Date: 11. August 2025
Time to read: 5 min
Saying we're heading from Maribor to Debeli Rtič doesn't sound all that exciting. But what if we add that we'll also be climbing Triglav along the way? Then it can mean only one thing: we’re embarking on the Slovenian Mountain Trail – Slovenia’s oldest and most iconic long-distance hiking route, and among the first of its kind in Europe.
The 617-kilometre trail links the northeast and southwest of Slovenia. Along the trail, hikers encounter at least 35 peaks, including Slovenia's highest summits, 55 mountain huts, 5 Slovenian towns, 80 checkpoints and numerous points of interest.
It takes 37 days to complete the entire trail – but it's the journey, not just the destination, that truly matters.
The trail's originator Ivan Šumljak, a teacher, mountaineer and lifelong mountain enthusiast, offered hikers a simple yet enduring piece of advice:
"Take your time! Even at a slow pace, you can go far. Be observant! Don’t just gaze into the distance – the world beneath your feet is just as beautiful and full of wonder. Do you recognise every bird that greets you from its hiding place, or know it by its call? And can you name the butterfly, the beetle or the stone beneath your feet? Stop often. Look. Listen."
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The Slovenian Mountain Trail is marked with the distinctive Knafelc trail blaze, accompanied by the number 1. Photo: Manca Ogrin
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Photo: Manca Ogrin
Exploring Slovenia in 43 stages
In 43 stages, the Slovenian Mountain Trail leads you to the Adriatic Sea, crossing the Pohorje mountain range, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, the Karavanke and the Julian Alps, across the hills of Idrija, the Trnovo Forest Plateau, the Hrušica Plateau and Nanos, then along the Karst Edge. The trail begins in Maribor, more precisely in Spodnje Radvanje, and ends on a cliff overlooking the sea.
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Hikers can complete the trail stage by stage or choose individual sections.
Natural and cultural attractions
The Slovenian Mountain Trail offers countless spots to stop and rest. In addition to breathtaking views, the trail winds past unique natural and cultural treasures.
It passes through Triglav National Park, the only national park in Slovenia. The Slovenian Alpine Museum in Mojstrana tells the stories of mountaineering, alpinism and mountain rescue. For a change of scenery, trade the high-altitude trails for the underground world of the Škocjan Caves.
In a small valley near Cerkno, the moving story of the Franja Partisan Hospital, a hidden wartime sanctuary that operated during the Second World War, captures the hearts of visitors. Near the end of the trail, Socerb Castle greets visitors with a stunning view of the Gulf of Trieste – the last major landmark before descending to the sea.
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First challenge: Pohorje, where the trail mostly runs through sheltered forests. Photo: Jošt Gantar
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Above the marshy terrain of the Lovrenc Lakes, the trail safely leads across wooden planks. Photo: Jošt Gantar
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Triglav, Slovenia’s highest peak at 2,864 metres, lies at the heart of Triglav National Park. Photo: Jošt Gantar
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The Prehodavci Lodge is one of the many mountain huts along the trail. Photo: Jošt Gantar
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Idrija is one of five Slovenian towns the trail passes through. The others are Maribor, Slovenj Gradec, Tržič and Ankaran. Photo: Tomo Jeseničnik
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Slavnik, the last prominent panoramic peak before the Adriatic, belongs to the Dinaric Alps yet displays many sub-Mediterranean characteristics. Photo: Jaka Ivančič
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At the trail’s end, the path gives way to the sea. The final trail blaze is located at the top of the Debeli Rtič Cliff. Photo: Jaka Ivančič
