Julian Alps in Slovenia: All Information About It
Looking for active holidays? Go on a hiking tour around the Julian Alps in Slovenia. By reading this article you will get the best information about the area.
Most of the Julian Alps in Slovenia, named after Gaius Julius Caesar, are protected by the Triglav National Park. In general, they are divided into the eastern, Slovenian and western mountain range in Italy. The area is rich in natural beauty and breathtaking wonders. Wild jagged rocky landscapes with unusual karst shapes on the surface alternate with grassy slopes full of flowers that often reach the highest peaks and the mighty two-thousand-meter mountains.
The crystal-clear rivers, which have carved many picturesque gorges, run through the alpine valleys. Beautiful mountain lakes and romantic waterfalls invite you to visit. In some places, old cultural landscapes with mountain homesteads and pastures have been preserved until this day. Get to know the wonderful world of the Julian Alps in Slovenia!
Julian Alps map and geographic position
The Slovenian Alps are located in the northwestern part of the country, covering around 4440 square kilometers of surface. In the north, the two-thousand-meter-high mountains rise from the alpine valleys with majestic cliffs on both sides.
The southeastern part of the mountains ends with extensive plateaus that are mostly over 1000 meters high. The mountain plateaus rise near the border with Italy and Mt. Kanin and extend towards the plateaus, such as Mežakla, Pokljuka, and Jelovica.
On the southern side, the Julian Alps in Slovenia border with the Lower Soča River Valley and the Bača River Valley. Among the alpine valleys, which notch in the mountains, stand out:
- Upper Soča River Valley with Trenta and Koritnica Valley
- Bohinj mountain basin with a glacial lake
- The riverbed of the Upper Sava River Valley
Waters of the Julian Alps in Slovenia
Some high mountain and valley lakes that were formed in the tectonic glacial basins have been preserved in this area. These lakes are:
- Seven Triglav Lakes: hiking in Seven Triglav Lakes Valley is a wonderful guided tour where you will discover all the lakes, one by one
- Lake Krn
- The Kriška jezera Lakes
- Lake Bled
- Lake Bohinj
Sava and Soča River, with their stunning emerald green color, spring in the eastern part of the Slovenian Alps. Numerous streams flow through the rocky walls and create beautiful waterfalls such as the Boka Waterfall and the famous Savica Waterfall.
The kingdom of the Goldhorn
According to folk tradition, Goldhorn, a white ibex with golden horns, once reigned in the mountains above the Soča River. If you look at the Julian Alps map, you can find vast plateaus of Komna and Bogatin on the west side of Lake Bohinj.
Legendary Goldhorn once lived here and guarded mountain gardens and treasure on Mt. Bogatin. This important fairy tale character is the symbol of the Triglav National Park. Today, alpine ibexes live in this high mountain range, on steep terrain.
Julius Kugiy – patron of the Julian Alps in Slovenia
Julius Kugiy was a big mountain lover and avid mountaineer all his life. Already in 1875, he stood on the mighty Mt. Triglav for the first time. In his book, he described 50 new trails which he discovered while hiking in the Julian Alps in Slovenia. He made a significant contribution to the beginnings of the mountaineering, so people put up his monument on the first hairpin turn that leads to Vršič mountain pass.
The most beautiful mountains and places in Slovenian Alps
There are many things to see and experience in the Julian Alps in Slovenia. That’s why we present the most beautiful places and mountains in the area so you can get some ideas for hiking and exploring the wonderful high mountain world.
The Triglav group of mountains
The Triglav group of mountains is located in the eastern side of the Julian Alps in Slovenia. The group represents the highest mountain range, with many summits exceeding 2500 meters.
- Triglav (2864 m): the highest mountain in Slovenia, and also a symbol of the Slovenian nation. At the very top stands the famous Aljaž Tower. There are several hiking trails from different alpine valleys that lead to the mountain. If you are in top condition and would like to experience an unforgettable hike to the highest mountain of the Julian Alps in Slovenia, book a climbing Triglav in one day tour and join us on an amazing adventure.
- Triglav Glacier: on the northeast slope of Mount Triglav
- The Triglav north wall is 3 kilometers wide and 1 kilometer high. It is the most dominant wall in the Slovenian Alps. To the north and west, The Wall becomes steeper, in some areas, even overhanging and then descends towards the Vrata, Luknja and Zadnjica Valley. There are as many as 100 climbing routes in the Triglav north face. If you are a beginner or skilled climber, join us on an exciting adventure with professional IFMGA climbers and take a guided tour in The Wall, such as the multi-pitch Slovenian Route and multi-pitch German Route.
- Pokljuka plateau: although the steep rocky slopes prevail in the Julian Alps in Slovenia, there is also a gradual side of the mountain range, Pokljuka, which is overgrown with giant spruce forests. It is almost 20 kilometers long plateau with an average height of 1300 meters, extending west from Bled towards Mount Triglav. You can also experience the plateau by bike, so we invite you to join us on an active mountain biking Pokljuka tour
The Krn group of mountains
The Krn group of mountains is located above the Soča River Valley and is attached to the Bohinj mountain range in the east. The highest summit in this group is Krn with its 2245 meters above sea level. Mt. Krn offers lovely views of the valley. The most beautiful ascent to the peak leads from the northwest side and past Lake Krn.
Kanin mountain chain
The Kanin group of mountains is positioned on the eastern side of the western Julian Alps in Slovenia. The highest peak is Mount Kanin with its altitude of 2587 meters. There are many karstic phenomena in this mountain chain, such as caverns and abysses, which are more than 1000 meters deep. Due to the proximity of the Adriatic sea, the Kanin mountain range has the highest annual precipitation in the country, which also reflects in the thickness of the snow blanket, which often exceeds 7 meters.
