Quick Overview – Best Waterfalls in Slovenia
Slovenia’s waterfalls are not just photo stops – they are shortcuts into canyons, alpine cirques and deep forest corridors. This guide picks 18 of the most worthwhile waterfalls and gorges across the country, including several Hidden Gems already in the Slovenia Essence archive.
- Alpine icons: Savica, Peričnik, Rinka, Martuljek, Kozjak, Virje.
- Hidden gorges: Pekel, Mostnica, Kosec Gorges, Dovžanova Gorge, Fratarica.
- Quiet forest canyons & local falls: Orglice, Repov, Bistriški Vintgar and more.
Use this as a planning layer on top of your Alpine Slovenia, Coast & Karst, Eastern Slovenia region pages and the Hidden Gems archive to turn waterfalls into full days, not just detours.
How to Use This Waterfalls Guide
- Each waterfall or gorge is tagged by region and type: ALPS, COAST, CENTRAL, EAST, plus WATERFALL or GORGE.
- Some are drive-up viewpoints, others require a 1–3 hour hike through proper mountain terrain.
- Several entries link to full Hidden Gem guides on Slovenia Essence – use those for exact access, parking and safety details.
- For a 5–7 day trip, you realistically need 3–6 waterfalls, not all 18.
- Rocks, roots and wooden walkways are often slippery, especially after rain.
- Respect barriers and signed paths – water is stronger than it looks in photos.
- Check seasonal access for high-mountain valleys; snow and ice linger longer than Instagram suggests.
Julian Alps & Triglav National Park – Big Names & Hidden Corridors
Around Bohinj, Bled, Kranjska Gora and the Soča Valley you can move between tourist classics and quiet corridors in a single day. These waterfalls anchor some of the best mixed hiking days in Slovenia.
Savica Waterfall – Iconic Bohinj Cascade in a Rock Amphitheatre
Savica is the poster waterfall of Bohinj – a sharp, diagonal fall dropping into a turquoise pool inside a rock amphitheatre. A short but stepped path leads from the parking area through forest to a series of platforms with different angles on the cascade and basin.
It’s not a hidden place at all, but it works well at the start or end of a Bohinj day, especially when you combine it with lake walks, Mostnica or a cable car ride to Vogel.
Mostnica Gorge & Voje Valley – Long Water Corridor Above Bohinj
Mostnica is a full journey rather than a single waterfall: a narrow carved gorge with deep pools and rock formations, opening into the meadow-filled Voje valley with a waterfall at the upper end. The full out-and-back walk can easily fill half a day if you stop for views and food.
It’s one of the best ways to experience running water, forest and traditional alpine meadows in a single, realistic route above Lake Bohinj.
Peričnik Waterfall – Walk Behind the Curtain
Peričnik in the Vrata Valley is famous because you can walk behind the main fall when conditions allow. A short, steep trail climbs from the valley floor to a ledge that circles behind the water curtain, with mist and echoing sound on all sides.
There is also an upper waterfall higher above, reached by a more demanding, often slippery path. The entire area feels raw and close to the rock.
Martuljek Waterfalls – Two-Tiered Route into a Narrow Valley
The Martuljek waterfall system above Gozd Martuljek comes in two layers. The lower section is easier to reach and already impressive; the upper waterfall sits deeper in a tighter valley and takes more effort and care to approach.
What makes the route special is how it narrows and deepens as you go, with bridges, forest and rock walls slowly closing in. It’s a great “progression” hike: the further you go, the more intense the scenery gets.
Fratarica Waterfalls – Raw Cascades Beneath Loška Stena
The Fratarica trail in the Upper Soča Valley strings together a series of raw cascades under the massive wall of Loška Stena. Some falls drop cleanly, others slide and fan-out over rock, with short access paths leading to several viewpoints.
It feels wilder than the more polished, fenced tourist gorges – exactly what many travellers want once they’ve done the obvious postcard stops.
Kozjak Waterfall – Green Chamber Near Kobarid
Kozjak is a single waterfall tucked into a narrow, almost cave-like chamber near Kobarid. The final section of the path runs along a wooden walkway above the river, ending at a platform with a clean view into the rock bowl and pool.
It’s compact but cinematic – perfect to combine with Soča river views, Kobarid historical sites and quieter gorge walks in the area.
Virje Waterfall – Wide Green Fan Near Bovec
Virje, close to Bovec, is a wide fan-shaped waterfall dropping into a green pool. The combination of moss, smooth rocks and the curve of the fall makes it one of the most photogenic “small” waterfalls in the Soča region.
The access is relatively short, which makes it ideal as an evening or early-morning stop around Bovec when you don’t have time for a full gorge hike.
Šunik Water Grove – Cluster of Small Falls in the Lepena Valley
The Šunik Water Grove is not one big drop but a cluster of smaller cascades, pools and channels carved into the rock in the Lepena side valley. Short loop paths and bridges let you explore the area from several angles without committing to a long hike.
It’s a good choice when you want something atmospheric and shaded on a hot Soča day, or when cloud covers the high peaks.
Logar Valley & Northern Alps – Vertical Walls & High Falls
In the Kamnik–Savinja Alps and Logar Valley, waterfalls hang from high rock walls and drop into deep glacial valleys. These feel bigger and more vertical than many others in Slovenia.
