Lepena Valley
IMPORTANT: Maintenance work is being carried out on hiking trails during summer 2026. Visitors are kindly asked to follow all on-site signage.
The map below shows closed sections of the Lepena hiking trail and recommended detours during the maintenance works, which will take place on the trails and footbridges in Lepena Valley and in the Šunik Water Grove area from July 2026 onwards. Please strictly follow all instructions and warnings, as they are intended to ensure the safety of both visitors and workers. Use of the trail is at your own risk.
The glacial Lepena Valley in Triglav National Park, through which the Lepenjica River flows, is approximately five kilometres long. The river rises below the cliffs of Mali Lemež and flows into the Soča River near the Great Soča Gorge. A large gravel bar has formed at the confluence of the rivers. Common coltsfoot grows there and along the riverbanks; locals call it lepenje, from which both the river and the valley derive their name.
With suitable hiking footwear, you can explore the valley on foot or combine walking with a bus ride. A hiking trail runs through the entire valley, with a circular section around Šunik Water Grove.
Our recommendation: leave your car at one of the car parks in Bovec and travel to Lepena Valley by public transport.
In this picturesque part of Triglav National Park, the Šumnik stream joins the Lepenjica watercourse in the area of Šunik Water Grove, where the water has shaped small waterfalls, cascades, and gorges. The valley is covered with mixed forests, while moisture-loving willows and alders thrive along the watercourses, and meadows and pastures contribute to the valley’s rich mosaic of ecosystems.
Along the valley trail, you can also observe traces of the past, including long stone structures - dry stone walls, the remains of an old mill and sawmill, as well as remnants of military infrastructure from the First World War.
You may also choose to visit only Šunik Water Grove, where, surrounded by water, forest, and silence, you can reconnect with nature in a way that benefits both body and mind. Such places remind us that human well-being and a preserved natural environment are inseparably linked (OHA).
The valley is also home to the village of Lepena, a dispersed settlement with characteristic Alpine houses. At the end of the valley stands Dr Klement Jug Mountain Hut, which served as a military outpost during the First World War and today is an excellent starting point for hikes into the high mountains, including Mount Krn and Mount Bogatin. For more information about hiking trails in this part of Triglav National Park, see the map provided by the Alpine Association of Slovenia.
As already noted, maintenance work is being carried out in Lepena this summer. Please strictly follow all instructions and warnings, as they are intended to ensure the safety of both visitors and workers. Use of the trail is at your own risk.
Cycling on natural trails is prohibited. Dogs must be kept on a leash. In Lepena Valley, forest paths alternate with gravel and asphalt roads, and footbridges cross the watercourses at several points. Some sections of the trail may be slippery after rain, so please take extra care while walking.
In Triglav National Park, we regularly monitor visitor numbers. On our website, you can view data on the number of visitors to Lepena Valley.
Thank you.