If you ever wanted to walk through a postcard, the trail to Triglav Lakes is your invitation. Not just one lake. Not two. But a family of alpine gems—each one with a different color, character, and mood—spread across high-altitude meadows, surrounded by larch forests and watched over by limestone walls.
The trail isn’t made to be rushed. It’s made to be wandered. To stop. To stare. To breathe.
And on this summer day, that’s exactly what we did.
Starting the Day Early – But Not Too Early
We left Istria around 6:30 a.m. A slow start, but we weren’t racing the clock. This was never about making records. It was about making time slow down.
The drive took us through Slovenia’s mountain spine. The road wrapped its arms around the Soča River, past Kobarid and Bovec, and eventually led us toward Lake Bohinj, still sleepy in the early light. At Old Fužina, we turned toward the mountains and followed the narrow alpine road to Planina Blato (1,147 m), where the hike begins.
Note: Parking here is paid (10 EUR), and space is limited. But the meadow—surrounded by silence, tall trees, and morning mist—already made us feel we’d arrived somewhere sacred.
Planina Blato to Planina pri Jezeru – First Light, First Climb
The first climb was steep—no way around it. The trail wastes no time waking up your legs. But once your breath catches up, the beauty starts to unfold. After about 20 minutes of huffing uphill, the path softens. The forest opens just enough to reveal hints of distant peaks, and the smell of pine begins to blend with the scent of damp soil.
After another 30 minutes, we reached Planina pri Jezeru—a quiet alpine pasture with a tiny lake nestled at its center. Cows grazed lazily around the hut, and their bells echoed off the cliffs. This was our first true pause. Not to eat or check the map—but just to take it all in.
For families, this is already a worthy destination. A morning spent here, near the water and the cattle, is enough to recharge the soul.
Into the Forest and Toward Dedno Polje
From Planina pri Jezeru, the trail continued gently, winding toward the next alpine pasture: Dedno Polje. The terrain changed—less steep, more like a long walk through the woods, with the occasional rocky step to keep your attention.
We passed an old cheese hut and more grazing cows. Their presence felt like a reminder that this land has been walked and worked for centuries. The wooden houses stood like time travelers—solid, unhurried, unchanged.
Shortly after, the trail forked. We followed the sign for Čez Prode—a route that circled around the ridge, offering spectacular views of Bohinj’s mountain ring. The climb resumed but gently, rhythmically. The kind of ascent that lets you fall into the pace of your heartbeat.
Arrival at Dvojno Jezero – The Dual Lakes
After a little more than 3.5 hours from Planina Blato (with only short breaks), we reached the shimmering jewel of the trail: Dvojno Jezero, the “Twin Lakes” of Triglav.
This is where time stops.
Clear alpine water mirrored the peaks above. The surface moved only with the breath of wind. Not a single ripple from swimmers—because this lake is sacred. No bathing. No noise. Just silence, broken occasionally by birdsong or the tinkling of a cowbell from the nearby pasture.
Above the lake sat Koča pri Triglavskih Jezerih, the “Hut at the Triglav Lakes.” Warm, wooden, and welcoming, it seemed to grow straight from the rock. Many hikers stay the night here. And honestly? That’s a wise choice. To pause here is to give the landscape what it deserves: time.
Toward Ledvica – The Kidney-Shaped Lake
But we had more to see.
After a brief rest and a refill of water, we continued uphill. The trail turned rockier now, moving into a more lunar landscape. Larch trees gave way to open stone. The views widened.
About an hour later, we reached Ledvica Lake—so named for its kidney shape. Green and deep, surrounded by stone giants, it looked like something carved from jade. Wind danced across its surface in tiny waves, making the sunlight shimmer and ripple.
This lake isn’t just the largest of the Triglav Seven—it’s the most profound. Many say it’s the true heart of the valley. And it feels like it. Remote, reflective, impossible to fully photograph.
Zeleno Jezero and the Climb Toward Prehodavci
Time was ticking now. We weren’t planning to spend the night, so we had to choose between reaching the farthest hut or turning back. Two members of our group decided to push on to Zasavska koča na Prehodavcih, the final hut at the head of the valley.
The rest of us stayed behind at Zeleno Jezero—the “Green Lake.” True to its name, it glowed with a mossy hue, surrounded by broken rock and the softest alpine wind. We took it slow here. One of us pulled out a camera. Another pulled out a snack. Nobody pulled out a watch.
That’s the rule when you find your favorite lake: stay a little longer than you planned.
Crossing Paths Again – and the Final Saddle
Eventually, we climbed the ridge, slowly, with care. The rocks here are sharp, and the air thinner. But there’s beauty in this part of the trail—the quiet struggle, the short scrambles, the way each pause brings another view.
At the saddle—called simply “The Door”—we rejoined the rest of our group. From here, the descent began.
The Long Descent – Back to Planina Blato
Down we went, retracing steps, passing again the lakes we had earlier greeted in silence. But the light had changed now—warmer, golden, and low.
Dvojno Jezero looked softer in the evening. Planina pri Jezeru felt quieter. The cows had returned to their shelters. And the last few hikers disappeared behind the forest.
By the time we reached Planina Blato, the sun had nearly dipped behind the peaks. It was just before 9 p.m.
In the End, It’s Not About the Number of Lakes
There are seven lakes in this valley. Maybe more, if you count the little ones after the snowmelt. But how many you reach matters less than how deeply you walk. It’s about pace, not peaks.
We walked for ten hours. We didn’t summit Triglav. We didn’t conquer anything. But we listened to the silence of alpine meadows. We shared apples on rocky ledges. We followed the rhythm of water.
And somewhere between Blato and Ledvica, we remembered why we love mountains.
Trek Goat Tips for the Triglav Lakes Trail
- Best time: July to September. Earlier in summer, snow may linger on higher passes.
- Total time: ~10 hours (if you do it in a day). Consider splitting the hike into two days for a gentler experience.
- Accommodation: Mountain huts at Koča pri Triglavskih Jezerih and Zasavska koča na Prehodavcih offer basic sleeping and meals.
- Essential gear: Hiking boots, layers, plenty of water, snacks, and optionally trekking poles.
- Photography tip: Golden hour at Dvojno Jezero is pure magic. Don’t rush past it.
- Access note: The toll road to Planina Blato is narrow and steep. Drive with care and park responsibly.
Final Thought
The Valley of the Triglav Lakes isn’t just a hiking destination—it’s a lesson in patience. A place where stone, sky, and water write stories in silence. And the only way to hear them is to slow down… and walk.