Peričnik Waterfall, Slovenia by Wandering Wheatleys

Slovenia Hiking: The 6 Best Short Hikes in Slovenia

Slovenia is a hikers’ paradise with beautiful alpine meadows, picture-perfect lakes, stunning glacier valleys, deep limestone gorges, and seemingly endless waterfalls. Hikers of all experience levels can explore this vast wonderland as the trails are well-maintained and clearly marked.

We’ve compiled a list of the 6 best short hikes in Slovenia to get you started!

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The 6 Best Short Hikes in Slovenia

Short Day Hike #1: Vintgar Gorge (Soteska Vintgar)

Hiking Distance / Time: 2 miles round trip (1 mile each way) / 90 minutes
Closest Town: Bled     GPS: 46.39359, 14.08565
Cost: 5€ per person

Vintgar Gorge is at the top of everyone’s Slovenia hiking list – and for good reason! The gorge is located less than three miles northwest of the picturesque town of Bled. Vintgar Gorge is an easy and well-maintained hike through a beautiful river gorge. It is arguably the most popular day and one of the short hikes in Slovenia. (Tip: if you want to avoid the tour bus crowds head there early in the morning or late in the afternoon)

You’ll pay your entrance fee when arriving at the parking lot and then set off down the picturesque gorge with moss and fern-covered limestone walls. Then, when the gorge becomes too narrow, you’ll see wooden walkways cling to the towering walls with the turquoise water cascading beneath your feet. You’ll pass numerous small waterfalls and rapids as well as a man-made hydroelectric dam.

Don’t forget to look up at the stone railway bridge 100 feet over your head – it was built in 1906!

Best Day Hikes in Slovenia: Hiking Slovenia: Vintgar Gorge, Slovenia by Wandering Wheatleys

The hike ends with a suspension bridge over the impressive 40′ high Šum Waterfall. You’ll want to descend the stairs behind the ticket office for the best view and cross the river to a viewing platform at the base of the falls.

Best Day Hikes in Slovenia: Hiking Slovenia: Šum Waterfall, Vintgar Gorge, Slovenia by Wandering Wheatleys
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Short Day Hike #2: Peričnik Waterfall (Slap Peričnik)

Hiking Distance / Time: 0.5 miles / 40 minutes
Closest Town: Mojstrana     GPS: 46.43914, 13.89377
Cost: 2€ per car for parking

You’ll love this short hike in Slovenia. It is gorgeous! The trail for Peričnik Waterfall starts from a gravel parking lot 2.5 miles south of Mostrana at the ‘Koča pri Peričniku’ hut. You’ll need to pay the 2€ parking fee. Afterward, climb up the steep but well-maintained trail to a small wooden bridge that crosses in front of the base of the falls.

Here you’ll get your first good look at the breathtaking 170′ Peričnik falls. You can stop on the bridge for a quick picture but don’t turn around just yet – the fun is just getting started!

Best Day Hikes in Slovenia: Hiking Slovenia: Peričnik Waterfall, Slovenia by Wandering Wheatleys

Continue across the bridge to the opposite side of the falls and up the steep bank. You can hike under the massive overhang and behind the waterfall! You’ll encounter spray from the waterfall and the overhang drips constantly, so bring an umbrella or be prepared to get wet.

Best Day Hikes in Slovenia: Hiking Slovenia: Peričnik Waterfall, Slovenia by Wandering Wheatleys

Feeling particularly spry? You can continue on up a steep path to an upper, much less visited 50′ waterfall (Upper Peričnik Waterfall). You can head down the trail to the right of the falls to make it a loop once you’re finished taking in the falls.


Short Day Hike #3: Kozjak Waterfall (Slap Kozjak)

Hiking Distance / Time:  2.5 miles / ~90 minutes
Closest Town: Kobarid     GPS:46.26169, 13.59266
Cost: 1€ per car for parking

If you’re looking for one of the best short hikes in Slovenia then look no further! You’ll find this pleasant stroll along the east bank of the Soča River just outside of the town of Kobarid. Park in the gravel lot across the road from Kamp Koren and follow the signs for the Kobarid Historical Trail. Start off walking through a large pasture and pass some beehives on your right before entering the woods.

You’ll have beautiful views of the bright bluish-green Soča River on your left. Soon you’ll come to a suspension bridge crossing over the Soča. The 170′ long bridge is actually fairly new as it was built in 1998. The wooden supports in the center look like they were cobbled together before the age of modern engineering. That just adds to the excitement of this trek.

Pop up on the bridge for a quick picture, but then continue on along the east bank of the Soča. A few hundred feet later the trail turns right to follow the Kozjak River.

Best Day Hikes in Slovenia: Hiking Slovenia: Hiking to Kozjak Waterfall, Slovenia

You’ll crisscross the river on wooden bridges and walkways as you continue up the Kozjak River Valley. The valley narrows with limestone walls rising up on both sides. The trail ends with a set of wooden walkways climbing up the steep walls on the left-hand side of the river. Just around this final bend, you’ll reach a viewing platform to the 50′ Kozjak Waterfall. It drops into a blue-green pool surrounded by an amazing natural limestone amphitheater.

Best Day Hikes in Slovenia: Hiking Slovenia: Kozjak Waterfall, Slovenia by Wandering Wheatleys

On your way back to the car, if the weather is warm, head down a side trail on the right to the bank of the Soča River. There, soak up the sun and take a dip in the refreshing water. Head back up to the main trail after your swim and cross the suspension bridge to the west bank of the Soča. Head up the hill to the bike path, take a left and follow the path south to the Napoleon Bridge. Cross the bridge and you’re back at where you began!

