Hike Kranjska Gora passing the Vršič pass on the Alpe Adria Trail
Hiking route
· Upper Carniola

Responsible for this content
Olof Stridh
This is the first of six hikes in Triglav National Park that we completed in July 2021. Other routes are in my profile. The hike starts at our hotel Lipa in Kranjska Gora and ended after two days in Soča. Stage two is called “Hike the Soča trail from Soča to the spring of Soča” amongst my routes. Please note that the route is created of a tracked hike on the Alpe Adria trail. The distance on the "same" plotted route was 18 km.
moderate
Distance 21.7 km
We stayed at Hotel Lipa in Kranjska Gora. A very good hotel with very good dinners and breakfasts. The hotel is right next to the bus station. The hike to Soča over the Vršič Pass took place over two days. After the first hike, we took the bus back to the hotel. The bus runs in the summer between Kranjska Gora and Bovec (https://kranjska-gora.si/en/go-with-bus/). The first third goes out of Kranjska Gora and along a road and then a stream, which we also had to cross. In our case, we found a place where someone put tree branches over, so we did not have to wade. Until here it is an easy and flat hike. Now we go up along a green summer meadow and start the climb of almost 800 meters in almost 7 km. We make our way through wooded slopes and paths. In some places, it is really steep and we sweat profusely. We pass a Russian chapel from the First World War. The route across the pass and down into the Soča Valley was a strategically important stage in the war after Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary. The Austrians used Russian prisoners of war to complete roads. About a hundred Russians and some guards died in an avalanche. Some survivors built this monument over their dead comrades. The rest of the way up to the pass is just uphill and struggling. Especially if you try to keep a higher pace. We then reach one of several huts that serve food and above all beer. When we quench our thirst, we continue uphill and pass The Pagan girl. A face is visible on the rock wall. Now we are above the dense forests and the views are fantastic. After a while, we reach the pass which is filled with visitors. Many people get there by car. Then it goes steeply down 800 meters through deep forests. This is also a demanding part down that wears on the knees. Good to use hiking poles. Finally, we make a detour to the source of the Soča river. There is also a hut that serves food and beverages. Here we gather new energy and take a break until the bus goes back to Kranjska Gora. The bus runs in summer about every two hours. It takes about 20 minutes to walk to the bus stop. It is not marked without, we are waiting for a grass surface right where the road turns. When the bus arrives, we just wave.
Difficulty
moderate
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
1,686 m
Lowest point
786 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Track types
Asphalt
0.5 km
Path
1 km
Road
0 km
Unknown
20.2 km
Start
Hotel Lipa - Kranjska Gora (808 m)
Coordinates:
DD
46.485967, 13.785852
DMS
46°29'09.5"N 13°47'09.1"E
UTM
33T 406812 5148760
w3w
Destination
Bus stop at the entrance of the spring of Soča
Turn-by-turn directions
Kranjska Gora - Galerše across Robe to Srednji Vrh and to Gozd Martuljek 2 - Alpe-Adria-Trail - Čičare to Srednji Vrh 19 - Juliana Trail - stage 1: Kranjska Gora - Mojstrana - Cerkev Device Marije Vnebovzete - Jasna (Jasna Lake) - Pišnica - Jasna - Zlatorog - Triglavski narodni park (Triglav National Park) - stara vršiška cesta - Mihov dom na Vršiču - Ruska kapelica (Russian Chapel) - Poštarski dom na Vršiču - Bavha - Slovenska geološka pot - Slovenska planinska pot - Prelaz Vršič (Vršič mountain pass) - Via Alpina Red R14 - Soča - Vršič - Soča - Soška pot - Koča pri izviru Soče
Note
all notes on protected areas
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
Stops Izvir Soče Križišče. You find the bus stop signs on the map, but the stops are not marked IRL. Just wait beside the road and wave when the bus arrives.Coordinates
DD
46.485967, 13.785852
DMS
46°29'09.5"N 13°47'09.1"E
UTM
33T 406812 5148760
w3w
///park.inspire.confidently
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
Difficulty
moderate
Distance
21.7 km
Duration
6:00 h
Ascent
878 m
Descent
900 m
Highest point
1,686 m
Lowest point
786 m
Statistics
2D
3D
Maps and trails
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
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