Pericnik Waterfall.. wow

We found this amazing Green Wonder several years ago on a daytrip to the Kranska Gora area in the north west Alpine bit of Slovenia.

We were just totally blown away at how big this waterflow drops (50 metres) and by how fantastic & mysterious the forest path is to get up there.. this is yet another very big pleasant surprise in Slovenia and most certainly another unmissabubble waterfall you should know about!

The Pericnik waterfall (Slap) is hidden away just off the forest road that leads from the village of Mojstrana up into the Alps.. the road is actually called "the Triglav Gate" (Vrata) as it is probably the most direct route up to Slovenia's largest mountain, Triglav (three heads) 2,864m.

view from the new wooden platform..
view from the new wooden platform..

 

How to REACH the Pericnik Falls..

The little road up from Mojstrana to the falls has been recently resurfaced with tarmac, which is a shame, but there is lots more parking on the sides now, lower down just outside Mojstrana, which you rightly need to pay for.

We are not at all motivated on this website to help the selfie taking speedsters who just want to stand next to another green jewel, take a photo and leg it, that is not Green tourism at all.. but we ARE very motivated to help people who may struggle to walk or have mobility issues.. so we WILL tell you a little secret here.. it might well be worth driving up the road to the cottage Pub to see if there is a parking space available there OR at least to drive back down the road and then you have a better feel how long it is to walk to the falls and whether you can do it.

it isn't really a serios option to walk up the road, when you could cross and enjoy here by the river!
it isn't really a serios option to walk up the road, when you could cross and enjoy here by the river!

 

The target for experiencing the Pericnik falls is this Pub.. this is where you can at the very least see the magnificent falls from below AND the start point for the hike up 10-20 mins into the forest to see it close and personal!

The pub is a few km up from Mojstrana and if you have an extra hour or so, then WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND parking just outside Mojstrana and hilking up the road just a bit to reach the bridge that crosses over to the other side of the river, with a sensational path and then tramping up from there.

a few km up the road from Mojstrana it is pretty clear where the waterfall is here by the pub..
a few km up the road from Mojstrana it is pretty clear where the waterfall is here by the pub..

 

The Triglavska Bistrica river flows directly from the Triglav Julian Alps (with the highest mountain in Green Slovenia) and is also fed by the waterfall itself and so adds to the sense of excitement as you hike up towards this source!

The water can rage and is cystal clear with a greyish blue tinge and the path is on the other side of the road, so you do need to cross over at your first opportunity and then go upriver until you find the rickety wooden bridge that will cross you back to the pub and the falls.

Of course you could also hike up the road and this is the best way to bike up, but the river path is soooo beautiful it would be a shame to miss this!

this is the bridge to cross to get back to the road and the cottage pub..
this is the bridge to cross to get back to the road and the cottage pub..

 

Pericnik is pretty much exactly the dream waterfall you might hope to see in a Green paradise like Slovenia and it is nothing short of sensational how close you can hike up to get close to it.. you can even do an extra hike up into the forest to walk directly behind the massive flow! (Not for the faint hearted)

So we were easily able to stop off here as part of a larger roundtrip from the Lodge, directly up to the Soca river, over the Vrsic pass crossing the Alps from Bovec up and over to Kranska Gora, then arriving here at Pericnik on our way back down to the motorway and the short zip home to the Lodge.. Wow, what a day trip!

stunning spot for photos.. do you see the people going behind the falls?
stunning spot for photos.. do you see the people going behind the falls?

 

We were peckish and ordered a fab fresh bowl of local sausage soup at the pub first, before tackling the ascent into the forest to find the falls.

And this is the wonderful thing about Green Slovenia.. you don't roll up into a huge car park, get greeted by someone wearing a mouse costume, buy a hot dog and join lots of queues.. Slovenia is all about fresh Green natural adventures!

this is Green Slovenia..
this is Green Slovenia..

 

So we had some great wholesome local food and then walked up into the forest.. not knowing the exact way to the waterfall, but keen for the adventure with hope in our hearts and the thundering crash of water to guide us..

 

How to do the short Hike up to the Pericnik Falls..

There are 2 main routes to the falls, which can also be done as a loop.. one goes from the road to the LEFT of the falls and one from the pub up into the forest on the RIGHT of the falls (when looking up at the falls).

The safest way for most people to get up and enjoy the Falls close is to go from the left path up the wooden steps..

we love these kinda
we love these kinda "roots" up to waterfalls!!

