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Published: October 23rd 2017
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Vratsa Eco Trail
Emma stands behind a waterfall Bulgaria has some great hikes
We enjoy hiking and when we travel we try to find good hikes when possible. We found a few on this trip and we would now like to tell you a bit about them.
Perhaps the word "hike" isn't the best way to describe what we did. "Walks" might be more accurate because none of them lasted more than 6 hours. But we like to pretend we are better than we really are so to us they are still "hikes".
Vratsa The town Vratsa sits at the foothills of the Balkan Mountains, much of which is protected as national park. There are many different hiking routes through the mountains, some of them take only a few hours and others will take you a full day or more to complete.
We took a hike which started close to Vratsa, just outside the small village Zgorigrad. The hiking trail was labelled "Eco Trail". It was a good trail to walk where they have spent much effort to build supporting structures such as ladders and bridges at the most difficult sections. It is not an easy hike we'd
Vratsa Eco Trail
The Balkan Mountains, much of which is protected as national park. like to add because although the section we walked only was between three and four kilometers it was uphill all the way. The altitude difference between the beginning and the spot where we turned back may have been more than 300 meters.
The hike started at a place which looked a bit strange. There where big concrete cylinders standing there and the ground was unusually barren. We later learned that there used to be a mine in the area and at the place where the ground was barren there used to be a large dam filled with wastewater from the mine. In 1966 the dam broke and water and mud rushed down the valley and caused devastation in both Zgorigrad and Vratsa. Officially just over 100 people was killed in the accident but that number is not believed to be accurate. The actual number of casualties is thought to be higher, maybe as high as 500.
After we left the former dam behind the trail took us into the forest and up through a narrow gorge up to a waterfall. After the waterfall there was a short but very steep climb and then we reached a much flatter
Vratsa Eco Trail
After the waterfall there was a short but very steep climb and then we reached a much flatter area. A short walk later and we left the forest and entered a meadow area. A short walk later and we left the forest and entered a meadow. The trail continued on but we decided to turn back again.
Devin Devin is not really a hiking destination. We went there because we wanted to try a spa. Once there we learned that there is an area outside the town where you can hike. We hiked two different routes, both rather short. The first route took us to a hilltop where there a long time ago used to stand a small fortress. The ruins of that fortress were so overgrown that if we hadn't known they were there we probably would have missed them.
The second route took us up to a small waterfall. We had swimsuits with us so we tried to get into the water by the waterfall. The water was very shallow so all we got was a shower. A very cold one we might add.
Seven Rila Lakes This might be the most popular of all hikes in Bulgaria. High up in the Rila Mountains there are seven glacial lakes. The lakes are at altitudes between 2,100 meters and 2,500 meters but
Vratsa Eco Trail
Waterfall at the Vratsa Eco Trail are easier to reach than you might expect. From the ski resort and village Panichishte there is a cable car which takes you up in the mountains. From the top of the cable car it is quite easy to reach six of the seven lakes. The seventh one requires a bit of climbing. You don't have to be super fit to do this hike as long as you allow yourself time. It will take the better part of a day but you are rewarded with breathtaking scenery and fantastic views.
We recorded a film at the top of this hike which might give you an idea of what it looked like. Our pictures don't do it justice
Rila Monastery Rila Monastery we mentioned in our previous blog. It sits on one end of the Rila Mountains and the Seven Rila Lakes is on the other side. It is possible to begin a hike from Rila Lakes and eventually reach Rila Monastery. That hike would take more than a day. We didn't do that hike. We did the Seven Rila Lakes Hike and took the cable car down and drove to Rila Monastery. But after
Vratsa Eco Trail
There used to be a mine here and at this place there used to be a large dam filled with wastewater from the mine. In 1966 the dam broke and water and mud rushed down the valley and caused devastation in both Zgorigrad and Vratsa. we had seen the monastery we did a small hike from a resort area further up the valley. That hike was probably the shortest of those we have mentioned here. The trail went from the restaurants down at the resort up a forested slope and into an open valley where there was a small lake.
Musala Peak Musala Peak is at 2,925 meters the highest peak in the Balkan Peninsula. Just like the Seven Rila Lakes this hike is made easier by there being a cable car helping you through the long, and what otherwise would be very boring, beginning of the hike.
This hike is slightly harder than the Seven Rila Lakes Hike but again most people can do it. We saw kids not more than 10 years and men and women who might have been in their 70-ies who did it. So if you are able to walk a few kilometers without taking a break you can do this hike as long as you allow yourself time.
The nature and the views were not as great on this hike as on the Seven Rila Lakes Hike. The nature was rougher probably due
Hike near Devin
We hiked two different routes, both rather short. The first route took us to a hilltop where the views were great to the slightly higher altitude. It was still a good hike.
There are many other hiking trails in Bulgaria. If you like us are a traveller who wish to do all kinds of different stuff on your vacation we can recommend you to try to squeeze in a hike or two in your agenda. If hiking is your thing in life, you'll find plenty of great adventures in Bulgaria.
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Lorraine Brecht
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