat of arms.
We spent five full days in September hiking eight distinct trails in Slovenia’s Julian Alps. Here is the list of trails and information on our experiences, in rank order.
Slovenia Trip Map
1. Vogel & Šija Loop
The hike to the summits of Vogel and Šija was our first long trail in Slovenia and was our absolute favorite. We hiked on a crystal clear day and saw views of Triglav (Slovenia’s highest peak), the Italian Alps, and even all the way to the Adriatic Sea. If you only have time to do one hike in the area, we nominate this one as a strong contender.
To get to the trailhead, take a ride on the Vogel cable car which whisks travelers over 3,000 feet up. Once you disembark, you’ll be at the ski center at an altitude of 5,035 feet, high above Lake Bohinj. If you complete the trail counterclockwise like we did, the first part is along gravel roads that crisscross under the ski infrastructure. The trail then descends into a grassy meadow before beginning the first climb, switchbacking all the way to a saddle with a trail intersection. Follow the signs for Vogel.
As you make your way towards Vogel, there is a small scrambling section with steel cables in place to help aid the climb. Nothing too scary! From here the trail levels out but is made up of loose rock, so take care. The final push to the summit is quite steep, but the views are so worth it!
The summit of Vogel had the best views…mountains for days. Here is where we could see the Adriatic Sea and Italian Alps, in addition to Triglav.
To get to Šija, retrace your steps back to the saddle and at the intersection follow signs for Šija. The next ascent can be tricky in parts, but there are a few iron pegs in the rocks and “steps” to aid the steep way up.
Once we got to the slopes of Šija, instead of following the signs, we took a trail to a point directly above us, then walked along a narrow ridgeline to get to the summit of Šija. We think this is a more scenic route, but either way works. Soak in the views at this summit before heading down.
The trail down from Šija is very steep but then meets up again with wide, gravel roads as part of the ski infrastructure which is what you’ll use for the remainder of the hike. If it’s running, you have the option to take the Orlove Glave Chairlift down to the ski center. It helps shave of some of the descent and is included as part of your ticket for the Vogel cable car. We opted to walk instead, arriving at the ski center to enjoy drinks and a slice of apfelstrudel to Viharnik Café.
Pro tip!: This can be a popular hike, so start early to avoid the crowds. We took an 8:30am cable car up and saw hardly any other hikers until we reached Šija. Many people choose to just hike to this summit due to its close proximity to the ski center and ability to use the chairlift.
Hike Details
- 7 miles | 2,415 feet elevation gain | 4 hours, 45 mins to complete
- Drive to the location listed as "Vogel Cable Car Valley Station" on your map.
- There is a large, free parking area at the cable car valley station.
- No fee for trail use. We paid €29.50 for a roundtrip tickets on the Vogel cable car. Cable cars departed every 30 minutes, but be sure to check their website for current opening hours and fees.
2. Brda & Debela Peč Loop
This hike tackles two summits, Brda and Debela Peč, along the along the Lipanca Ridge in the Julian Alps. From the top of each mountain, you’ll be confronted with walls of mountains so close you feel like you can reach out and touch them. The views of Triglav are particularly impressive here.
The first two miles of trail are up a gravel road leading to a cluster of mountain huts. From here, follow the signs for Brda which will be off to your left. The trail is rocky and has many switchbacks through a beautiful forest. As you get closer to the summit you’ll be above the treeline.
The views from the summit speak for themselves. And for the first time all trip, we had the summit to ourselves. People don’t know what they are missing out on!
From the summit of Brda it is a short hop over to Debela Peč. The way down and up, however, is made of loose rock and scree so it can be slightly slow going. At the summit, the views here are incredible as well, but it can be quite windy, so bring layers.
For us, it was seriously hard to tear ourselves away from this scenery. It was also our last hike in Slovenia, so it was bittersweet and we wanted to capture as many memories as possible.
From Debela Peč, descend back to the trail intersection and follow the signs for Lipanca, taking the trail back to the mountain huts and on to the parking area.
Note: To complete this hike as outlined here, you will need to detour over to Brda, making a mini-loop in the middle of the hike. Trails are well-marked and finding the way is easy.
Hike Details
- 7.65 miles | 2,550 feet elevation gain | 4 hours, 40 mins to complete
- Drive to the location listed as "Planina Javornik". Note: After turning off the main road, the last part of the drive is along a gravel road, but it is well-graded and suitable for all vehicles.
- There is a small, free parking area near the trailhead.
- No fee for trail use.
3. Valley of the Seven Lakes Loop
The Valley of the Seven Lakes is in one of the most picturesque areas of Triglav National Park and home to a long, wonderful day hike. When we visited in early fall after a dry spell, nearly half the lakes were quite small and not very spectacular. Thankfully the mountain scenery along the way more than made up for the lackluster lakes.
