The morning we left Lake Bled, en route to Innsbruck in Austria, we started our day early with a visit to Vintgar Gorge. This stunning destination is just a short drive from Lake Bled and ranks among Slovenia's top tourist attractions. Vintgar Gorge features a 1,600-meter-long and up to 250-meter-deep canyon, situated on the eastern edge of Triglav National Park, approximately 4 kilometers northwest of Bled's center. Remarkably, it was only 130 years ago that three adventurers first discovered the enchanting Vintgar Gorge.
There are numerous car parks available, and during the peak months, dedicated shuttle buses transport visitors from these car parks to the gorge entrance. I highly recommend booking your time slot online in advance to ensure you get an ideal visit. It's clear why they have made efforts to limit the number of visitors; the gorge is breathtaking, featuring winding wooden paths that trace the base of the steep rock cliffs alongside the rapidly flowing Radovna River. While it is stunning, large crowds could pose additional risks in this area. Fortunately, we arrived early and only encountered two other groups during our time slot, allowing us to take some amazing photos without anyone else in the frame.
Rooney found the sound of the roaring water slightly intimidating, but aside from that, it was a truly remarkable experience walking through nature. We passed beneath the magnificent Bohinj Rail Bridge, and at the end of the 1.6 km trail awaits the impressive 13-meter tall Sum Waterfall.
The trail through the gorge is one-way only, and since it was the low season, the shuttle buses back to the car park were not in service. Our only option was to take one of the scenic walking routes back. On one side of the gorge lies the Vintgaring in the Alps with the King of Triglav Trail, but we opted for the shorter and less steep Vintgaring in the Woods with the River of Trees Trail.
The beginning of this trail involved an uphill climb and was quite muddy! Thankfully, nobody slipped in the mud. After that, it levelled out into a delightful walk through the forest, taking us another hour to return to the car park. The girls managed the hike well; it was a perfect way to get some exercise before our long afternoon drive to Innsbruck.
For reference - purchase your tickets and book your time slot via this website.