Headed to Slovenia? Check out our other post: Don’t Miss These Amazing Destinations in Slovenia

Best Day Hikes in Slovenia: Hiking Slovenia: Lake Bohinj, Triglav National Park, Slovenia by Wandering Wheatleys

Short Day Hike #4: Tolmin Gorges

Hiking Distance / Time: 2 miles / 90 minutes
Closest Town: Tolmin     GPS: 46.19804, 13.74015
Cost: 4€ per person

This is one of the well-maintained, short hikes in Slovenia that starts in a gravel parking lot about a mile north of the town of Tolmin. You’ll be provided with a map and explanation of the hike when you pay the entrance fee at the small ticket stand.

Start by descending the stairs down to the confluence of the Tolminka and Zadlaščica rivers. Fun fact,  this is the lowest point in Triglav National Park and the only confluence of two gorges in all of Slovenia!

Best Day Hikes in Slovenia: Hiking Slovenia: Tolmin Gorges, Slovenia by Wandering Wheatleys

Cross the wooden bridge to the opposite bank of the Tolminka River and head upstream. Much like Vintgar Gorge, this trail heads up the blue-green river with steep limestone cliffs on both sides. This section of the trail ends in a small cave and a viewpoint of a river snaking its way further up the narrow gorge.

You can’t go any further here so turn around, head back to the confluence, and take a left to head up the stairs along the Zadlaščica River. Pop up onto the suspension bridge for a bird-eye view of the two rivers and then continue heading up the Zadlaščica Canyon.

Best Day Hikes in Slovenia: Hiking Slovenia: Suspension Bridge in Tolmin Gorges, Slovenia by Wandering Wheatleys

This section consists of a long set of stairs (supposedly around 500 of them). You’ll come to a two-viewing platform above a large boulder lodged between the canyon walls that has been nicknamed “The Bears Head” (‘Medvedova Glava’ in Slovenian). The viewing platforms extend precariously out over the canyon providing views of the river and several small waterfalls far below.

Double back and continue up the stairs until you reach the paved road. From here turn right and head uphill to Dante’s Cave. The cave system is over a half-mile long. You’ll need a professional guide to go exploring beyond just a quick peek inside the entrance.

Now head back down the paved road crossing the Devil’s Bridge high above the Tolminka river. The paved road will lead you right back to the ticket booth and the gravel parking lot you started from.


Short Day Hike #5: Rinka Waterfall (Slap Rinka)

Hiking Distance / Time: 1 mile round trip  / ~1 hour
Closest Town: Logarska Dolina     GPS: 46.37084, 14.59281
Cost: 7€ per car entrance to Logar Valley

Logar Valley is one of the short hikes in Slovenia with an incredibly beautiful glacier valley situated near the Slovenia-Austria border. After entering Logar Valley, drive the four miles to the end of the road and park. From here, follow the trail up the valley and a handful of switchbacks.

This path is fairly steep and rocky so prepare for a good workout! You’ll soon emerge at the base of Rinka Falls which at a height of 344′ is the highest waterfall in Logar Valley.

Best Day Hikes in Slovenia: Hiking Slovenia: Rinka Waterfall in Logar Valley, Slovenia by Wandering Wheatleys

You can climb the stairs up from here to a darling little cafe with a viewing platform. Make sure you try a shot of their delicious blueberry brandy! After fruity alcoholic cheers to your accomplishment, head back down the trail to the parking lot (good thing it’s a short hike back!).

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Short Day Hike #6: Kolovrat Open Air Museum

Hiking Distance / Time: 0.5 miles / 30 minutes
Closest Town: Tolmin or Kobarid     GPS: 46.18527, 13.66067
Cost: Free!

The expansive views that this short hike in Slovenia starts on the drive up! From Tolmin, head southwest up winding mountain roads towards Italy, stopping at all of the viewpoints along the way.

Best Day Hikes in Slovenia: Hiking Slovenia: Views of Tolmin Valley, Slovenia by Wandering Wheatleys

When the road splits, keep to the right (the other road takes you across the border into Italy). You’ll see an information board at the road’s highest point, a small souvenir stand, and a pull-out that is large enough for a handful of vehicles.

During World War I, the Italian army built an extensive system of bunkers on the hillsides which have been preserved and are now a part of the Kolovrat Open Air Museum.

Best Day Hikes in Slovenia: Hiking Slovenia: World War I Bunkers at Kolovrat, Slovenia by Wandering Wheatleys

Take your time exploring the maze of bunkers and then continue up the path to the top of the hill. You’ll see here a white stone marker designating the Italy-Slovenia border and epic views on both sides.

On a clear day, you can see the massive mountain peaks of Triglav National Park to the north and all the way to the Adriatic Sea to the south!

So that’s a wrap of our 6 favorite short hikes in Slovenia!


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About the Author:

  • Nick Wheatley

    Nick took his first solo trip abroad to Ireland and Scotland when he was just 19. Since then he has visited over 70 countries around the world (plus 45 states in the USA).

    He coupled his passion for travel photography with Val’s passion for writing and thus Wandering Wheatleys was born. He now lives in Asheville with his two rambunctious kids, Humphrey and Wilhelminha.

    Besides photography, Nick loves eating the weirdest food he can find in a country (sheep’s brain currently sits in first place) and making Val get up an hour before sunrise to make sure he gets “the good light”.

3 thoughts on “Slovenia Hiking: The 6 Best Short Hikes in Slovenia”

  1. Fellow blogger here, stumbled upon your site while looking for things to do in Slovenia! How did you get that map with the different hike locations embedded on your post? I’ve been wanting something just like that!
    Thanks for the wonderful hike list!

  2. I will be there the first week of April 2020. Will all six of these hike be open at this time? I didn’t see any schedule.

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