Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
The gorgeous Triglav National Park offers unparalleled hiking opportunities including the incredible 7 Lakes hike Slovenia. Do this as a day hike, or for an even better experience, spend the night in one of the Slovenian mountain huts. Travel into the heart of the Julian Alps and experience towering mountain peaks, crystal clear alpine lakes, and the warm Slovenian hut hospitability.
We did the Seven Lakes Valley Hike in the summer of 2022 and spent the night at one of the mountain huts: Koča Pri Triglavskih Jezerih. In this post you will find complete details of this hike as well as how to plan hut to hut hiking in Slovenia and what to know about hiking Triglav National Park.
This overnight hiking trip was one of the highlights of our month long European trip, and offers some of the best hiking in Slovenia.
Quick Look at the 7 Lakes Hike Slovenia
Distance: 11 Miles as a loop (+ 4 miles out and back up the valley) Elevation Gain: 3,500 feet (loop) Difficult: Moderate to Challenging The entire loop can be hiked in about 7 hours if you are doing this as a day loop.
Below you can find a quick description of the trail and directions. Scroll down to hear the full details of our hike.
This hike can be done in several ways – you can hike the loop as a day trip or make this hike an overnight by staying at one of the huts. We stayed at Koča Pri Triglavskih Jezerih but you can also stay at one of the lower huts or continue up the valley to stay at Zasavska koča na Prehodavcih.
You can also hike up into the 7 Lakes Valley as an out and back trail. This saves a small amount of time, but we always prefer hiking a loop if that is an option.
The easiest place to start this hike is from Planina Blato. This is the highest starting point and can be accessed by a toll road and is where we started the hike. Read more below about exactly how to get to this starting point and details on the hiking trail. You can also hike from the other side of Lake Bohinj via Koča pri Savici.
Starting from Planina Blato, you follow a wide trail/road uphill. This is the steepest and least interesting part of the hike. After about 1 hour of hiking, you will reach the first mountain hut: Koča na Planini pri Jezeru. This hut serves food and you can spend the night at this pretty hut with a view of the lake.
At this point, the trail breaks into a loop. The easiest route to the Triglav Lakes Valley is to stay right on the larger path to Planina Dedno Polje. You can also take the slightly more difficult trail via Planina Viševnik. This trail is smaller, more difficult and a tad longer. Both these routes take you to Koča pri Triglavskih Jezerih (Triglav Lakes Mountain Hut). Ideally you will hike up one trail and down the other trail.
We hiked up via Planina Dedno Polje. The trail eventually narrows and passes through several meadows and over a small pass before entering the 7 Lakes Valley. The trail descends through a small forested area then opens up into the valley. After just a short distance Dvojno jezero (or Double Lake) comes into view with the hut on the far side. These meadows are especially beautiful when the flowers are in bloom.
If you are hiking this as a day hike, many people finish their hike here, and you will turn around here and head back either the way you came, or via Planina Viševnik. The trail down Planina Visevnik is more challenging and can be difficult, especially when the trail is wet.
If you have time and energy, we strongly recommend hiking above Koča pri Triglavskih Jezerih. We hiked about 2 miles up into the valley each way. This hike is truly alpine and you are surrounded on both sides with gorgeous mountains and pass several lakes. Jezero Ledvicah (or Kidney Lake) is about 45 minutes above the hut and is breathtaking with sweeping views. Continue up the Triglav hiking trail to the end of the valley or the Slovenian hut – Zasavska koča na Prehodavcih.
Map of the 7 Valley Lakes Hike
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7 Lakes Valley (or Triglav Lakes Valley)
7 Lakes Valley is a beautiful Alpine Valley in Triglav National Park in Slovenia. The valley runs mostly south to north and ends at Triglav – the tallest mountain in the Slovenia and where the National Park gets it name. the 7 Lakes Valley is dotted with over 7 lakes ranging from small brown pond-like bodies of water, to gorgeous blue alpine lakes.