From the trailhead at Planina Blato the trail steadily climbs up a wide, gravel road. In our experience, this is how most of the hikes in Slovenia begin! Although this part is a bit boring, it’s a good warm up for what is to come. You’ll hike for about an hour before reaching Koča na Planini pri Jezeru where a mountain hut is nestled in an alpine pasture. From here, turn up the trail to the left which steeply climbs through a forest before reaching a gorgeous, isolated plateau dotted with tiny huts.
From here, the trail narrows but emerging from the forest mountain views open up. The trail descends and skirts by Double Lake before reaching the next mountain hut, Koča pri Triglavskih Jezerih. Continuing on, you’ll pass more lakes with beautiful reflections of the peaks and trees.
Continuing through the valley, the landscape changes dramatically and the trail becomes entirely exposed as it undulates over small peaks. The next main waypoint is the Zasavska koča na Prehodavcih mountain hut. The views here are some of the most jaw-dropping of the entire trail. We ate our lunch on a picnic bench looking out across at the mountains and at the trail network we came up and would be going down.
After the hut, the trail descends towards a small lake only to immediately climb along a balcony trail that seemingly cuts through the side of the mountain. While the trail up is loose scree, it looks worse from the bottom than it is once you are on it. Given the amount of mileage hiked so far, the next part is quite difficult. Just keep looking around at the views of rocky peaks in every direction as a distraction.
You will eventually reach the high point and from there it is all downhill, but there are still five long miles to go. We found the downhill out of the valley to be gentle and easy to tackle. Once out of the mountains, the trail winds through more scenic alpine pastures before rejoining the gravel road where you started in the morning.
Hike Details
- 16.3 miles | 4,840 feet elevation gain | 9 hours to complete
- Drive to the location listed as "Planina Blato" on your map.
- There is a small, free parking area near the trailhead. It fills quite early, however, and if needed additional parking is available along the road, close to the trailhead.
- No fee for trail use. To get to the trailhead, you must drive along the Planina Blato toll road. When we visited the fee was €20 per car, cash only and no €50 notes were accepted, payable at the automated kiosk at the exit point.
4. Mount Viševnik Loop
The summit of Viševnik affords hikers the opportunity for a closeup view of the surrounding Julian Alps, Mount Triglav, and the sprawling Bohinj Valley. The only reason we don’t rank this hike higher up on our list is that it was so darn crowded. By completing this loop hike, however, you have the chance to escape the crowds and see even more spectacular scenery.
After departing the parking lot, the trail meets the base of a ski area and begins climbing almost immediately. The switchbacks wind in and out of the forest before heading above the tree line. This part of the trail is hard work and seems never ending as you navigate the maze of braided trails.
Just before reaching the summit the trail narrows significantly and climbs up the side of the rocky peak. At the top, views extend in every direction. The true summit was very crowded when we visited, but by hiking just a bit beyond we were afforded with a quiet place to rest on a rock outcropping.
Heading down the other side of Viševnik is very steep, with lots of loose scree. Instead of heading all the way down to the valley floor, however, we detoured onto a ridgeline trail towards the summit of Veliki Draški Vrh. Although we did not end up going to the summit of this peak, we followed the ridgeline trail just beneath it which was such a fun trail with great views. We highly recommend this detour if you’re up for the extra mileage. Simply follow the ridgeline to the Studorski Preval mountain pass/saddle, which is clearly marked, then continue on to the valley below.
The last part of the trail is gently graded as you descend back through more forest towards the parking lot. This part of the trail as quite deserted as compared to the rest and we enjoyed solitude to end our day on trail.
Hike Details
- 6.9 miles | 3,050 feet elevation gain | 5 hours, 20 mins to complete
- Drive to the location listed as "Biathlon Stadium Pokljuka" on your map.
- There are several large, paid parking areas near the trailhead. We parked in the lot directly across from the trailhead and paid €7, in advance, at the automated kiosk located in the parking lot, using credit card (cash is also accepted). Display your paid parking ticket in your windshield.
- No fee for trail use.
Note: To complete this hike as outlined here, after summiting Viševnik, head towards Veliki Draški Vrh but stay on the ridgeline trail instead of going to the summit. Turn back down into the valley after reaching the Studorski Preval mountain pass.
5. Ojstrica - Velika Osojnica - Mala Osojnica Loop
Departing directly from the shores of Lake Bled, this hike links up three stunning overlooks with bird’s-eye views of the lake below. Hiking in a counterclockwise direction, you will climb up a trail through the forest filled with knotted tree roots. When we visited the trail conditions were pretty terrible, but we promise, it does get better after this point.
The first viewpoint, Ojstrica, is reached after a steep climb along slippery, polished limestone rock. Use the steel cables installed for extra security. As this is the easiest lookout to reach from the lake, expect it to be crowded. But the views are some of the best.
