Frequently Asked Questions

Who are park rangers?

How to become a volunteer park ranger?

I wish to carry out construction/renovation of a building in the park. What permits do I need?

What is the difference between the central and peripheral zones of the TNP?

Is camping in the park allowed?

How to plan a safe mountain tour?

What publications will give me more information on the TNP and visit to the Park?

Where can I spend the night?

Who are park rangers?
Park rangers are an essential link of the management organisation. They monitor all natural processes and all activities related to visitors and inhabitants of the park. They are responsible for the enforcement of the TNP Act; they inform and warn visitors and have the right to collect penalties for certain infringements. The work of a park ranger is increasingly centred around cooperation, communication and awareness-raising of the local inhabitants and park visitors. TNP rangers are actively involved in a variety of professional, educational and research tasks conducted by the park, maintenance of infrastructure (putting-up information signs, path and trail maintenance, maintenance of rest areas), preservation of cultural landscape through mowing and supply and maintenance of the TNP mountain huts. Two thirds of park rangers also perform the tasks of hunting guards.
National Park administration
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How to become a volunteer park ranger?
Volunteer park rangers can be men and women over 18 who have completed a special training programme.
Up until 2002 the TNP had been the organiser of the training, but in March 2003 the responsibility for organising park ranger training programmes was transferred onto the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning. Detailed rules on the training programme are provided in the Decree on the training programme for the implementation of direct control in nature (Official Gazette of RS 30/03), which was adopted on the basis of the Nature Conservation Act. The training programme has not been organised to date.
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I wish to carry out construction/renovation of a building in the park. What permits do I need?
Construction of buildings, ranging from new buildings to maintenance works, is governed by the Construction Act. The investor should initiate the procedure by acquiring planning information on the construction with the competent municipality. Whether the planning information will be sufficient or a building permit is required depends on the type of the building concerned. The planning information states the criteria and conditions applicable to the construction along with data on protected areas and construction limitations, if any.
Since the Triglav National Park is a protected area, nature conservation conditions and consents are often required even for simple constructions. These documents are issued by the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning and the ARSO Environmental Agency, whereas the Triglav National Park is responsible for drawing up a report after conducting a field examination of the location.
In light of the above it is recommended that in the application for the nature conservation conditions the client presents and describes the planned construction, submits the planning information and a proposed plan of the building and, if the subject of the application is an agricultural building, also submits the opinion of the competent Agricultural Advisory Service. The application shall be sent directly to the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning or to the Environmental Agency of RS.
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What is the difference between the central and peripheral zones of the TNP?
The Triglav National Park Act adopted in 1981 regulates the protection of nature within the park at two levels: in the central zone, priority is given to the protection of nature, strict protection regime, whereas the peripheral zone is inhabited and managed by people, the primary management objectives are protection and sustainable development and management.
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Is camping in the park allowed?
Camping outside specially designated areas is not allowed. Camping designated areas are official camping sites and several camping locations used mainly by scouts and mountaineers, e.g. in Ribčev laz in Bohinj (Gosti les and near the Bellevue Hotel), at Rudno polje on the Pokljuka plateau (by the military cable-way), in Martuljek, Krnica pod Vršičem and in the Loška Koritnica Valley.
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How to plan a safe mountain tour?
The number of mountaineers has been increasing, partly due to the fact that the hiking season now lasts almost all the year.
The following instructions are intended for visitors who do not know the Julian Alps well, and to those who have little or no mountaineering experience.
The Triglav National Park covers almost entire area of the Julian Alps within the borders of Slovenia. This world of high mountains is governed by conditions which differ (sometimes greatly) from the conditions in the valley. Conquering high mountains requires good physical conditions and, above all, skill, neither of which can be acquired overnight.
The mountains are also full of life forms adapted to the harsh conditions of the mountain world. As life in the mountains is often on the verge of existence, each visitor should try to minimize his/her impact on this sensitive environment.

We wish you many exciting mountain tours and a wealth of unforgettable memories.

