Logarska Dolina Waterfalls

Logarska dolina, the Logar Valley, is a long, glacier-carved valley in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps in northern Slovenia, near the village of Solčava and the Austrian border. It is often called one of the most beautiful Alpine valleys in Europe, a flat green floor about seven kilometres long, enclosed by steep forested slopes and, at its head, a ring of limestone peaks. The valley is a protected landscape park, part of the Natura 2000 network, and it has been kept largely free of development, with scattered farms, meadows and forest. The Savinja river, one of the main rivers of eastern Slovenia, rises here, and several waterfalls tumble down the valley sides.

The best known of them is the Rinka waterfall, which drops from a rocky wall at the head of the valley under the peak of Rinka, in a series of leaps totalling around ninety metres, and feeds the young Savinja. It is one of the highest waterfalls in the country, and it can be reached by a marked path from the end of the valley road. The walk takes about an hour or so from the valley's upper car park, mostly through forest and then on a rocky path, with the sound of the water growing louder as you approach. The volume is greatest in spring and after rain, and in winter the cascade may freeze partly, forming ice curtains that attract climbers. Other, smaller waterfalls and cascades appear along the valley, such as the Palenk, which flows down the slope in a narrow ribbon, and they are less visited. The paths are generally suitable for walkers of average fitness, though they can be wet and steep in places.

The valley has much more to offer. Farms with traditional buildings stand along the road, some selling cheese and dairy products, and the Solčava region is known for its pastoral landscape, local sheep and cheeses. A chapel dedicated to Christ the King stands in the valley, and several viewpoints, including the one on the Panoramic Road from Solčava, allow a look back over the whole valley. The visitor centre provides maps and advice on trails, and there are walking and cycling routes of different lengths, as well as huts higher up for longer trips. Motor traffic is limited, and a fee is charged for cars entering the valley, which helps protect the environment.

The waterfalls suit walkers, families, photographers and nature lovers, and the valley is a good place for a full day outdoors. Summer is the busiest season, while autumn brings fine colour, and spring has the strongest water. Bring sturdy shoes, a rain layer and water, and check conditions before setting out.