Stunning and rugged, the Soča Valley has an otherworldly appeal. The Soča River of a putting turquoise emerald coloration snakes by means of this theatrical valley, forming gorges, crystalline swimming pools and coves, whereas the encompassing hills and mountains rise in a near-to-vertical method with numerous waterfalls plummeting down the steep partitions. The drive by means of the valley is simply an hour lengthy, but evidently each aspect highway takes you to much more spectacular locations, tightly tucked away from the mainstream points of interest. One would wish weeks if not months to go to all the attractive locations that the Soča Valley has to supply.
I really feel lucky to have visited the Soča Valley quite a few instances previously with the final go to a few weeks in the past. Primarily based on my previous scoutings I’ve ready an inventory of really helpful hikes within the Soča Valley, from rolling meadows, to lovely waterfalls, hikes alongside crystal-clear rivers or to the beautiful mountains and alpine lakes within the surrounding Triglav Nationwide Park.
Here’s a checklist of hikes within the Soča Valley that you just completely shouldn’t miss should you love mountain climbing in pristine nature.
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The drive to the Soča Valley throughout the Vršič Move
There are various roads that join the Soča Valley with the remainder of Slovenia, however there’s one route that stands out. The highway over the Vršič Move to the Soča Valley was in-built 1916 throughout WWI by 10,000 – 12,000 Russian prisoners of conflict with the intention to join Kranjska Gora (or the Higher Sava Valley) with the Trenta Valley, the higher a part of the Soča Valley. Its primary goal on the time was to ship artillery, meals and medical provides to the troopers on the Soča Entrance to guard the land from the opposing Italian military.
At this time, the highway throughout the Vršič Move is likely one of the most putting drives in Slovenia which takes you as excessive as 1,661m proper on the foothills of spectacular excessive mountains. Avid hikers cease alongside the way in which for simple hikes to Slemenova Špica, harder hikes to Mala Mojstrovka and Prisojnik, and extremely scenic climbs on the by way of ferratas to Mala Mojstrovka and Prisojnik. Nevertheless, should you desire to be comfy in a automobile, you’re nonetheless assured epic views alongside the entire drive.
Zadnja Trenta
This picturesque glacial valley could also be your first cease whereas going throughout the Vršič Move all the way down to the Soča Valley. Situated in Triglav Nationwide Park, it’s the best a part of the Soča Valley and finest recognized for the supply of the Soča River at 990m. The pristine emerald river gushes out of the Karst depths beneath the towering mountains of the Julian Alps to start out its lovely 138-km journey.
The valley cuts deep into the encompassing mountains and affords something from straightforward strolls for the households, adventurous hikes to the supply of the Soča River and Zapotoški slapovi (Eng. the Zapotok Waterfalls), to powerful day climbs to the mountains above.
Zadnjica
The second cease in your approach might be Zadnjica, yet one more beautiful glacial valley within the space. Situated between the Trenta Valley and the west partitions of Triglav, the best mountain of Slovenia, it serves as a place to begin for a lot of lengthy however beautiful hikes and climbs within the Slovenian mountains. You might climb something from probably the most lovely mountain in Slovenia, Bovški Gamsovec, a real alpine large Mt. Razor, Triglav on a by way of Ferrata, or hike to the seven Triglav Lakes. You might also wish to take a simple hike alongside the Zadnjica River and up the valley, and gasp in awe on the towering rocky peaks of the Julian Alps.
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Bovec
Tucked away within the mountainous Higher Soča Valley, Bovec is certainly one of two exceptionally cute little cities within the Higher Soča Valley that serves as a superb base for exploring the most effective trails within the Soča Valley. Every part lovely to see within the Higher Soča Valley appears to be solely a brief drive from Bovec. Moreover, you’ll discover a number of good eating places open all year long, a giant grocery retailer, a spa & wellness, companies for water sports activities, and a quick charging station for electrical automobiles.
The place to remain when within the Soča Valley? There are 4 resorts in Bovec and plenty of non-public lodging, however I all the time decide to remain in Skok Flats, a small home with a number of rooms and an out of doors retailer in Bovec. The homeowners are tremendous pleasant, they’ve a spacious parking zone in entrance of the home, whereas the residences are effectively geared up and clear, and the view from the balcony is simply lovely. If you wish to check out rafting and canyoning, additionally they organise water actions on the Soča River!