Here is a list of the main lakes in the 7 Lakes Valley:
- Jezero pod Vršacem or Jezero v Podstenju (Lake below Vršac)
- Mlaka v Laštah (Pond in Ledges)
- Rjavo jezero (Brown Lake)
- Zeleno jezero (Green Lake)
- Veliko jezero or Jezero v Ledvicah (Kidney Lake or Great Lake)
- Dvojno jezero (Double Lake)
- Črno jezero (Black Lake)
The 7 lakes Valley region is home to one of the best Triglav National Park hikes, and is truly stunning. We also think the 7 Lake Valley is a great hiking trail with kids.
The Slovenian Mountain Hut System
If you are planning on hut to hut hiking, Slovenia is a perfect place to explore – the mountains are beautiful and the huts are comfortable and affordable. Dotted throughout the mountains, these alpine huts serve delicious food to day hikers, and offer a variety of overnight accommodations. We found the Slovenian huts easy to book and one of the highlights of our time in Slovenia. While camping Triglav National Park is not allowed, the hut system is well thought out and comfortable.
Unlike many other hut systems in Europe, there are very few chair lifts in the area, meaning that you will need to do most of the work on foot.
Below are some things to know about planning a visit to a Slovenian Mountain Hut.
How do you Reserve a Spot in a Hut in Slovenia?
The Slovenian Mount huts are easy to book online through a reservation service. This is the same system used in several other European areas. To book a hut, simply visit the Slovenian Alpine hut website and follow the directions. It’s important to note that not every hut uses this system, so you may need to contact certain huts directly to reserve your spot.
How Long in Advance Should you Book a Stay in a Slovenian Hut?
You should plan to book your accommodations several weeks and up to 3 months in advance, especially during the busy summer weekends in the popular alpine huts. While it is possible to simply show up to a few of the less visited huts and get a room, it’s worth booking in advance, especially when hiking with a group.
How Much Does it Cost to Stay in a Slovenian Hut?
The cost to stay in a Slovenian Hut varies based on the hut, the type of room you prefer, and whether you are booking with a mountain club discount. It’s also possible to book your spot in a hut with full board (breakfast and dinner) or pay for your food separately. Below you can see a photo of the food menu in the hut during the summer of 2022.
What Type of Food is Served in the Slovenian Huts?
The hut food in Slovenia is generally warm, delicious, and simple. We had options for pasta, rice or soup for dinner, and it’s common to see thick stews and sausage. If you are a vegetarian, you will have an option without meat. Breakfast was eggs and bread, and we had plenty to eat before setting off for the day. We also enjoyed watching the hut get resupplied via a helicopter during our stay.
How do you Choose a Slovenian Hut?
At the moment there are 179 huts in the Slovenian hut system. While you can find huts throughout Slovenia, many of the best alpine huts are located in the north and northwest regions. Visit the hut system page to see a map of all the Slovenian huts with links to book and reserve a night in the mountains.
What are the Best Slovenian Mountain Huts?
With so many huts to choose from, it can be overwhelming if you are traveling to the area and want to do a singe night or a few night hut to hut trip in Triglav National Park. When we were planning our visit we went around in circles trying to find the best hut trip before settling on the 7 Lakes Valley.
Below are some of the best huts to consider in Slovenia:
Koča Pri Triglavskih Jezerih: this is the hut we ultimately chose. It is a large hut overlooking several beuatiful lakes in the 7 Lakes Valley. A round trip hike to this hut is about 11 miles.
Koča na Doliču: This beautiful hut located just under the top of Pleša on the high karst plateau of Nanos can be reached on an 8.5 mile out and back hike.
Triglavski dom na Kredaric – Triglav Lodge at Kredarica: the highest hut, this gorgeous hut is right near Triglav. This hut can be reach via several routes
Pogačnikov dom na Kriških podih: Located above the Soca River Valley, and is about a 5 hour hike.
There are truly so many amazing huts in Slovenia that it’s worth spending some time looking through them and deciding on the best option. No matter what, we highly recommend a night in a Slovenian Mountain Hut.
What to Bring to a Slovenian Hut?