Back down at the trail intersection, you have the option to detour up and do a small loop to Velika Osojnica. We enjoyed the forest path to this viewpoint and the solitude, but feel it was not anything special as it was a bit overgrown at the top, inhibiting the views.
The back half of the loop hits the final viewpoint, Mala Osojnica. This is a great vantage point from which to see the island, castle, and mountains, all in one shot. The path back down to the trailhead is infinitely more pleasant than the way up, with plenty of well-maintained switchbacks and even staircases to make the descent manageable.
Hike Details
- 2.9 miles | 1,010 feet elevation gain | 2 hours to complete
- Drive to the location listed as "Restavracija Zaka Camping Bled" which is the closest approximation to the parking area near the trailhead.
- There is a large, paid parking area near the trailhead. This was the most expensive parking of the whole trip at €6 per hour. We paid at the automated kiosk with credit card before exiting.
- No fee for trail use.
6. Savica Waterfall
The waters of the Savica Waterfall plunge down 255 feet in an enchanting dual-cascade. To get to the falls, it is €4 per person (cash or credit card) to enter the trail system. It is a straight shot to the falls themselves, but the 1/2-mile trail still requires a fair amount of effort. There are over 500 steps along the way! The trail ends at an upper and lower viewing platform. This is an easy and fun hike to a beautiful spot in the Julian Alps, easily tacked on to another activity during the day.
Hike Details
- 1.1 miles | 440 feet elevation gain | 40 minutes to complete
- Drive to the location listed as "Koča pri Savici" on your map.
- There is a large, paid parking area near the trailhead. We paid €5 to park for three hours, prior to exiting, at the automated kiosk located in the parking lot, using credit card. When we visited, there was an option to pay at a machine at the exit, but several cars had an issue creating quite the backup. We recommend paying in the parking lot before you get in your car to leave.
- €4 per adult to access the hiking trail to the waterfall.
7. Vintgar Gorge
The Vintgar Gorge is a 5,000-foot-long, up to 820-feet-deep canyon located on the eastern edge of the Triglav National Park. Known for its photogenic crystal clear water, a visit here was nice but felt like a disappointment, especially as compared to the Škocjan Caves we had visited the day prior.
After parking near Lake Bled and taking the shuttle bus, you will arrive at the gorge. The tickets you purchase are timed and you can only enter at the exact time printed (e.g., we could enter at 9:01am). Upon entry you will be given a helmet you are required to wear throughout the hike through the gorge. The one-way trail is along boardwalks bolted to the rock, culminating at the Šum Waterfall. It took us 30 minutes to walk through the gorge.
At this point you will return your helmet and you have several options for returning to the visitor center. You can take a shuttle bus, or hike back along one of two nature trails. We chose to hike back along the King of Triglav Trail which was about 2.5 miles in length. Initially, the trail goes through a lovely wooded area but then emerges to stunning views of the mountains, Lake Bled, and the castle. Honestly, we enjoyed the hike out more than the hike through the gorge itself! After returning to the visitor center, wait for the next return shuttle to the parking lot.
Hike Details
- 3.7 miles | 660 feet elevation gain | 1 hour, 40 minutes to complete
- Drive to the location listed as "Vintgar Gorge Central parking LIP" on your map. Note this will not take you to the gorge itself, as you must take a shuttle there.
- There is a large, free parking area where you will leave your car and board a shuttle bus for the short ride to the gorge itself. Shuttles run every 20 minutes.
- €15 per adult to access the gorge. You must have a ticket prior to boarding the shuttle bus. We purchased our tickets online the evening before.
8. Mostnica Gorge
The Mostnica Gorge is filled with crystal clear water and interesting rock formations. A walk through the gorge is an easy add-on to any day in the Julian Alps. We did not find this as scenic as the Vintgar Gorge as much of the water was hidden from view along the hike. We would not go out of the way to hike here, but are still glad we had the experience.
After paying the entrance fee at the gorge, simply follow the marked trail. We hiked out to the Koča na Vojah alpine hut which has amazing views of the Voje Valley ahead. If you want to extend your trip, the 70-foot-tall Voje Waterfall is a popular destination. We opted to turn around and hike back along the opposite bank of the river for a slightly different perspective.
Hike Details
- 3.8 miles | 620 feet elevation gain | 1 hour, 50 minutes to complete
- Drive to the location listed as "Stara Fužina" on your map.
- There are several parking lots in the center of Stara Fužina. Pricing varies. We were able to walk to the gorge from our accommodation in Bohinj.
- €4 per adult, cash only, to access the hiking trail to the waterfall.
Before or after spending time hiking in the Julian Alps, we highly recommend a visit to the capital city of Ljubljana, the Škocjan Caves, and Predjama Castle. Read more about the rest of our experiences in Slovenia here.
