Triglav National park
Slovenia’s Triglav National Park has so much to offer that you will never be bored. In April 2025, we spent 10 days in the area. We chose to stay a couple of nights in three different places in the park so that we could go in different directions. The first days we stayed in Trenta, after this we went to Bohinj and we ended in Tolmin.
Read about our highlights below!
So far you can read below about:
Trenta:
Soca river – Slap Boka – Zadnjica Valley – The Vrsic Pass – Velika Gorge
Bohinj:
Lake Bohinj – Vogel Cable Car – Slap Savica – Lake Bled – Bled castle – Mostnica Gorge – Skofja Loka
Tolmin Area:
Car train Bohinjska – Most na Soci – Tolmin Gorge – Javorca – Most na Soci – Slap Beri – Idrija & Divje Jezero
You can have endless fun in this national park. We do recommend (if at all possible) not going in high season. In summer 2023, for example, we went to Ljubljana from Austria for a day and on the way back we thought we would make a stop in Bled. This was impossible. It was so crowded, there were no parking places, it was horrible. We turned and skipped Bled that day. Now in April, it was a completely different experience and well worth a visit.
Trenta area
The surroundings of Trenta are truly beautiful. We found this part of the Triglav National Park the most impressive. It seemed as if man has not yet had much influence on nature here. It was peaceful, there is untouched nature, there are waterfalls, forests, you name it.
Soca river
If you go to Triglav National Park, you can’t miss a beautiful hike along the Soca River. On our first day in Slovenia, we took a lovely walk by the river. The views of the clear, turquoise-blue water are stunning. It looks just as beautiful in real life as it does in the photos online! Click here for Komoot link: Soca trail.
Slap Boka
Not far from Trenta, you’ll find the Boka Falls. This beautiful waterfall can already be seen from the road. We wanted to go on a hike, but due to the rainfall, it was too difficult for us to complete the walk with our dog. It was too slippery and dangerous to climb up with Shampoo.
We think it will definitely be a beautiful hike on a dry day and if you’re an experienced hiker. Here’s the link to the Komoot trail we intended to do: Slap Boka.
We decided to cut the hike short and only walk to a viewpoint. Afterwards, we went down to the river, where Shampoo could enjoy a refreshing splash in the water.
Zadnjica Valley
Another beautiful place near Trenta is the Zadnjica Valley. You can take a lovely walk along the river, passing through forests that are stunningly covered in moss. Your four-legged friend can have fun in the water at several spots!
The Vrsic Pass
We enjoy driving beautiful routes, and one that is definitely worth it is the Vršič Pass. This is the highest mountain pass in Slovenia and runs from Trenta to Kranjska Gora. There are a total of 50 hairpin bends along the way. The second part of the road, from the highest point down to Kranjska Gora, is less well maintained than the first part, so keep that in mind. You’ll be treated to stunning views of the mountains. When we were there, there was still snow in the mountains—Shampoo had the time of his life! Between the highest point of the pass and Kranjska Gora, you can also visit a Russian Chapel. It’s beautifully located between the mountains and trees.
The ski village of Kranjska Gora is also a nice place to grab a bite to eat. We drove the route in the late afternoon and had dinner in the village. On the way back, we watched the sun disappear behind the mountains!
The next day, we wanted to do a mountain hike starting from the highest point of the pass, but unfortunately the trails were still difficult to walk due to the amount of snow that was still there. So make sure to check this before planning a hike!
Velika Gorge
Our first gorge in Slovenia was the Velika Korita Gorge. You can view the gorge from above. The trail itself isn’t entirely safe in all places, so we only walked a small part along the edge. There are no railings, which on the one hand keeps the area very natural, but on the other hand makes it unsafe to walk there with a dog. From above, you can see the water rushing through the gorge at great speed. Beautiful and definitely worth a visit!
Bohinj area
After exploring the area around Trenta, we drove to Bohinj. There’s plenty to do and see in this region as well. Read more below!
Lake Bohinj
Lake Bohinj is a stunning lake surrounded by mountains. We saw the lake on different days and at different times of the day, in various weather conditions. Each time, it looked completely different. Although Lake Bled wasn’t very crowded either, Lake Bohinj is even more peaceful. While it may not have a church on an island in the middle, it certainly doesn’t fall short compared to Lake Bled. You can take a lovely walk along the lake, cross it by boat, or just relax by the water. It’s definitely worth a visit and if you get the chance, make sure to visit the lake on a clear day at sunset!
Vogel Cable Car
Just a few minutes from Lake Bohinj, you’ll find the Vogel Cable Car. This cable car takes you and your dog up to the Vogel Ski Station at 1,535 meters. From there, you have a stunning view of Lake Bohinj. When we were there, there was still a lot of snow, which made hiking a bit tricky, but we were still able to explore the area a little. Dogs are allowed in the cable car, but they must wear a muzzle.
Slap Savica
Once you’re back down after taking the cable car, it’s worth driving about seven more minutes to Slap Savica. Once parked, you can first enjoy a drink or meal at one of the two restaurants near the parking lot. After that, it takes about 20 minutes to walk up to the waterfall, where you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful view of the falls, which are again a stunning green/turquoise color. Keep in mind that there are quite a few stairs to go up (and back down). We had to carry our dog Shampoo at a few points.
Lake Bled
A visit to Lake Bled is, of course, a must when you’re in the Bohinj area. As mentioned earlier, during the summer of 2023, it was extremely busy at the lake. Fortunately, that was absolutely not the case in April. There was plenty of parking space, and during our hike to the viewpoint, we didn’t encounter anyone.