While you can expect delicious food and a welcoming bed in the mountain hut, there are a few things you should pack:
- Money – most of the huts do not accept credit cards, so bring all the money you need
- A sleeping sack – bedding is generally provided, but you will need your own sleep sack – or liner. We purchased our years ago and use them often at hotels or summer camping
- Slippers (optional) – you will be asked to leave your shoes that door so slippers are nice but a good pair of socks work great too
- A light – a headlamp is always a great addition to a hut trip for when the lights are out or you’re moving around in a room with other people
In addition to what you should bring to a Slovenian mountain hut, there are also a few things you should not bring:
- Sleeping bag – most huts do not allow a sleeping bag so leave your bag at home
- Loud music – leave the travel speaker at home and enjoy the sounds of nature
- All your own food and cooking supplies – while you can bring your own food, stove and dishes, the tables and area in the the hut are reserved for people who are eating at the hut. You can still cook your own food or bring your own cooking supplies, but be respectful of the hut.
Things to Know About Hiking in Triglav National Park
Triglav National Park offers incredible hiking from challenging mountain peaks to lakeside strolls. Without the chairlifts that you will find in many other European, most of the hikes can only be reached on your own feet. In addition to the hikes right in the park, you will also find hiking trails in the surrounding areas. Below is some general information you should know about hiking in and around Triglav National Park.
Where is Triglav National Park?
Triglav National park is located in the northwest corner of Slovenia near the Italian and Austrian border. It is the only National Park in Slovenia and takes it’s name from it’s tallest peak – Triglav. The park is bordered to the west by the Soca River and to the east by Lakes Bled and Bovec.
When is the Best Time of Year to Hike in Triglav National Park?
The best time for hiking in Triglav National Park is during the warm and dry months in June-October. It is possible to hike here in the winter, especially on the lower trails.
What are the best Triglav Hiking Trails?
There are so many excellent hiking trail in Triglav National Park and there is something for everyone. Here is a list of some of the best hikes in and around the park:
- 7 Lakes Valley
- Soca Trail
- Tomlin Gorge
- Vintgar Gorge
- Mostnica Gorge
- Triglavska Bistrica
- Mount Mangart
Where is the best place to Stay When Hiking Triglav National Park?
While the best way to explore this corner of Slovenia is via a hut to hut trip, it’s also helpful to base yourself in a town and explore the park from here. We recommend staying either on the east side in the Bled or Bohinj area, or on the west side in Bovec. Both these areas are beautiful and geared towards adventure. While they aren’t far apart, there are no roads that go through Tiglav National Park, so the only way to get from the west to the east side is to drive around the mountains. It takes about 1.5 hours to get from Bled to Bovec.
We found several apartment options to stay in both Bovec and Bled on Booking.com.
Are there Animals such as Bears in Slovenia?
Slovenia is home to brown bears and there are about 450 bear in the entire country, so you are unlikely to encounter them when hiking. Slovenia also has about 150 wolves as well a lynx.
Are the Trails Well Marked?
The Trails in Triglav are generally well marked and easy to follow. Trail distances are given in time versus distance which we are not used to, but we generally found these times to be mostly accurate.
Details of Our Overnight Seven Lakes Valley Hike
Below you can find complete details on our overnight hike to the 7 Lakes Valley and our stay in one of the Slovenian Huts. We started the hike at Planina Blato and did the hike as a counterclockwise loop, with a walk further up the valley after stopping at the 7 Lakes Valley hut.
How to Get to Planina Blato
Getting to the start of the hike is excited and involves driving up a narrow and very windy toll road. The toll road starts in Stara Fuzini. There are several hiking trails that can be reached up this road. Pass through the toll station (the fee was about 15 EUR in 2022) to drive to the top of the road, there is no additional parking fee. At one point your will bear to the right, but otherwise, you simple drive right to the end. We entered Planina Blato into the GPS with no problem. Plan to take your time on this road and note that the road may be closed depending on the time of year and weather conditions.
The parking lot is at the end of the road and had a port-a-potty. The lot is small and often fills up with hikers. We parked on the road leading up to the parking lot, but there were only a few spots left when we arrived around 8:30.
Below are some common driving times to get the start of the hike:
- Bled to Planina Blato: 45 minutes
- Ljubljana to Planina Blato: 1.5 hours
- Bovec to Planina Blato: 2.5 hours
While a car is the easiest way to get to the start of the hike, there is also a free shuttle during the summer months that connects Lake Bohinj with Planina Blato.
During the high summer season, a free shuttle connects the villages of Lake Bohinj with Planina Blato. The stop you are looking for is Križišće / crossroad Vogar-Blato and it is just over 0.5 km from the start of the hike.
