Being in nature, getting some fresh air and enjoying the view. That’s something we’ve all been missing, even more so because of spending time mostly at home, locked within the borders of our countries, regions or municipalities. Until recently, it was believed that hills and mountains were for true “mountaineers” only, and that only “fools” headed out to the mountains. That’s because you had to really make an effort to get to the top, they said. It’s not a holiday or a getaway where you relax on a beach with a cool drink in your hand. Eventually, however, more and more people decided to tackle the hills, and more and more of them found out the hills were balm for the soul, a place where you get tired physically, but recharge mentally. This time I’m sharing 10 easy mountain hikes that offer wonderful views that can be done by everyone. So, let’s hit the trail, shall we?
Tamar is a valley located underneath Jalovec, the most beautiful (and most iconic) Slovenian mountain. There’s a mountain hut at the end of the valley and usually serves as the destination for trips to Tamar. If you hike for another couple of minutes from the hut, you’ll arrive to various waterfalls. This is where you’ll find the Nadiža and Črne vode waterfalls. The hike to Tamar is a really easy one. You can drive up to the Planica Nordic Centre by car and then continue on foot. The hike is mostly flat, with a few short ascents, and takes about 45 minutes. You also visit Tamar by mountain bikes, or cross-country skis in winter.
Zajamniki is an alpine pasture near Pokljuka. It’s home to typical alpine pasture huts and offers a view of the mountains – you can even see Triglav, Slovenia’s highest mountain. To enjoy the best view, it’s worth walking all the way to the last hut in the pasture, the one that’s raised a bit. From there, you can see a row of alpine pasture huts and the mountains in the background. The starting point is at the end of the road in Rudno polje in Pokljuka. The trail then continues on flat terrain, but then climbs a bit towards the Zajamniki pasture. The hike to Zajamniki takes approximately an hour and a half at an average pace.
The Lovrenc Lakes are located in Pohorje, in north-eastern Slovenia. The lakes are even more special than the view. That’s because they’re situated on top of a flattened hill, which is quite an unusual phenomenon. A thick layer of peat soil prevents the water to permeate into the lower layers, and the flat hilltop also adds to the water retention. All this helped in the formation of the Lovrenc Lakes, which are surrounded by mugo pines. In recent years, a footpath was laid down winding between the lakes, making the experience all the more interesting. The starting point for the Lovrenc Lakes is Rogla. From there onwards, it’s about an hour of an easy hike to our destination.
The Orglice Waterfall can be found in the Kamniška Bistrica valley. It’s an approximately 40 metres high waterfall in the middle of a forest underneath the Kamnik Alps. The waterfall is best viewed after rainfall when it’s most voluminous. The hike to the waterfall is an easy one and mostly flat, though you’ll have to cross a stream a few times, but it makes the hike a bit more interesting. It’ll take you about 45 minutes in one direction.
The beautiful Velika planina rises above Kamnik and offers a view of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps to the north and the Ljubljana basin to the south. Velika planina is also dotted with typical alpine pasture huts, and each one is more beautiful than the next. Many of them offer treats, such as soured milk or štruklji, a dish composed of rolls of dough and various types of filling. In spring, you’ll be welcomed by countless purple spring crocus that have become quite an Instagram attraction in the last few years. You can get to Velika planina by cable car from Kamniška Bistrica or by driving up to Kranjski rak and then hike for about an hour until you get to the top.
Bled is regarded as Slovenia’s gem. The church sitting atop the small island in the middle of the lake is an idyllic scene everyone would want to marvel at and catch on camera. There are lots of viewing points in the surroundings, but one I would like to point out is Ojstrica. It’s a 611-metre-high hill located on the western side of Lake Bled. The hike is steep, but relatively easy. You can reach the top in about half an hour. And when at the top... At the top, a wonderful view of the lake, the island with the church, the Bled Castle, and the Karawanks in the background, opens up.
Vršič is the highest mountain pass in Slovenia and a place where the road takes you to the very heart of the Julian Alps. The drive to Vršič alone is something really unique; each hairpin bend offers a new view of the mountains, the face of the Heathen Maiden rock formation and the Prisojnik Window. Most people stop at the top of the mountain pass, look around a bit, take a photo and then continue onwards, to the other side. But to truly experience the beauty of the Julian Alps and without making too much of a sweat, to boot, I recommend hiking up to Mt. Vršič. It’s 1,737 metres above sea level. The hike from Tičarjev dom to the Vršič mountain pass will take about an hour; the hike is easy and well-marked. You can also pass by a bunker from World War I.
Sv. Vid or Šentvid is a hill above Brežice in Posavje, in south-eastern Slovenia. There’s a small church sitting on top with a wishing bell. There’s a wonderful view of Brežice, the confluence of the Sava and Krka rivers, the Posavje plain and the Styrian hills from the church, and you can even see the Alps in the distance on a nice and clear day. The starting point for Sv. Vid is the village of Žejno, and from there the moderate hike takes about half an hour to reach the top.
Snežnik is a mountain in southern Slovenia. With its altitude of 1,796 metres, it’s the tallest (and the only) mountain in the surroundings, which makes its peak extremely scenic. On a clear day, you can see the entire Slovenian Alps, from Pohorje in the east to the Julian Alps in the west. And that’s not all, you can even see further, all the way to the Dolomites in Italy. In the south, there’s the Adriatic Sea, Istria, the island of Krk, and even the island of Cres. Simply stunning! The starting point is the village of Sviščaki. If you use the forest road and drive all the way to the last car park, then the hike will take you only about an hour to the top of Snežnik.
The Otlica Window is a natural rock bridge located above Ajdovščina, at the edge of the Trnovo Forest Plateau. You can see the Vipava valley and watch the sunset through the Window. The starting point is the village of Otlica, and then it’s just about a 20-minute hike. The hike to the Otlica Window is very easy, as there’s also a descent before you reach your destination.
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