Hiking in the Julian Alps, Slovenia
The Julian Alps (Julijske Alpe in Slovene and Alpe Giulie in Italian) are a mountain range that stretches from Northeastern Italy into Northwestern Slovenia. Forming part of the Southern Limestone Alps, Julijske Alpe is not the highest range in Europe, but it’s certainly one of the most spectacular. Some hikes reward you with idyllic scenes of high alpine pastures. Other trails spoil you with striking angles of Mt. Triglav (e.g. Viševnik).
Hiking in the Julian Alps can also be very challenging. Make sure you have the proper equipment and take necessary precautions as you traverse steep scree and crumbling limestone terrain.
In this Julian Alps hiking guide, we’re presenting our favorite day hikes as well as hut-to-hut hikes. If you’re interested in long-distance trekking, you’ll find additional resources at the end of this post. Because these mountains are mostly contained to the borders of Slovenia, most of the hiking trails pertain to hiking on the Slovenian-side.
Rules for Visiting the Julian Alps
Slovenia’s Triglav National Park encompasses most of the Julian Alps range. There’s no entrance fee for entering Triglav National Park. However, there are a few attractions within the park that require a small fee, including Tolmin Gorge and Slap Savica. While you’re visiting the Julian Alps, you’re also visiting Triglav National Park. So, please keep these important rules in mind:
- Respect the habitats of animals and plants. Picking flowers is prohibited.
- Camping outside designated areas is not permitted. Wild camping is illegal.
- Take all garbage back with you down to the valley. Leave no trace.
- Triglav park trails are only allowed for hiking, not for mountain biking.
- Bathing in mountain lakes is strictly prohibited.
When to Visit the Julian Alps
July, August, and September are the best months for alpine hiking in the Julian Alps. Depending on the length of the winter, it’s also possible to hike in May and June at lower elevations. We hiked across the Julian Alps in July and experienced great conditions. We also re-visited in mid-May and experienced unstable weather and lots of snow. In May, we were able to hike to 1500 m but there was still a great deal of snow on the trail.