One of the easiest and most beautiful walks you can do in the Triglav National Park is the Bohinj Lake Trail. This trail takes you from one side of Bohinj Lake to the other and can even be done as a loop trail.
To give you an idea of how long the hike is, Bohinj Lake is 4.2 kilometres long and roughly 1 kilometer wide at its widest point.
In this post, we’ll talk about the two different ways you can do the trail and which one we recommend as one way is significantly more beautiful and pleasant.
The Bohinj Lake trail is an easy and flat walk that offers some beautiful views of the lake and the mountains above! On a moody day, you might also be able to catch a few waterfalls.
Included in this post, we also have some recommendations to make the trail longer if you want to visit a waterfall or even go canoeing on Lake Bohinj.
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Everything you need to know about the Bohinj Lake Trail
Bohinj Lake Trail is probably the most common trail to do if you only have an afternoon or a few hours in Bohinj.
The trail starts really close to the town centre and you can decide if you want to do the full loop around the lake or if you want to just do a short section of it.
One of the cool things about this trail is that you can start the walk on the east side of Lake Bohinj which is also where you start on the Juliana Trail. The Juliana Trail is a 270-kilometre-long loop trail that takes you around the Julian Alps (good plan for a future trip)!
For a few hundred meters you’ll walk along the trail that makes up a part of this 270-kilometre circuit which is pretty cool. From there, you’ll continue around Bohinj Lake and take in the incredible views of the lake and the mountains above.
When we say walking trail we truly mean walking trail. This trail is very flat and very well-maintained.
If you’re looking for more of an actual hike, there are plenty of incredible options like Vogar Viewpoint which overlooks Lake Bohinj. Mostnica Gorge near Bohinj is another great hike option.
As we were saying, this one here is more a nice and easy walk around Lake Bohinj where you can take your time and take in the beauty of this part of Slovenia.
We love how peaceful it is in Bohinj! It’s further in the valley than Lake Bled and a little less touristy and feels a lot more authentic in our opinion.
Practical information about the Bohinj Lake Trail
Distance: 11 km return / 6.83 miles return
Elevation: Roughly 170 m / 557 ft. elevation gain
Type: In-and-out-trail (can also be done as a loop trail)
Length: 2.5-3 hours total
Difficulty: Moderate
Rating: 4/5
Click here to see a map of the beginning of the Bohinj Lake hike.
Here’s a picture of the beginning of the Bohinj Lake trail:
Starting on the Juliana Trail at the edge of Lake Bohinj
When we did this trail, we started on the east side of Bohinj Lake since it’s the most convenient starting point.
There are a few parking spots right at the trailhead where you pay roughly €2-3/hour for parking.
If you’re staying right in Bohinj you can even walk from your accommodation straight to the trailhead.
Next to the trailhead is where you’ll walk on a portion of the 270-kilometre loop trail known as the Juliana Trail (since it loops around the Julian Mountains).
Once you’re on the trail, this is where we recommend going on the north side of Bohinj Lake (to the right) and doing the hike as an in-and-out trail instead of as a loop trail (which is the option you’ll see on AllTrails).
By doing it this way, the views are better and you’re away from all the cars driving up to Savica Waterfall. This part of the hike is just a lot more peaceful and you truly feel immersed in nature.
As long as it hasn’t been raining a crazy amount lately the trail is super easy to follow and super flat.
We, unfortunately, didn’t get so lucky though and for the whole 3-4 days we spent in Bohinj it rained constantly.
As you can see in our pictures, it’s quite moody and wet. While we much prefer it to be sunny, the moody does look really cool in pictures and it leaves the trails more empty.
We actually had a few sections of the trail that we had to cross which were a little sketchy. It honestly looked like a mini river crossing because so much rain was flowing down from the mountains and onto the trail. So hopefully you’re a little luckier with the weather than we were.
Continue along the north side of Bohinj Lake
Once you start the hike, you’ll see very quickly why we recommend walking along the north side of Bohinj Lake. Especially near the beginning, the views are quite open and you can see pretty much the entire lake.
On the one side of you, you have Lake Bohinj and on the other, you have the start of the Julian Alps. They rise quite quickly so you really feel like you’re in the heart of the mountains which is super cool.
As you walk on the trail, you will walk below a viewpoint that will be almost impossible to see from down below but it’s the Vogar Viewpoint and it’s one of our favourite hikes in Bohinj.
The viewpoint overlooks the whole lake and it’s incredible. It’s definitely a hike to add to your list if you plan to do some mountain hikes in the area.
As you hike on the north side of the lake you may come across o
ther people doing the same trail as you as it’s a fairly popular trail.
