Peričnik Waterfall

The trail to the lower cascade starts from the Koča pri Peričniku mountain hut, where you can eat and purchase a parking ticket. After a 10-minute gentle climb through forest, crossing a bridge, you arrive at the base of a 52-meter wall of water. The conglomerate rock has been undercut by centuries of erosion, forming a natural overhang – a sandy path leads behind the waterfall, placing you between the rock face and the curtain of falling water. Expect to get splashed.

From the lower cascade, a steeper trail (moderate difficulty, 15 minutes) leads to the 16-meter upper waterfall. You can walk behind this one too. The upper cascade sees fewer visitors and feels more secluded. The trail offers views of the Vrata Valley and the Špik mountain range. In spring, when snow melts, the water volume peaks – the falls roar and spray covers the entire viewing area. In summer, the flow is gentler but still impressive.

In winter, the waterfall partially or completely freezes, creating towering ice columns and stalactites – a spectacular sight, though the path behind the falls is typically closed due to falling ice risk. The setting is pure alpine silence: rushing water, fir trees, and mountain walls.

Height – lower cascade 52 m, upper cascade 16 m – combined 68 m

Walk behind the falls – trails exist behind both cascades; the eroded conglomerate creates a natural overhang

Age – one of Slovenia's youngest waterfalls, formed after the last Ice Age

Vrata Valley – glacial valley leading to the north face of Triglav (2,864 m), Slovenia's highest peak

Free shuttle – a free bus runs from Mojstrana to the waterfall hut in summer (June–September)

Winter ice – in freezing conditions, the waterfall wall becomes covered in ice stalactites tens of meters tall

Peričnik Waterfall formed after the last Ice Age, when the glacier carved the Vrata Valley – the largest glacial valley in the Julian Alps. Water cascades over a conglomerate ledge below Mount Sleme. The waterfall is constantly eroding the rock beneath it: the force of the water undercuts the soft base until the harder conglomerate overhang collapses under its own weight. Deep grooves in the rock wall show that the waterfall has changed direction multiple times.

The waterfall is a protected natural heritage site in Slovenia. Plans once existed to harness its power for electricity generation, but these were abandoned to preserve the natural environment. Today, Peričnik is one of the most visited sites in Triglav National Park. Since 2024, a regulated vehicle entry system has been in place for the Vrata Valley to protect the ecosystem.

From Kranjska Gora (20 km, 25 minutes):

– By car through Mojstrana, then along the Vrata Valley road. Since 2024 – regulated entry (max 195 cars). Parking at the waterfall – €5/2 hours

– In summer: tourist bus to Mojstrana (€3/day), then free shuttle to Vrata Valley

From Bled (30 km, 35 minutes):

– By car via Jesenice and Mojstrana

– Train Bled Jezero – Jesenice, bus Jesenice – Mojstrana (€3.50), then shuttle into the valley (summer only)

From Ljubljana (85 km, 1 hour 10 minutes):

– By rental car via A2 to Jesenice exit, then through Mojstrana

On site:

From the parking lot to the lower cascade – 10 minutes on foot (uphill). To the upper cascade – another 15 minutes (steep trail).

Season: Spring (April–May) – maximum water volume after snowmelt, the falls are at their most powerful. Summer – comfortable weather, free shuttle running. Winter – the frozen waterfall is spectacular, but the path behind it is closed.

Time of day: Morning (before 10:00) – fewer visitors, parking available. By midday in summer, the parking lot fills.

Duration: 1–1.5 hours to see both cascades with photos.

Avoid: Summer weekends after 10:00 – parking queues. Winter after a thaw – risk of falling ice.