Mostnica Gorge

Mostnica Gorge is a narrow, wooded canyon near Stara Fužina, a village on the north shore of Lake Bohinj, and it is one of the most scenic short walks in the area. The Mostnica stream, which flows down from the Voje valley and eventually reaches the lake, has cut a deep channel through the limestone, leaving smooth walls, small cascades and pools that are a striking clear green. The gorge is about two kilometres long, and a path follows the stream on its way up, crossing it several times on wooden bridges.

The most famous feature is the Devil's Bridge, an old stone arch that spans the stream at a narrow point and gives a view of the water churning in the channel below. The path itself is well-trodden and easy to follow, but it is uneven in places, with wet rock and some steps, so visitors should wear shoes with a good grip. The sound of water is constant, and in places the walls close in so that the gorge feels like a cool, damp corridor. Moss covers the stones, ferns grow in the shade, and the vegetation changes from broad-leaved woods near the entrance to spruce higher up.

Above the gorge, the walk opens out into the Voje valley, a green glacial valley with meadows and scattered huts, where cattle graze in summer and the surrounding peaks of the Julian Alps rise on all sides. A path continues to a waterfall at the head of the valley, and walkers who wish to extend the day can go on from there to higher routes. The valley is quieter than the lake shore, and the contrast between the dense gorge and the open meadows is part of the appeal. In autumn, the beech woods turn gold, and the cows return to the lower pastures.

Stara Fužina, the starting point, is itself worth a visit: the name recalls the ironworking that once took place here, and the village has a dairy museum and traditional wooden houses. The gorge pairs well with other sights around Bohinj. Lake Bohinj and a Boat ride across Lake Bohinj are close, Slap Savica Waterfall is a short drive away, and the Vogel cable car and Vogar viewpoint give views from above. Ribcev Laz and the church of St John the Baptist are at the lake's eastern edge. The gorge is best from late spring to autumn, and parking at Stara Fužina fills up early on summer days.