Nice Soča Gorge and Lepena
At any time when on this aspect of the Slovenian mountains, my paths on this beautiful valley all the time carry me to the divine Soča River and its Nice Soča Gorge. The emerald inexperienced swimming pools stretch right into a 750-m-long gorge, which is just a few meters huge and fifteen meters deep. It winds by means of a forest that in spots reveals breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains of the Julian Alps. The 2 worlds appear gentle years aside, but they’re so unbelievably shut – actually only a 12-minute drive from the Nice Soča Gorge to the beginning mountain climbing level to Lake Krn, the biggest alpine lake in Slovenia, hidden up within the mountains at 1,391m.
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Krn Lake
Nestled between tall rocky peaks of the southwestern Julian Alps, the lonely Lake Krn is a picture-perfect 300-m-long and 150-m-wide lake overlooking Mt. Krn, the best mountain of the Krn Mountains. It’s the largest Alpine lake of Slovenia and as such attracts plenty of consideration of home and international hikers. Rightly so; Lake Krn appears dreamy in each season!
The third Krn Lake, Jezero v Lužnici
Because the day was solely awakening and we drove from Bovec to Planina Kuhinja for the beginning of a brand new beautiful hike, the smooth solar mirrored on the steep forested hills and towering mountains. The valley had already been stroked by spring displaying an abundance of colourful flowers, whereas the mountaintops nonetheless remained in a stable grip of the winter. We had been headed to an actual gem, an alpine lake at 1,801m referred to as jezero v Lužnici (Eng. Lake at Lužnica).
Exploring Slovenia’s finest guided treks within the Soča Valley:Krn lakes above the Soča Valley7 Triglav Lakes (3 days; departure from Bovec)Soča Valley and the Alps (6 days; departure from Bovec)From Bohinj to Soča Valley Trek (3 days; departure from Bovec)
This deep blue lake lies beneath an extended rocky massif that connects Mt. Krn, 2,244m, on the far west and Mt. Peski, 2,035m, on the east. It’s truly one of many three Krn Lakes, of which probably the most vital one, Krn Lake, can be the largest Alpine lake in Slovenia. Jezero v Lužnici, however, is situated on the other aspect of the massif at 1,801m, and is likely one of the finest saved secrets and techniques round right here. After we hiked there, the lake occurred to be frozen beneath a deep blanket of snow, nonetheless, we continued to a 1,903-m peak Maselnik which supplied breathtaking views!
Drežnica
In the event you love looking for lovely sunsets within the mountains which you could absorb from a lonely bench, conveniently positioned proper alongside the highway, then it is best to have a night cease right here. Observe the slender highway that climbs 300m up from the quaint little city Kobarid and cease proper whenever you catch the primary glimpse of the enduring church of Drežnica with the imposing Mt. Krn within the background. Within the ultimate hour earlier than the sundown, the postcard surroundings bathes within the vibrant late afternoon gentle, which then slowly, slowly fades out till the very peak of Mt. Krn sinks too into the evening.
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Kozjak Waterfall
Situated between Kobarid and Drežnica, is the mysterious Kozjak Waterfall, hidden in a shocking rocky amphitheater. It’s usually named probably the most picturesque waterfall of Slovenia!
Kobarid Waterfalls
You’d be shocked to understand how quite a few waterfalls within the Soča Valley actually are! Whereas we normally go to three effectively acknowledged falls within the space on our From Bohinj to Soča Valley Trek, there are numerous others that, whatever the hype of the valley, stay little recognized. In a small space of a few sq. kilometers simply ten minutes out of Kobarid, you may discover three lovely waterfalls on a reasonably uncooked and uncovered path.
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Boka Waterfall
Between Bovec and Kobarid you may admire the mighty 144-m tall and 18-m huge Boka Waterfall. In spring, the Kanin mountains above feed it with melting snow and the waterfall turns into probably the most voluminous waterfall in Slovenia with the water gushing down at 100 m³/s (within the dry summer time months the movement can decelerate to even 2 m³/s)!
Tolmin Gorge
The bottom and doubtless probably the most picturesque entry level into Triglav Nationwide Park, the Tolmin Gorges take you thru the wild gorges of the Tolminka and Zadlaščica Rivers, which merge into a phenomenal confluence contained in the gorge.
Church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca
The church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca lies on the foothills of the Bohinj mountains above Tolmin, and is a novel piece of Artwork Nouveau awarded a particular recognition by the European Fee – the European Heritage Label. This memorial church was constructed by Austro-Hungarian troopers and celebrates the fallen defenders of the Soča Entrance battlefield, a sequence of 12 battles alongside the Soča River between 1915 and 1917 that demanded as many as 1.2 million casualties. The bloody historical past apart, the church’s easy however lovely building principally of wooden and stone, set in opposition to excessive cliffy mountains, requires a calming half-day hike within the forests alongside the Tolminka River to complete with a picnic on the sunny church.
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