Hiking Slovenia – 13 best hikes

Often people resort to finding the most beautiful, the best, the highest… not only in hiking but also differently in life. In this blog, I will introduce you to 13 really beautiful hiking spots that you will be happy to visit again.

The title of best hiking trail in Slovenia is very subjective and each peak or trail point offers us thousands of different faces that are different depending on the season, weather conditions, the company we go therewith, our mood… But still, some points in our hills, give us something more nonetheless than some others. And in today’s article, I will introduce you to my 13 hiking points, which I am always drawn to.

Let’s take a look at these 13 wonderful hiking spots in Slovenia.

1. Porezen
2. Kum
3. Uršlja gora
4. Menina planina
5. Velika planina
6. Okrešelj
7. Planina Krstenica
8. Mrzla Komna
9. Velo polje
10. Matajur
11. Kriška gora
12. Slemenova špica
13. Ratitovec

If you are looking for hikes to the highlands, I suggest you read the articles with the titles Most beautiful mountains in Slovenia, 6 most beautiful viewing peaks in Slovenia, The most visited mountains in Slovenia – 10 easy ideas, Špik, Škrlatica – 2 highest pick in Slovenia, Mangart – 3th highest pick in Slovenia, Hiking Triglav and Two-day trip to the mountains – 2 beautiful circular tours.

1. Porezen

According to the title of the article, let’s start with the peak, which is the highest peak in the hills to which it belongs. Porezen rises steeply above Cerkno and Baška grapa and is, as has been said, the highest peak in the Cerkno hills. If we combine this hill with Škofja Loka hills, it is surpassed in height only by the Ratitovec described below.

Porezen is one of the most beautiful scenic peaks in our highlands. Even before the summit, beautiful views of all sides of the sky begin to open up to us, and at the top we have the whole of northern, central and western Slovenia in the palm of our hand. The view towards the chain of southern Bohinj mountains is probably the most beautiful from Porezen, followed by Triglav with its group of peaks. Slightly to the east we can see Ratitovec, then Blegoš, behind them the Karavanke Alps, and a little further east the Kamnik Alps and the Ljubljana Basin. In the south, Snežnik rises the most, followed by Nanos, Golaki, the entire Trnovo forest, and in the west we see Kanin and many lower peaks in the vicinity of Tolmin, Kobarid and Bovec.

You can read more about the history of Porezen, the paths to it and everything else in the article entitled Where to go to the hills for the weekend.

2. Kum

Kum also falls into the same category as Porezen, as Kum is also the highest peak of its hills. With its height, it reigns in the Posavje hills. Like Porezen, Kum is a beautiful viewing peak, with the difference that, in contrast to the highest peaks in the Cerkno hills, Kum is practically overgrown with forest up to a few 10 meters below the peak. So we will enjoy the views practically only from the top.

Considering that Kum is located very close to GEOS, the central point of Slovenia, we are offered views of all parts of our beautiful country. Particularly interesting are the perspectives from which we see the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, and the eastern part of the Karavanke, Snežnik is also at the other end, as we are used to when looking from the Alps.

You can read more about “Posavje’s Triglav” in the article entitled Easy mountain trails and Where to go to the hills with children?

3. Uršlja gora

Uršlja gora is probably the most popular mountain in the Koroška part of Slovenia. At the same time, it is also the most recognizable of them next to Peca. However, it is also true that apart from Peca and Uršlja gora, Koroška has no serious choice at all.

But regardless of that, Uršlja gora is one of the peaks that offers us many beauties. Unspoiled nature, beautiful forests, fairytale meadows at the top, and incredible views. If you are lucky enough to choose the day and the weather, you will really be able to enjoy Uršlja gora.

The top can be “attacked” from many directions, and all paths are easy and also well marked and well-trodden.

You can read more about the ascent to Uršlja gora and some more details about this beautiful peak in the article entitled Easy mountain trails.

4. Menina planina

If we want to find something that is supposed to be at Menina planina, it is probably its surface. It is one of the largest plateaus in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. In addition, Menina planina is also one of the most beautiful trail points you can choose from. Especially if you are looking for easy mountain trails that are suitable for practically everyone.

The highest peak of Menina planina Vivodnik is 1560 meters high and on it the members of the mountaineering association Gornji grad built a small view tower, which is just right high to give us beautiful views through the surrounding trees.

In my experience, the hut on Menina planina is also one of the most hospitable huts in our mountains. Not that they wouldn’t be kind and helpful elsewhere, but here their good will and openness impressed me even more.

You can read more about the various routes along Menina planina and its beauties, history, and of course the approaches in the articles entitled Menina planina – Paradise in KSA and Hribi in the Osrednjeslovenska region.

5. Velika planina

Velika planina is one of the pearls of Slovenian tourism. All those who contribute to the recognition of this plateau above Kamnik deserve special praise. Every Slovene probably knows Velika planina. Of course, I’m not saying everyone has been on it before, but they’ve certainly heard of it before. If we compare this with Menina planina, which in my opinion is in some respects even more beautiful plateau, but it is still not known to many Slovenes outside its immediate surroundings.