We started with a walk along the lake, which already offers a beautiful view of the island and the castle. However, the hike uphill gives an even more impressive view of the stunning lake. The walk is quite tough, but you’re rewarded with a breathtaking panorama. Keep in mind that the final part to the viewpoint involves a very steep and long staircase. This staircase is, in my opinion, impossible for most dogs to climb. Luckily, my husband was strong enough to carry Shampoo up, but even for him it was quite a challenge. In the end, we made it, and the view was phenomenal.
You can also do the hike to the viewpoint from the other side and walk back the same way. This way, you can avoid the stairs. However, that route isn’t as scenic, because you won’t have a view of the lake. When you hike up from the lakeside, you can keep looking back at the lake, which is truly spectacular. Click here for the link to the hike: viewpoint Lake Bled.
Bled castle
Another way to enjoy a beautiful view of Lake Bled is by visiting Bled Castle. Dogs are allowed in the outdoor areas but are not permitted inside the buildings. We didn’t find the interior particularly worthwhile anyway, but the view from the top over the lake is absolutely stunning.
Vintgar Gorge vs. Mostnica Gorge
We had bought tickets for the Vintgar Gorge on Sunday, but when we arrived at the parking lot, there were crowds of people waiting to take the bus to the gorge. We didn’t feel like visiting the gorge with so many others, so we turned around.
We searched on Google and found the Mostnica Gorge — a lesser-known alternative. While the Vintgar Gorge is surely beautiful, the Mostnica Gorge is also well worth a visit and not touristy at all. The entrance fee is just a few euros, and you’ll practically have the park to yourself. The hike is very manageable, and once you exit the gorge, you can enjoy a delicious Slovenian meal at Koca na Vojah.
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Skofja loka
A lovely place about an hour from Bohinj is Škofja Loka. The village lies along a river, and from the Škofja Loka Castle you have a nice view over the town. What’s great is that dogs are allowed in the castle museum. The museum itself isn’t particularly exciting, but we’re always fans of any museum that welcomes dogs. There was a small exhibit of taxidermy animals, which was fun for Shampoo to look at!
Tolmin area
After our adventures in the Bohinj area, we continued our journey to the Tolmin area. Read below about the unique way we arrived there!
Car train Bohinjska Bistrica - Most na soci
By chance, we discovered that there is a car train from Bohinjska Bistrica to Most na Soči. It not only saves time, but it’s also a unique experience! You can’t buy tickets in advance, so make sure to arrive early. We left on a Monday at 9:10 AM and got there at 8:30 AM, which made us the third car in line. A conductor will come to your car to sell you a ticket. Once it’s full, it’s full. I think only two or three more cars could have fit after us, so space is limited. The train runs four times a day. Check the website for the current schedule: timetable.
It’s quite special to travel through the country while sitting in your car on a train. Not long after departure, you enter a tunnel and all you can see are the headlights of the train. After some time, you emerge from the tunnel and see the stunning landscape again. Tunnels and scenic views alternate, and eventually you arrive in Most na Soči, in the Tolmin area.
Tolmin Gorge
If you have to choose which gorge to visit in Triglav National Park, we would definitely recommend the Tolmin Gorge. The entire loop takes about an hour to walk. There is a small parking area near the entrance of the gorge, and a larger one a bit further away. We were lucky that it was very quiet, so we could park close by. The gorge is stunning!
Note: there are quite a few stairs here as well, so we had to carry Shampoo quite a bit. The trail through the gorge is very safe to walk (unlike the trail at the Velika Gorge). You have to pay about 6 euros per person and is it not as touristic as the Vintgar Gorge.
Javorca Memorial church of the holy spirit
After walking through the Tolmin Gorge, we drove a beautiful but also challenging route to Javorca. At first, the road was nicely paved, but eventually, the asphalt ended and it turned into a gravel path. In some parts, there are no guardrails, and the roads are quite narrow—so you just have to hope no one is coming from the other direction. Despite this, the surroundings are incredibly peaceful and serene. Once you reach the end of the road, there’s a parking area, and from there it’s about a 20-minute walk to the chapel. The chapel is a memorial to the victims of World War I.
Most na Soci
This stunning lake cannot be ignored. Your dog should definitely take a dip in the beautiful turquoise water. Around the lake, you can rent canoes. Unfortunately, when we were there, the rental service was closed, so we’re not sure whether dogs are allowed on the canoes.
Slap Beri
If you haven’t had enough of all the beautiful waterfalls in Triglav National Park, it’s worth visiting Slap Beri. This non-touristy waterfall is about 40 meters high. The walk to get there involves some climbing here and there, but it’s manageable even for beginners. In the end, you’re rewarded with a stunning view of the waterfall as the water crashes down with great force.
Idrija & Divje Jezero
We saw that the village of Idrija is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and decided to make the 45-minute drive there. The road follows the beautiful Idrija River the whole way, which alone makes the trip worthwhile.
The village itself didn’t impress us much. There is a “castle” which is nice on the outside, but it isn’t really a castle. The castle is actually a museum where unfortunately dogs are not allowed.
There is also a mine museum. Online it said that dogs were welcome at Anthony’s Shaft Mine Museum, but when we arrived, we were told that this was not the case. So in our opinion, this village can easily be skipped — there are plenty of other beautiful places to visit.
Divje Jezero is just a few minutes’ drive from Idrija and is definitely worth a stop. It’s known as the first natural museum in Slovenia. From the parking area, it’s just a short walk to the lake. The water is a beautiful color and the area is very peaceful. You’re not allowed to enter the water because a unique species lives in it.
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