You can check out the schedule on the Lake Bohinj website and Promet.
7 Valley Hike: Planina Blato to Koča Pri Triglavskih Jezerih
The hike starts on a wide road that leads up to the first hut. This is the hardest part of the hike and also the least interesting. Prepare to slog through this section. The path here is easy to walk and we had to get out of the way several times for a tractor doing some tree work.
After working hard to get up this section, the trail will level off and the woods open up as you reach the first hut Koča na Planini pri Jezeru. This is a great place for a break with some pretty small huts, your first lake and some cows if you’re lucky.
After taking a break at the hut, you will need to decide which direction to take this loop as the the trail splits here. The easiest trail is to go right (which looks like straight), but you can also ascend the trail on the left to do the trail in a clockwise direction. We chose to hike counterclockwise to maximize our distance on the first day. Follow signs for Planina Dedno Polje.
The next section of this hike is beautiful as it passes through open meadows with increasing views of the surrounding mountains. The trail has a few steep sections and eventually passes over a small pass (Štapc saddle) before descends through the forest. Several trails branch off the main trail, but follow signs to Planina Ovčarija (1:35 hrs) and Koča pri Triglavskih Jezerih (2:15 hrs). The trail eventually narrows into a smaller path as it nears the forest.
It is possible to hike to the hut on a higher trail Štapce, but while this trail is shorter it is also more challenging. We opted to descend via the easier route to Preko Prodov. This trail descends mostly gradually and the turns to the right one it reaches the valley floor, you will turn right at the trailmarker to get to head to Koča pri Triglavskih Jezerih. You will know you are close when you see Dvojno jezero (or Double Lake). These two lakes are right before the hut and while the trail stays to the right, you can descend and walk along the lakes as well.
The beautiful hut is located right at the end of the lake, nestled in the valley. We stopped for a late lunch for about 1.5 hours and relaxed in the sun. After checking into our room for the night, we left our main backpacks and took just one daypack and continued the hike up the valley. If you have time time and energy, we highly recommend this part of the hike!
7 Valley Hike from Koča pri Triglavskih Jezerih up the Valley
From the hut, the trail ascends gently and while the footing is slightly more challenging, this part of the hike is actually quite easy. You quickly ascend above tree level for incredible views in almost every direction. I took about 500 photos on this stretch of the hike as every turn opened up a new perspective on the surrounding mountains.
The trail climbs slowly and steadily and you will eventually reach one of the prettiest lakes – Jezero v Ledvicah or Kidney Lake. The trail follows along the hill leading down to the lake before ascending one steep section. This area has some of the best views of the entire hike.
Since you are hiking this as an out and back you continue as far as you want up the valley and simply turn around. We walked about 2 miles up the valley before turning around, but even if you only walk a shirt distance, it’s worth it to explore this area above the hut.
After returning to the hut for the night, we enjoyed a delicious dinner and played some games before turning in for the night. We found the hut comfortable and clean and enjoyed meeting some of the other people.
The next morning after breakfast, we headed back down the valley towards the car via Planina Viševnik.
Koča pri Triglavskih Jezerih to Planina Blato via Planina Viševnik
This trail is more challenging that the trail we took to get to the hut. If you are short on time or the weather is poor, we recommend retracing your steps. If you have time – this is a great trail to make this hike into the loop. We hiked this trail early in the morning after a rain and found the trail quite slippery.
After leaving the hut and the trail junction, the trail descends via a number of rocky switchbacks. Since we were socked in by fog we did not get any views at this point, although the clouds cleared as we continued on the trail. The trail passes by the Lake Jezero before ascending back up toward Bregarjevo zavetišče na planini Viševnik. This is a small hut, and we needed to pass directly through a large field of cows in order to follow the trail.
After passing the hut, the trail ascends through a pretty section with wildflowers and a small but steep little gully. The trail eventually rejoins the trail you started on at Koča na Planini pri Jezeru. From here, you follow the same trail back down the steep section to the carpark.
Other Things to do in the area around Triglav National Park
This is a truly amazing hike and overnight – please don’t hesitate to leave a comment or ask a question in the comment section!