On Velika planina there used to be a popular ski resort, but unfortunately, it has not been in operation for several years. However, some facilities that were built for the purpose of the ski resort are still in regular use. Especially the cable car to Velka planina is a very popular means of transport to and from the mountain. Next to it, a huge number of people help themselves with their cars to climb to the top of the plateau and park them only in the highest parking lots. The third way to access the mountain is hiking and biking trails. These start deep in the valleys that surround this mountain pearl.

Velika planina offers us many opportunities for active leisure, and those who become hungry and thirsty are also very well taken care of up there.

You can read more about the ascent to Velika planina in the article entitled Where to go to the mountains with children.

6. Okrešelj

From the outskirts of KSA, we will move to the very heart of this second highest mountain group in our country. Okrešelj lies above the end of one of the most beautiful Slovenian Alpine valleys, Logarska dolina. Two huts have been set up in Okrešelj, the mountain lodge in Okrešelj is still under construction in 2022, as it burned to the ground a few years ago, and the other is a hut owned by the mountain rescuers. Both lie only about 20 minutes walk above the spring of the longest Slovenian river, which begins and ends in Slovenia. Of course it’s Savinja.

The path to Okrešelj is relatively very easy, but you still need to be careful, especially in wet conditions that are not ideal. You should be especially careful, especially those people who are not used to walking on mountain trails, and those who already have tired legs… Despite the fact that the path is easy, we are often just a step away from a potentially serious accident in the mountains, so caution is never superfluous.

Okrešelj is a great starting point for many of the most popular peaks in KSA. It is extremely popular in all seasons, in winter it is besieged by many touring skiers and snow-hungry mountaineers, and in summer by domestic and foreign mountaineers, mountain runners and families.

You can read more about Logarska dolina and one of the winter ascents to Okrešelj in the blog entitled Trip to the Kamnik-Savinja Alps.

 7. Planina Krstenica

Krstenica mountain is one of the highest mountains in the Bohinj Mountains. In addition, it is also one of the most beautiful and most populated mountains of all. There is an active cheese factory and dairy on the mountain in summer, so if you are a fan of this type of food, then you can afford completely natural, organic what other labels you could add to this sour milk, cottage cheese, cheese…

In my opinion, this is also the mountain with the most beautiful view of all Bohinj mountains. From the mountain we have a beautiful view of Pokljuka, Staro fužino to Oskovnica, Tosc, Ablanca, the lower Bohinj mountains, and on the other side we see the peaks of Stog and some other peaks nearby.

Unlike all other destinations that we have covered today, only one mountain trail leads to the Krstenica mountain pasture, of course, if you choose a mountain pasture as your destination. If you want to visit this beautiful plain, you will have to drive to Stara Fužina, leave your car there and head towards the mountain Blato, but you can drive to Blato and save about 2 hours of walking. The path to Krstenica is easy and paved, but due to recent forestry work, care must still be taken not to go from the path.

Krstenica mountain is an excellent starting point for a hike to Velo polje and Vodnik hut, and for a circular route through Stog to the mountain Laz and back towards the mountain Blato. It is also very suitable if you want to make a beautiful circular path through the surrounding mountains (Blato, Krstenica, Laz, Planina pri jezeru, Blato).

8. Mrzla Komna

We will also stay in the valley of Lake Bohinj for the next trip, as we will go to one of the most popular high mountain plateaus in Slovenia, Komna. Komna rises to the west above our largest permanent lake, and a very beautiful old military path leads to it.

The starting point for the “jump” to Komna is the parking lot under the Savica waterfall, where one of the branches of our largest river Sava originates. You can read more about the trip to Komna in the blog entitled Mountains in Winter.

Mrzla Komna is less than an hour’s walk from the Komna hut (which is, by the way, the only high-altitude hut in Slovenia that is open all year round). From the hut on Komna, we must first head towards the mountain in Kraj, where the hut below Bogatin stands. Planina na Kraju is another part of our Alps that I love the most! The extraordinary, true fairytale beauty of this mountain always overwhelms me!

When you go around the hut in a slight arc, turn right from the main mule track, which takes us towards Bogatinsko sedlo and Krn Lake, towards Vratca, Kal, Lepa Komna. At first, a relatively steep ascent to the saddle (Vratca) awaits us, but there the path lays and opens a view towards the valley of Lepa Komna. We follow the marked path and after about 15 minutes of further walking we will reach the point Mrzla Komna, the coldest point in Slovenia. There in 2009 they measured an incredible -49 ° C !!!

The point lies a few meters out of the way, so when you walk, pay attention to the sign and some sort of stick that marks this freezing point.

If you want to continue walking, you can walk to Lanževica (2003 meter high peak). First, climb to the saddle (about 45 minutes walk), where the path branches off to the right to Lanževica (about 20 minutes walk). Then you will have to return to the saddle and then continue in a circular path towards the Bogatin saddle and back towards the hut below Bogatin. The path is really nice, there are no big slopes, but it is relatively long, so overestimate whether you are able to walk about 2 and a half hours to the hut below Bogatin and then a good hour and a half back to the valley.

