Pokljuka Gorge, the hidden gem of Julian Alps
The natural monument of Pokljuka Gorge is located in Slovenia’s Triglav National Park. The gorge is a remnant of a former stream embedded in limestone rock and is home to various karst formations, including natural bridges and towering walls. You can visit gorge by a circular path through the gorge, passing by landmarks such as Prince Andrej’s Gallery and the Partisan Passage.
Discover Pokljuka Gorge
Pokljuka, a hidden gem, boasts the breathtaking natural monument of Pokljuka Gorge. This fascinating gorge stretches for almost two kilometers and was formed when a former stream became embedded in limestone during the retreat of glaciers after the last ice age. Over time, the water receded, forming the largest fossil gorge in Slovenia.
Visitors to Pokljuka Gorge will see various karst formations, including natural bridges, towering walls, and cavities. At some points, the gorge narrows to just a few meters, while the intermediate expansions are called “kindergartens.” In 1930, locals built the galleries, named after Prince Andrej, which feature the most famous transitional cave passage called the Pokljuka Hole. The Hole boasts three “natural windows”, and both entrances lead to the old path to Pokljuka Rovte and further to Pokljuka.
Though not crowded, Pokljuka Gorge is a natural wonder deserving attention and admiration. It is a protected natural monument within the Triglav National Park.
There are various karst formations, natural bridges, overhanging walls, and caves in the Pokljuka Gorge.
Direction to Pokljuka Gorge
To reach Pokljuka Gorge, you will follow the main road from Bled towards Pokljuka. In the village of Zgornje Gorje, look for a sign for Zgornja Radovna or Mojstrana. Turn on the right, then on the left. After a few meters, you will reach the gorge’s parking lot. The path through Pokljuka Gorge is well-marked and recently renovated, with descriptive panels. The circular route, in the shape of an eight, takes you up through the bottom of the gorge and back above the walls through the Pokljuka Hole to the starting point.
Alternatively, you can travel to the bottom of the canyon and back along the same path. The journey begins upstream from the parking lot along the dry streambed, where steep walls soon surround visitors. At the first intersection, you can peek to the left into a “blind valley,” where a hidden waterfall surprises during heavy rain. To the right is the intriguing Pokljuka Hole, a large rock cavity with a collapsed ceiling, through which visitors can return if they choose to take the circular path. Continuing straight leads to the marked intersection, where you will turn left to pass by the high walls and witness the gorge narrow and open up.
Warning: There is a risk of falling stones, especially after heavy rains and in early spring. We recommend the use of a helmet.
Duration: 1.5 h (described circular route)
Distance: 4 km
Altitude difference: 200 m
Difficulty: easily trail
