Deep in the heart of Slovenia’s Triglav National Park, the scenic Vintgar Gorge trail hike is an exhilarating workout, and tantalizes your senses with beauty and serenity. When it comes to exploring this natural wonder, rushing through it just isn’t the way to go. We actually planned to make it a whole day’s journey, and let me tell you, we’re so glad we did! From our home base in Ljubljana, it’s about an hour drive north toward the Julian Alps over excellent highways. We exited A2/E61 near the Austrian border and journeyed on two-lane narrow mountain roads to Vintgar.
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It was a warm, sunny mid-morning Sunday in late May. Perfect weather! Others thought so, too, because when we arrived, the parking lots were packed. Avoid the weekends here, if you can. However, the busy pedestrian trail traffic did have an upside: It made us slow down and enjoy the views as a steady stream of hikers passed by. As you approach the trail entrance, you’ll hear the rushing waters of the Radovna River before you see it. Your adventure has begun.
The raging Radovna carved this gorge thousands of years ago, relentlessly flowing down from the mountains, slicing a deep circuitous path of clear turquoise water that creates numerous cascading waterfalls. The trail hugs the banks of the Radovna, as the gorge itself reaches impressive depths, dropping as low as 250 meters (820 feet) in certain areas. As you venture along its winding trails, towering cliffs surround you, creating a dramatic and awe-inspiring environment that showcases the raw power of nature.
An abundance of wildflowers is everywhere, including popping out from the nooks and crannies of the gorge’s limestone walls. The sights are magnificent. From the rich ferns and moss with varied hues of green, to the sun rays creating rainbow streaks bending across the mist of rushing water, and to a canopy of trees keeping you cool and protected from the summer heat, Vintgar Gorge is an invigorating and enchanting escape. The trail takes you close to the rushing water, but hand rails and fences keep you well protected.
Several footbridges cross the Radovna and are excellent venues to view and photograph the landscape from the middle of the rushing river. There’s even a wooden suspension bridge above the river that gently sways as you walk across it. Kind of a bonus thrill in your adventure.
At the end of the trail, you will find a refreshment stand, a souvenir shop, and restrooms. From there, you have the option of taking two footpaths back to the parking lots: the shorter red route, which takes approximately 75 minutes, or the longer green route, which takes about 85 minutes. The green route is slightly more strenuous as it involves hiking uphill, but it offers splendid views of the surrounding countryside. We opted for the green trail and were rewarded with breathtaking vistas of rolling green hills, charming farmhouses, and quaint villages.
Our extraordinary journey through Vintgar Gorge left us with a camera full of memories and gratitude for being able to experience this incredible gift from nature.
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