There might also be people who are hiking all the way from Bohinj to Savica Waterfall (we highly recommend this if you have more time).
Make your way to the west end of Bohinj Lake
There isn’t really an exact point to turn around but the easiest way is to walk to where the stream from Savica Waterfall connects with Lake Bohinj.
Of course, if you want to do the full loop, you can continue along the trail and around the other side of the lake. Just know that on this other side of the trail, you will be walking on the road where the cars go.
It might not be super busy but from our experience in Bohinj, we think it’s best to just hike back the same way.
Hiking back on the west side towards Bohinj is quite cool because you get to look down the valley.
Bohinj is surrounded by mountains and it’s located at the end of a long valley and it’s super beautiful!
The way back will probably take you a bit less time since you’ll have already taken in most of the views.
A good idea is to give yourself around 3 hours to do the hike the way we recommend it.
Maybe if you do the whole loop give yourself an extra 30 minutes on top of that. Doing this trail as a loop will be slightly longer than just the in-and-out way we hiked around Bohinj Lake.
Enjoy an after-hike meal near Bohinj
This is just a bonus if you’re looking for a delicious meal after the hike. Which you probably will be since you’ve just been out in nature for a few hours. There’s nothing better than a nice sit-down and meal after a hike!
We found a delicious restaurant in Stara Fuzina (a 2-3 minute drive from the parking lot). The name is Gostilna in Picerija Bohinj and it’s a local restaurant in Stara Fuzina which serves some delicious food.
The service was great and quick, and the variety of food was really nice. They make yummy homemade pizza, pasta, soups, salads, and also some more local meals. So there’s something for everyone there!
It’s a nice place to relax and have a bit to eat or a cup of coffee. In the summer, there is a huge outdoor seating area and in the cooler months, you can cozy up inside.
Sometimes the restaurants right in Bohinj get super busy and this smaller local village only a few minutes away is better to go to.
We also stayed in Stara Fuzina at the Old Mill House so this place was perfect for us. We could just walk there from our accommodation.
What to bring on the Bohinj Lake trail
Since you’ll be walking for a few hours, we recommend bringing the essentials. We always bring at least enough water for the walk and a few snacks to enjoy throughout the trail.
There aren’t any stops along the way where you can stop and grab a snack so make sure you pack what you need before you go.
You will, however, be able to fill up some water along the way as there is a stop where you can grab some fresh drinking water.
Packing list for hikes around Bohinj:
- Water! We always fill up our LifeStraw bottles before hikes and even during them when we can. You should be able to fill up your water bottle midway through the hike.
- Sunscreen is highly recommended when hiking in Slovenia during the summer months. It’s a decent length walk and there are sections where you will be quite exposed to the sun.
- A power bank is one of the most underrated things to bring while you hike.
- Bring some snacks to enjoy while you explore the Lake Bohinj Trail.
- It’s always nice to have hiking poles! There are definitely points on the trail where hiking poles will come in handy.
Where to stay near Lake Bohinj
We have two awesome accommodations we can recommend if you plan to stay near Lake Bohinj for a few days and hike around the Triglav National Park.
The first option is very affordable and tourist-friendly. The second is an authentic stay in Stara Fuzina which is the place where we stayed!
One of the nice things about staying near Lake Bohinj compared to Lake Bled is that it’s way less touristy. You’re also closer to a bunch of amazing hikes, and it’s likely going to be more affordable than if you were to stay in Lake Bled.
Hostel Pod Voglom next to Lake Bohinj
Hostel Pod Voglom is a hostel located right on Lake Bohinj. If you drive to the Savica Waterfall trailhead you will actually pass right by it.
Hostel Pod Voglom has everything you need to have an awesome time during your stay at Lake Bohinj!
For example, they have canoes and kayaks you can rent and take out on the lake. They also have mountain bikes you can take up and down the mountains near the hostel.
In the winter, they also have lots of fun winter experiences such as snowshoeing and sitting mono skiing!
There’s even a bus stop located right in front of the hostel so it’s super easy to get to from Lake Bled or Ljubljana if you don’t have a car. It’s a great place to stay if you want to meet people and find some adventure friends to explore the area with.
You can book Hostel Pod Voglom right here.
Old Mill House in Stara Fuzina
The Old Mill House is one of the coolest places we’ve ever stayed at!
It truly is an Old Mill House that has been passed down from generation to generation. There’s so much history and things to see that are connected to this house and it’s really interesting.
The owners (Maja and her husband) live upstairs and are always happy to help you with whatever you need. They will give you a full guided tour of the place and share some interesting things. They will also give you some good hiking recommendations to do in the area.