Selecting a mountain tour with regard to the time of year:
Summer – long, warm and even hot days with sudden weather changes. Sudden cold fronts bring storms (wind, rain, lightning, considerable temperature drops). In high mountains, snow patches that a mountaineer needs to know how to overcome stay far into summer, the risk of falling stones is high, caused by visitors, wind, or animals.

Autumn – days are getting shorter and colder, but the thunderstorm risk is lower. Sudden chills are common, causing weather to change into winter conditions in a very short time. Ground is wet in shadowy locations. You can slip easily even wearing top quality mountaineering boots.

Winter – very short days. Nights are freezing cold. Snow cover increases the risk of avalanches and slips, snow and fog impair visibility and cause orientation problems.

Spring – mountains are under a thick snow cover changing its characteristics during the day: the snow is frozen and hard in the morning (slips) and heavy and wet in the afternoon (avalanches). Despite occasional summer temperatures, winter weather conditions with snow and fog are not uncommon.

The complexity and diversity of weather means that mountaineering in the Julian Alps (TNP) is exceptionally beautiful but also dangerous. Every tour is a special experience, but only if the mountaineer managed to avoid the dangers through prudent action and good equipment.

Planning a tour:
adapt the length and difficulty of the to your state of fitness, health status, experience, knowledge of the mountains, available equipment, and the weather forecast (easier tours first)
weather forecast for the mountains is available on the Internet, radio, TV
when you are not familiar with the area of the planned tour, consult an expert or hire a mountain guide
prior to departure, leave a note in a visible place stating your destination, anticipated time of return, and the names of all the people venturing on the tour

Equipment:
proper footwear (high mountaineering boots with sharp rubber soles)
warm clothing (jumper, cap, gloves, spare underwear)
wind and rain protection (rainproof anorak or windjacket, windproof trousers, bivouac bag, emergency foil blanket)
sun protection (sun glasses, a hat or cap)
a first-aid kit (band-aids, gauze, bandages)
orientation equipment and the skill to use it (map, altitude meter, compass)
suitable food and drinks supply
and for winter tours: ice-axe, crampons, avalanche rescue beacon, snow shovel, avalanche probe.
for easier and safer walking (folding) poles and an ice-axe are recommended at all times when snow and ice can be expected.
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What publications will give me more information on the TNP and visit to the Park?
TNP guide books:
Triglav National Park (published by TNP, several authors, available in SI, EN, GE versions). Contents: presentation and history of TNP, geology, climate, flora, fauna, natural sights, cultural heritage, cultural and natural monuments, mountaineering, descriptions of several mountain routes (sold out)

Triglav National Park (published by Mladinska knjiga Založba, d.d., Ljubljana 2001, authors Tea Lukan Klavžer and Martin Šolar). Contents: the origin and development of the Triglav National Park, geological composition and structure, waters, climate, flora, fauna, settlements, mountain pastures – alps, natural sights, cultural monuments, tourism and recreation, mountaineering, ski-touring, caving, cycling, paragliding, mountain tours (available)

Guide books on the (Eastern) Julian Alps (TNP):
The most important publication in this field is the guidebook by Tine Mihelič titled The Julian Alps (7th edition, Planinska založba PZS). The book presents mountain paths and pathless areas of the Julian Alps and lists the mountain huts. Other interesting guide books include Severni pristopi (Northern routes – the Julian Alps in the area of the Upper Sava Valley) and Bohinjske gore (Mountains of Bohinj) by the same author, Sto slovenskih vrhov (Hundred Slovene Summits) by Stanko Klinar, Z otroki v gore (To the Mountains with Children) by Urša and Adrej Stritar.
TNP publications.
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Where can I spend the night?
Accommodation facilities are available in the mountain huts belonging to the Triglav National Park Public Institution and in the Trenta Lodge, mountain huts, and bivouacs. Accommodation is also available in some camping sites, hotels, guest houses, private rooms and holiday flats.
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