 9. Velo polje

Velo polje is one of the most magical corners in our Alps. The 2nd man of Jugostavia, Edvard Kardelj, already knew this, and he often spent his free time on the weekend, which is just a stone’s throw away from Velo polje. Kardelj’s weekend still stands today and is still in pretty good condition on the outside.

Velo polje is a large plain overgrown with meadows and serves as a mountain. It is surrounded by truly magnificent peaks, as it lies below Triglav, Mišelj vrh, Vernar and Tosc. In the west, Velo polje narrows into the Velo valley, from where huge torrents come from below Kanjevec during heavy rains. In the South, Velo polje continues into the mountain below Mišelj vrh. At the other end of Velo polje there is also a lake, which is more like a swamp full of cow sewage during the grazing season, but in autumn and spring the lake looks very nice and clean.

Velo polje is most easily accessible from Pokljuka (the end of the road on Pokljuka), along the path to Triglav, and about 20 minutes before Vodni hut we turn left from the main path towards Velo polje. The whole journey is easy, but relatively long. The field lies at an altitude of just under 1,700 meters and is full of life. Not only cows reign on it, but they coexist with many marmots, which run up and down the field in a nice way, sunbathing and making characteristic whistling sounds.

Velo polje is also included in the Bohinj Cheese Trail with a cheese factory that is active during the grazing season. So, if you are interested in dairy products, you can also afford them on the mountain below Vodnik hut.

Visiting Velo polje is a wonderful experience throughout the summer season, but it may be the most beautiful at the end of September or the beginning of October, when many larch trees that surround the field turn yellow. At that time, the view from Vodnik hut to Mišelj vrh and Velo polje is simply unique.

10. Matajur

As I write this blog, it seems to me with every next title, uhhh this is a crazy destination! And even with Matajur, I thought about it. To the moment, when I am writting this blog, I was on Matajur only once, but I know I will be visiting it again next winter as it has completely enchanted me! Its history, geographical location, views, amount of snow, weather conditions… everything was practically perfect. At the top, I couldn’t quite decide whether the view towards the snowy slope of Krn was better, or towards the Gulf of Trieste, which seemed to be in the palm of my hand.

You can read more about Matajur, its history, views and trails in the article entitled Easy mountain trails.

11. Kriška gora

Kriška gora is an extremely popular peak on the edge of the Kamnik-Savinja Mountains. There are quite a few paths leading to the mountain, but the vast majority decide to start in the village of Gozd. On Kriška gora there is a hut, which is open practically all year round (out of season it is open on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and for holidays). The hut is one of the friendliest in our Alps and it is probably no coincidence that in 2020 this hut, after the vote of the mountaineers, was declared the best hut of the year.

The mountain is well visited throughout the year, and especially hikers besiege it in winter, as it is one of the few peaks where the hut is open. In addition, Kriška gora is also an exceptional vantage point, a springboard for parachutists, as well as a crossroads for the path to Storžič.

Read more about this beautiful mountain in the article entitled Kriška gora.

12. Slemenova špica

We are already at today’s penultimate proposal. Namely, we will jump to one of the most photographed parts of our Alps, especially in autumn, when larch trees turn yellow. Slemenova špica is the peak above the Tamar valley, from where we have one of the most beautiful views of Jalovec and the Ponce group.

Two marked paths lead us to Slemenova špica, one, longer and more difficult, starts in Planica and takes us to Tamar, and from there we ascend to Slemenova špica. The second, much less strenuous and also completely undemanding route is the one that starts at our highest pass. From where we can walk to the 1800 meter high Slemenova špica in about an hour and a half.

A special feature of Slemenova špica are also the mini lakes, which lie at the foot of the grassy slope that leads to the top of the peak.

You can read more about the trail and everything else in the blog entitled Hills 2 hours of walking.

13. Ratitovec

For the last peak, I saved probably the most popular peak in our midlands. Ratitovec is also our highest peak outside the Alps, with the exception of Snežnik. Ratitovec is a very interesting peak, well, it’s hard to call it a peak, as it has 4 peaks, which are arranged on a plateau peak.

In addition, Ratitovec is also an extremely beautiful viewing peak from which we have a beautiful view of all three of our mountain ranges, below us we have the entire Škofja Loka and Cerklje hills, and in front of them Polhogradec dolomites and below them the Ljubljana basin. Of course, it can also be seen as far as Kum, Snežnik, Golaki and all other higher peaks in the south.

On www.vnaravo.si page, I dedicated the entire article to Ratitovec, entitled The Easiest Way to Ratitovec. I invite you to read it and, above all, try the offered routes.

Thus, these are 13 fantastically beautiful destinations located somewhere between 1200 and 1900 meters above sea level. You will find articles with similar destinations in the middle mountains menu. I hope you take advantage of the upcoming beautiful days and jump into Nature!