The house itself is newly renovated and very nice. You have the whole main floor to yourself and it’s really cozy. This is great if you’re two couples or a family of four travelling together since there are two bedrooms.
There’s also the smaller Old Mill House which is great for singles or a couple as it’s a one-bedroom flat.
Stara Fuzina is only a 3-4 minute drive to Lake Bohinj so it’s super close and convenient. You can even walk from the Old Mill House to the start of the hike if you want!
You can book the Old Mill House right here.
How to get from Ljubljana to Bohinj
Having a car to explore Slovenia and the Triglav Mountains is probably the easiest way to get between all the different lakes and hiking spots.
It is possible to go by bus, and actually, there is a bus directly from Ljubljana to Bohinj. But it’s just so much more convenient having a car.
Having a car makes it easy to get to the trailheads of most of the hikes. This way you can leave and go as you please without being dependent on being back at a specific time to catch a bus.
Rent a car in Ljubljana
Renting a car is by far the easiest way to get to Lake Bohinj if you’re travelling from Ljubljana. Especially since this way you don’t have to be time-dependent and can just go as you choose.
This trailhead is easy to get to even without a car but for some of the other hikes in Lake Bohinj, a car is definitely recommended.
Cars are fairly affordable to rent from the Ljubljana Airport and being able to drive will save you lots of time getting to and from all the trailheads.
We always rent cars through DiscoverCars. DiscoverCars allows you to compare the prices between different cars and rental companies. This is the easiest way to find the best deals.
You can look at different rental car options from the Ljubljana Airport here.
Taking the bus to Bohinj
You can actually take a bus directly from Ljubljana that goes through Lake Bled and then stops in Bohinj.
Arriva is the main company that does these bus trips. The buses run daily and quite frequently during peak season (and less frequently during the offseason).
You can also look at all the other ways to get to Lake Bohinj here.
So even if you don’t have a car, it’s not that hard to get to Lake Bohinj. And once you’re in Bohinj you can walk directly to this trailhead!
Before you walk the Bohinj Lake trail
Check the weather
No matter where you hike, you should always check the weather before you go.
Even though you’re never far from shelter on this trail (since there are some places you can hide on the west side of the lake), it’s best not to go during bad weather. You really don’t want to get caught hiking in a big storm.
You can see the weather for Lake Bohinj here to give you an idea of what to expect and what to wear.
Hopefully, it’ll be a clear sunny day when you go explore Bohinj!
Wear hiking shoes
Almost anywhere in the Slovenian Alps, proper hiking shoes are recommended. We wear them on all mountain hikes we do.
They came in extremely useful during this hike since we had to cross sections of water and our shoes got completely soaked!
Since we got quite unlucky with the weather, almost all the hiking trails we did around Bohinj were covered in mud. But even if the weather is amazing, hiking shoes are recommended.
When is the best time to walk the Bohinj trail?
There really isn’t a bad time to walk the Bohinj Lake trail besides when it has rained a lot during the previous days. If it’s been pouring down there will be a lot of water runoff that can really affect the trail.
The trail is really good if you have nothing planned and just want to go explore the area since you can turn back whenever you want. The views are mostly the same the whole way so you can do it as you like.
During the summer months, it can also be nice to hike the trail early in the morning or later in the afternoon when it’s not scorching hot.
We went in October and the fall colours had just started coming out and it was absolutely beautiful!
You may also like…
- Top 5 Bohinj Hotels for an Unforgettable Stay
- Hiking to the Beautiful Savica Waterfall From Bohinj (Full Guide)
- Exploring the Stunning Mostnica Gorge Next to Lake Bohinj
- Hiking to the Famous Vogar Viewpoint Overlooking Lake Bohinj
- 3 Fun Bohinj Hiking Trails to Check Off Your List While in Slovenia
Recap of the walking trail around Bohinj Lake
That’s everything you need to know about the Lake Bohinj Trail!
This trail is very easy to follow without much elevation. It’s perfect if you want a longer stroll with great views of the lake.
As we mentioned, you can decide to hike all the way around the lake and turn the walk into a loop trail. But we recommend sticking to the north side of the lake and doing it as an in-and-out trail.
Bohinj is absolutely stunning and an absolute outdoor paradise! There are so many awesome hikes in the Triglav National Park, there’s mountain biking, and you can even rent canoes and explore the river.
Enjoy this amazing hike in Slovenia! If you have questions about this trail or other related questions to Lake Bohinj and Lake Bled you can send us a DM on Instagram @redwhiteadventures or leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you.
Enjoy your time in Bohinj!
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