 

But we would also strongly recommend you start by going UP into the forest directly from the pub like we did, from the right of the falls as you look at it.. It is a little steep in places, but it isn't a race and you can take your time, 20 mins should do it and by doing this will get you to a new viewing platform to the right of the falls, which is not to be missed.. 

Then you have a BIG CHOICE to make, either go back down and walk up to the falls via the main wooden step walkway OR to continue up into the forest from here to get to the back of the Falls, where you walk directly behing the gushing water! (Absolutely not for the member of the Lodge team not keen on heights)!

By continuing up into the forest you are committing to walking behind the falls, but you can then continue a loop back down to the other side and the walkway down.

Yep, for people with nerves of steel you can hike BEHIND the massive waterflow.. epic
Yep, for people with nerves of steel you can hike BEHIND the massive waterflow.. epic

 

Which ever way you approach, you will sense you are getting close to this force of nature as the crash of water starts to dominate your senses, especially your hearing, micro droplets of refreshing spray might hit you in the face and then the first sight of the waterfall itself will "slap" you in the face. wow, this really is a combination of senses not to be missed!

Forest paths with wooden or stone stairs are such a common feature in Slovenia and always so part of nature that your adventure is a really green one.

Going left of the falls from the road up the marked wooden steps will get you real close in just 10 - 20 mins of legwork to this powerful flow of water sliding out of a ridiculously small hole in the rock and gushing about 50 metres down to earth. It is very impressive indeed. (In our own travelling memories, we have only gotten soooo close to such a powerful jet of plunging water in the Equadorian jungle).

this is a proper waterfall baby!
this is a proper waterfall baby!

 

If you are scared of heights and drops just like we mentioned one of our team of two is, then the fab news is you need not be scared here on the main path up, you can be close to the water, but still stand firmly and safely away.

But please be very careful indeed if you want to go behind the massive waterflow, you can also climb further up to the left side of the falls from the main view point to see the very top flow of the waterfall.. make the time!

This is another really big Green Slovenian adventure that you will never forget.. even if time erodes the name of the waterfall! But it is very possible to do this wearing good shoes and with average fitness.

stuff provided where needed.. just like Hogwarts..
stuff provided where needed.. just like Hogwarts..

 

We have seen a lot of waterfalls in Slovenia.. a lot and for us Kozjak is the daddy of them all with the amazing trail and just the Lord of the Rings magic of the place, but for us Pericnik is the nunber 2 waterfall (and this is saying something) in Slovenia for the adventure, accessibility, nature and power.. we love it and you should try not to miss it.

Perhaps the other most jaw dropping thing about Pericnik is how easily you can fit it into your day out, still respecting and enjoying green nature, with a river walk and short hike up to see the waterflow, you CAN do this in a 2-3 hour segment and therefore it is perfectly possible to include this magical place in a daytrip from the Lodge OR if you are heading from Bled or Bohinj lakes up over the Vrsic Pass to the ubermagnificent Soca river!!

Green Slovenia for us means the vegetaion, the nature and even the rivers..
Green Slovenia for us means the vegetaion, the nature and even the rivers..

 

If you look at a map you will see how easily we could include this wonder of nature as the final stop on a big day out from the Lodge, going up through the Vipava Valley to the Alps via maybe Tolmin gorge, having coffee in Bovec, going over the Vrsic pass maybe stopping off at the Russian church, then heading through the delightfull village of Kranska Gora to hit Mojstrana and the fantastic Pericnik falls! (there are so many other options for this Lodge Loop route).

Visiting the falls on such a roundtrip really makes sense as it is a great way to get a final bit of exercise and adventure into your legs on a car filled adventure. The drive home from the falls is actually only 1hr 30 mins direct to the Lodge and even then you have numerous options for stop offs maybe for an evening meal at the wonderful Radolca or maybe Ljubljana .. wow, what an action packed daytrip adventure!

how could you NOT make time to hike up this stunning river??!!
how could you NOT make time to hike up this stunning river??!!

 

You could easily spend all day around here going further up the Triglavska Bistrica river towards Triglav mountain or higher up the cliff towards the source of this waterfall, but however you do it, at least just go see this Falls.. it is very special indeed.

Email: info@lipizzanerlodge.com

Address: Landol 17, Postojna 6230, Slovenia

Phone: +386 5620 3443
Mobile: +386 40 47 0239 or +386 40 37 8037

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