Waters from the Kanin mountain range flow towards the alpine valley near Bovec. Alpine brooks also give water to the famous Boka Waterfall. In the Julian Alps in April and May, the snow is melting from the peaks, and the waters run into the Soča River in substantial masses and create bigger rapids. A section of the river near Bovec represents an excellent opportunity for taking a Soča River rafting tour that is filled with adrenaline in spring months.
Western mountain range with Mt. Jalovec and Mt. Mangart
The western part of the Julian Alps in Slovenia rises above glacial valleys such as the Tamar and Trenta Valley. To the east, the mountain range borders with Mount Razor and Mount Prisojnik and in the south with the Kanin group of mountains. In the north, it is bounded by the Upper Sava River Valley. The highest mountains in this group are:
- Mangart (2678 m): the northern slopes are technically more demanding, the access from the south side is slightly easier
- Jalovec (2645 m): an upright rocky cone with a peak pyramid stands above Planica Valley. It is accessible from Trenta Valley.
The Bohinj group of mountains
The Bohinj mountain ridge is located south of Lake Bohinj, where it extends from east to west. The highest peak is Velika Špičje with its 2398 meters of height, located in the northwestern side of the Bohinj mountain ridge, between Mt. Travnik and Zasavska mountain cottage.
Information’s for hikers and mountaineers
Evaluating the difficulty level of a mountain trail or via ferrata is more or less based on individual assessment. The difficulty level of a particular via ferrata or a hiking trail can be increased by:
- damaged or plucked out safety devices, which is quite common in crumbly rocks
- wetness
- snowfields
- remaining landslips in gutters
If you look at the Julian Alps map you will see that the hiking tours are marked and divided into groups, according to different difficulty levels:
- Gently sloping hiking paths with a maximum ascent of 700 meters
- Hiking tours in the high mountain world
- Climbing routes and via ferratas that require better fitness and some climbing skills
Weather conditions – hiking tours in the summer
In the summer, the Julian Alps in Slovenia are enjoyable for taking hiking tours, as the days are longer and warmer. Experienced mountaineers say, that in the summer the weather can quickly change, as the clouds and storms can appear in a very short time.
Therefore, mountain climbs in the Julian Alps in September represent the best time for hiking tours, since it is still warm enough, but at the same time the weather calms down and does not bring unpredictable storms and quick weather changes.
Wonderful mountain world in wintertime
The Julian Alps in winter are covered with a thick snow blanket that gives the mountain world an extra charm. If you would like to experience the winter wonderland in unspoiled nature, book a guided winter hiking tour, which starts at Pokljuka plateau and continues towards the viewpoints, which give the most beautiful views of the snowy alpine valleys and peaks of the highest mountains.
If you go alone on a winter hiking tour in the Julian Alps in Slovenia, there are certain factors to consider, such as low temperatures, shorter days, the chances of slipping, and the danger of launching avalanches. All this must be taken into account when selecting routes and destinations, when preparing for the hiking tour, and when selecting suitable winter equipment.
Where to stay the night in the Julian Alps in Slovenia?
In the Julian Alps in Slovenia, located in the heart of the protected Triglav National Park, camping in tents is prohibited (not in camps), because of your safety and because of the natural heritage preservation. At higher altitudes, under summits and on mountain plateaus, you can stay the night in mountain cottages.
In the valleys and on the mountain range outskirts, you can book a room in the Julian Alps hotel or find accommodation in many private rooms and apartments in Julian Alps. The alpine valleys are an excellent starting point for taking hiking tours.
Hotels and apartments in Julian Alps
In the Julian Alps in Slovenia you can find private accommodation mostly in locations such as:
- There are some tourist farms and private apartments in Julian Alps that are located in the valleys in the western part of the mountains, below Mt. Mangart. There are more accommodations in Bovec village and the Upper Soča River Valley.
- Upper Trenta Valley: accommodations and apartments in Julian Alps, which are closest to the two-thousand-meter mountains, such as Mt. Triglav, Razor and Mt. Prisojnik
- Kranjska Gora, Mojstrana and Martuljek: here you can book the more prestigious Julian Alps hotel, as these towns on the north side of the mountains are also ski resorts
- Bohinj area with villages such as Ribčev Laz, Ukanc, Stara Fužina, and Bohinjska Bistrica. A variety of accommodations such as tourist farms, private rooms, and hostels are available here. Here, you can also find the Julian Alps hotel. There are two campsites in the area, such as Camp Danica and Camp Zlatorog.
High mountain cottages with rooms and food
Most mountain cottages in the Julian Alps in Slovenia have kept an authentic atmosphere from the olden days. In the huts, they serve Slovenian traditional foods and drinks. On weekends, the most popular cottages, especially the mountain cabin near the Triglav Lakes and the cottages around Mt. Triglav, are occupied and full. In some cases, a reservation is required to ensure that you will have a bed for the night.
The mountain cottages close their doors over the winter. Cabins under the summits and those at high altitudes are only open in the summer. Cottages at lower heights are open in the summer and also on weekends during the winter months. Opening hours and other Informations about mountain huts and bivouacs can be found on this website, which also displays the Julian Alps map with all the cottages.
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Thank you all for the great reviews!
Aleksandra (our guide) provided an excellent day out with lots of beautiful sightseeing and lovely hikes! It was a full jam packed day (10 hours) which had enough breaks with a lovely spot for lunch. We loved it so much that we are going to go on another tour with Alpine Activities!
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