Rinka Waterfall – Vertical Drop at the End of Logar Valley
Rinka is a tall, clean waterfall at the head of Logar Valley, dropping from a cliff into a narrow amphitheatre. The walk from the car park is short but gives you enough time to feel the valley close in around you before the fall appears.
A small hut perched above the basin offers a more elevated angle – you see both the drop and a slice of the valley below.
Palenk Waterfall – Layered Cascade Below Rinka
Palenk sits lower in the Logar Valley and feels more intimate than Rinka. Water slides and drops over multiple ledges, framed by forest and rock. It’s a quick but rewarding stop when you’re exploring the valley floor by car or bike.
Čedca Waterfall – Former Giant, Now Dramatic Rock Amphitheatre
Čedca above Jezersko was once one of the highest waterfalls in Slovenia. After major rock collapses, the original fall is no longer intact – but the cirque and debris field remain a stark reminder of how dynamic alpine landscapes actually are.
You don’t come here for a perfect postcard cascade, but for the raw power of a place where part of a mountain has visibly re-shaped itself.
Dovžanova Gorge – Geological Canyon with River Falls
Dovžanova is officially about geology – layered rock walls, fossils and folded strata – but the river that carved it forms its own sequence of rapids, small falls and pools. Bridges and paths let you watch water work through the canyon at close range.
It’s a strong choice if you like the idea of a gorge walk but want more space and fewer crowds than the most famous tourist corridors.
Karst & Central Slovenia – Narrow Gorges & Forest Waterfalls
Away from the biggest alpine valleys, water cuts narrower, more intimate corridors. These spots work well as day trips from Ljubljana or as “in-between” days on a longer route.
Kosec Gorges – Quiet Limestone Corridors Above Kobarid
The Kosec Gorges are a set of tight limestone corridors and waterfalls above Kobarid, much quieter than the main Kozjak trail. Paths and small bridges weave through forest, giving you repeated encounters with pools, chutes and falls without big crowds.
It’s a perfect “second day” in the Kobarid area once you’ve done Kozjak and main Soča spots.
Pekel Gorge – Stepped Waterfall Corridor Near Celje
Pekel (“Hell”) is a narrow corridor near Celje where a stream drops over a sequence of waterfalls as it cuts through rock. Stepped paths, ladders and bridges follow the gorge upwards, revealing one fall after another as you climb.
It’s dramatic without being extreme – as long as you’re comfortable with heights and exposed staircases.
Orglice Waterfall – Forest Cascade in Kamnik Hills
Orglice is a graceful forest waterfall in the Kamnik area, reached by a moderate hike through woodland and along streams. The fall itself drops in a clean line into a rocky bowl, surrounded by moss and shade – more about mood than raw power.
It works well as a quieter day out from Ljubljana if you’ve already visited the main tourist gorges.
Repov Waterfall – Local Cascade in the Polhov Gradec Hills
Repov slap in the Polhov Gradec hills is a smaller, local-feeling waterfall tucked into a forested valley west of Ljubljana. It’s the kind of place you can combine with a countryside lunch and a ridge walk for an easy “city escape” day.
Eastern Slovenia & Forest Canyons
Eastern Slovenia is not known first for waterfalls, but forest gorges and stream corridors add texture to wine and spa trips – especially on cooler or cloudier days.
Bistriški Vintgar – Gorge Walk with River Cascades
Bistriški Vintgar near Slovenska Bistrica is a quieter gorge with river cascades, small falls and forest atmosphere. Trails follow the water, crossing bridges and passing remnants of old mills and infrastructure.
It’s not as vertical as some alpine gorges, but it delivers a strong “deep green” feeling and pairs well with nearby Pohorje and wine country.
Sotinski Breg Area – Small Cascades & Border Hills
Around Sotinski Breg, Slovenia’s highest “hill” in the far northeast, minor streams form small cascades and forest drops rather than major named waterfalls. They’re best seen as part of a wider loop through border hills, viewpoints and villages.
Come here if you are already exploring the far east of the country and want to add a bit of moving water to a day of horizons and quiet roads.

Planning Around Waterfalls – Seasons & Crowd Levels
- Spring: strongest flows, green moss, also the highest chance of wet, muddy and partially closed paths.
- Summer: better access and longer days; some falls run lower, but gorges are cooler than open ridges.
- Autumn: variable water levels, beautiful forest colour and fewer people.
- Winter: some waterfalls turn into ice curtains – spectacular but only for those with proper winter equipment and experience.
- Pick one main gorge or waterfall day per region (e.g. Savica or Mostnica near Bohinj, Peričnik or Martuljek near Kranjska Gora, Kozjak or Kosec in the Soča area).
- Use waterfalls as anchors for full days – add a lake walk, ridge viewpoint or village lunch instead of stacking four waterfalls in a row.
- Combine this guide with the Alpine Slovenia, Coast & Karst and Eastern Slovenia region pages, plus the Hidden Gems archive, to build days that balance water, views, effort and recovery.
Done right, Slovenia’s waterfalls are not just blue pins on a map but the spine of slow, high-value days – linking valleys, forests, villages and ridges into trips that actually feel like the country you came to see, not just a folder of disconnected pictures.