Located in Triglav National Park heart between the Dolič Pass (2,164 m), the Hribarice Pass (2,306 m) and the Prehodavci Pass (2071 m), Kanjavec Mountain peak(2,568 m – 8,425 ft) is gentle and mountain panoramic view jam-packed.
High in the heart of Triglav National Park, tucked between three mountain passes, lies Kanjavec – a 2,568-metre-high peak that offers perhaps the softest welcome of all the Alpine giants. It’s a place where capricorns graze silently, where alpine flowers bloom undisturbed, and where hikers like me, not born with mountain legs, can fall in love with altitude for the first time.
Kanjavec might not have the drama of Triglav or the fame of Mangart, but that’s exactly the point. This is a mountain for those who move slowly, who pause, and who savour – not just the view from the top, but every step on the trail that leads there.
Why Hike Kanjavec?
Kanjavec is often described as the most accessible Alpine peak in Slovenia. And it’s true: from the southern side, the approach is not technically demanding. But to call it “easy” would miss the essence.
It’s not easy – it’s gracious.
The hike allows time and space. Space to listen to your own breath. Time to watch the morning sun split the clouds. It’s not about conquering, but about connecting – with the trail, with nature, and maybe with something in yourself. Kanjavec was my first real Alpine ascent, and it opened more than just a panoramic view. It opened a door.
The Setting: In the Heart of Triglav National Park
Kanjavec is surrounded by the Dolič Pass, Hribarice Pass, and Prehodavci Pass. From almost any direction – Trenta Valley, Bohinj, or the Triglav Lakes – it’s reachable in 5 to 6 hours of hiking.
For our journey, we took the Zadnjica–Prehodavci ascent and returned via Dolič Hut. This route creates a beautiful loop, passing through wild valleys, high pastures, and moonlike ridges.
Trailhead: Zadnjica Valley
The hike begins near the quiet village of Na Logu in Zadnjica Valley. It’s already clear here that this will be a day of stillness. The road leads us past old farmhouses, through silent woods, until the forest opens into a wide gravel basin – a place carved by glaciers, now given over to time.
We followed the signs to Zasavska koča na Prehodavci. The path climbs gently at first, then picks up, twisting through forest and scree, pausing by an alpine spring with a wooden bench – an invitation to rest, not to rush.
We accept.
The First Ascent: To Zasavska Koča na Prehodavci
Above the forest line, the path becomes quieter still. On our right, the slopes of Zadnjiški Ozebnik stretch upward. We pass a small shrine – a statue of the Virgin Mary tucked into the rocks. A reminder that for centuries, people have come here with reverence.
The final push to the hut is steep, winding along a mule track once used by soldiers and border guards. But once we reach the Prehodavci Ridge, everything opens.
Here sits the Zasavska Koča hut – modest, wind-beaten, and proud. Built in 1954 on the foundations of an old Italian outpost, it’s managed today by the Radeče Mountaineering Association. It offers warm food, shared beds, and what might be the finest view in all of Triglav National Park.
In the Realm of Capricorns
Above the hut lie two small alpine lakes: Rjavo Jezero and Jezero pod Vršacem. Below them, a slope of wildflowers. And above all – capricorns.
They come close. You hear them before you see them. You feel like a guest in their world, not the other way around. It’s humbling and beautiful. We sit in silence. We take photos. But mostly, we just watch.
Second Ascent: From Prehodavci to the Summit
From the hut, we continue downhill briefly, then join the path leading toward Hribarice Pass. The climb becomes steeper here, zigzagging across a scree slope below Poprovec. Still, it’s not difficult. It just requires breath – and patience.
After another hour, we arrive at a saddle between Kanjavec’s twin summits. From here, the final ascent takes only minutes.
The top is a wide, flat space with views in every direction. You see Triglav to the northeast, the Soča Valley to the west, Bohinj to the south. If the weather is clear, the horizon feels like a memory waiting to be born.
The Summit: Kanjavec, 2,568 m
There’s no cross on the summit, only a small box with a mountaineering stamp and a notebook to sign your name. But there’s no need for more. Kanjavec doesn’t need to shout.
It invites you to linger.
We ate bread and cheese. We drank water from melted snow. We took pictures, but not too many. And then we sat – letting the wind carry our thoughts across the ridges.
It was my first real Alpine summit. I’ll never forget it.
The Descent: Down via Dolič Hut
Our descent took us down the steep eastern face, toward the Koča na Doliču hut. The initial section is rocky and exposed, with some protected sections, but nothing overwhelming. Eventually, the trail becomes a smooth mule path, carved centuries ago.
Below us, the hut comes into view, nestled like a secret.
We paused there for water, for coffee, and for one last look back at Kanjavec, which now towered quietly behind us.
From there, the trail drops back into Zadnjica Valley, looping us gently back to where we started.
The Joy of Moving Slowly
Kanjavec is not about speed. It’s about presence.
Yes, the hike can be done in a long day. But the best way is to stay overnight at Prehodavci Hut, to watch the stars, to hear the marmots, to wake with the sun. Then, and only then, does Kanjavec share everything it has to offer.
This is not a climb to tick off your list. It’s a place to return to, again and again – because each time, it feels a little different. A little deeper.
Tips for Your Kanjavec Adventure
- Best season: July to September (the hut is open daily in this period).
- Accommodation: Zasavska koča na Prehodavci has 39 beds and a winter room with 16.
- Timing: Plan 6–8 hours for the round trip (not counting rest stops).
- Photo tip: Early morning is best for catching the clouds and capricorns.
- Bonus idea: Combine with Triglav Lakes trail or an overnight at Koča na Doliču.
- Wildlife: Capricorns, marmots, and eagles are frequent sights.
Getting There
- By car: Drive to the Zadnjica Valley via Trenta. There’s a small parking lot at the trailhead.
- By bus: Reach Trenta from Kranjska Gora or Bovec, then hike or hitch to Zadnjica.
- No permits needed: Unlike Triglav, Kanjavec doesn’t require climbing equipment or alpine club membership for the southern routes.
Final Thought
Kanjavec might not be the highest, the most famous, or the most photographed mountain in Slovenia. But it might just be the most generous.
It’s where I learned to move slowly and breathe deeply. Where I saw clouds from above for the first time. Where I understood that the best views are not only those from the top, but also those from within.
And that, I think, is what makes a mountain worth remembering.