DISCOVER SOČA VALLEY IN A SPECIAL WAY
CYCLING IN SOČA VALLEY
Cycling is certainly one of the most suitable, as well as the most interesting ways to explore the Soča Valley and its hilly hinterland. The extraordinary diversity of the landscape makes for both easier, even family-friendly tours, as well as the most demanding mountain climbs.
Numerous mountain paths, forest roads and carts offer unlimited possibilities for mountain bikers, while less demanding cyclists can take more difficult roads through the valleys and on some plateaus.
Many cycling routes are described in cycling guides and marked on maps, but in nature, apart from rare exceptions, they are not yet marked.
Route description
We start the tour at the footbridge over the river Soča, 7 km from Bovec in the direction of Trenta. First, we cross the footbridge, turn left and follow the carriageway, which takes us along the left bank of the Soča River to the confluence with the Lepenjica stream. We cycle quickly after the confluence to the bridge over the Lepenjico stream. We cross the bridge, turn left onto the asphalt road and go straight past the Klin camp on the asphalt to the bridge over the Soča river. Before the bridge, turn right into the slope and continue along the macadam road straight along the left bank of the Soča River until the intersection with the asphalt road. At the crossroads, turn right towards the hamlet of Vrsnik. We climb up to the village of Na skali along the asphalt road, which turns into macadam after 3 km. We continue through the village uphill to the forester’s hut (1320 m). We return by the same route.
Attractions along the way
The last part of the route offers a beautiful view of Vrsnik, and the tour can be enriched with a hike to the scenic Čisti vrh (1875 m) above Trento.
Difficulty: medium/very demanding
Suitable for: mountain bikes
Total length: 32.4 km
Altitude difference: 1020 m
Route description
The cycling climb to the 1611m high Vršič Pass is one of the classic cycling routes in the Bov region. We start the tour in Bovec, where at the intersection for Predel and Trenta we turn right and pass the villages of Kal Koritnica and Soča and cycle along the winding road along the right bank of the Soča river to the village of Trenta, 20 km away. From here on, the winding road begins to climb steeply and, passing numerous serpentines, finally leads us to the 1611m high Vršič Pass, which is the well-deserved destination of our tour.
Attractions along the way
In addition to seeing the natural beauties of the valley, such as the Soča river with its source, we can also stop at the monument to dr. Julius Kugy, in the botanical garden Alpinum Juliana or in the Information Center of the Triglav National Park in the village of Trenta.
Difficulty: very demanding
Suitable for: mountain and road bikes
Total length: 62.4 km
Altitude difference: 1230 m
Technical descent on mountain paths, few wooden structures and many stone sections. You will definitely enjoy the Kanin Bike Park!
The starting point
You can cycle from anywhere in Bovec.
Description
Passing the main Bov square and up the main road next to the church towards the village of Plužna. After about a kilometer from Bovec, turn right at the Y-shaped intersection and stay on this road. The macadam road gradually climbs and every now and then there are views of Bovec and the surrounding area.
At the middle (B) station of the Kanin cable car, the road turns left and after about ten minutes we are at the crossroads. We go left and after about 250 meters we find a path that goes left into the forest. The descent begins there. The bike park is not very well marked, so you will have to follow the tracks of those who have cycled before you or the map on your phone.
But orientation here is actually not difficult. When you reach the dirt road, go left and leave it after 100 meters. The second part of the descent is not difficult to find and at the end of it we come back to the gravel road. Turn left and find a path that turns right after 100 to 150 meters.
The third, last part has the most difficult rocky sections. When we finish it, we turn left on macadam and left again on asphalt. After some pedaling, turn right at the intersection, from where it is not far to Bovec.
ATTENTION! The wooden parts are far from perfect and it is highly recommended that you check them before you bring your bike. Some sections of this descent are difficult and require good skills!
Duration: 2:30h
Descent difficulty: difficult
Distance / height: 15 km / 650 m
Route description
The starting point (1100m) is the turnoff for Mangart not far from the Predel border crossing. The asphalted road rises steadily past the Mangartska planina (1307 m), through three tunnels to the turnoff for the mountain hut on the Mangartska sedlo (1908 m). We continue straight to the end of the asphalt. The route concludes with a circular macadam road that takes us to the highest point (2040 m) on the Mangart saddle, from where we can enjoy a beautiful view of the western Julian Alps. We return by the same route.
Attractions along the way
The end of the trail is the starting point for climbing to the top of Mangart (2678 m) or descending with a paraglider into the Koritnica valley.
Flow
Section (branch for Mangart) – Mangart saddle and back
Difficulty: very demanding
Suitable for: mountain and road bikes
Total length: 23 km
Altitude difference: 940 m
Riding along the Stol ridge is one of the most beautiful cycling experiences in the valley, and there are many different options for ascent and descent.
Route description
The starting point is the bridge over the river Soča near the village of Log Čezsoški. We head towards Žaga, where we turn right to the Učja border crossing. Before the border crossing, turn left onto the gravel road that leads to the Božca mountain. We continue over the pass to the Breginj side, where we turn left onto the carriageway. From here, the scenic route follows the Stola ridge past the Hlek bivouac and the hunting lodge to a small valley. At the bend at the fork in the bottom of the valley, we leave the carriageway, turn sharply left and find an indistinct path among the bushes, which begins to descend towards Hlevišča. After a 200-meter descent, the path turns into a wider path that leads us to the mountain. This is followed by a descent on a macadam road to the main road Bovec – Kobarid. Turn left on the main road to the village of Trnovo, where you follow the right turn to the camp. We cross the bridge over the Soča River, turn left and follow the path that takes us past Prevejko and the village of Log Čezsoški back to the starting point.
Difficulty: very demanding
Suitable for: mountain bikes
Total length: 38 km
Altitude difference: 1040 m
The demanding but unforgettable connection between Kobarid and Čedad (Cividale del Friuli) via the peak of Matajur, the symbol of Venetian Slovenia, has been attracting even the most demanding mountain bikers for some time.
Already the first part of the climb to Livek on the pass between Kolovrat and Matajur shows its teeth due to the steepness. That’s why the second part along the forest road from Avsa is more enjoyable, as it goes along the ridge of Matajur. The road that leads past the turnoff for the Matajura mountains, after crossing the border, slowly turns into a mulatjera, which ends at a grassy peak.
The views of the endless Friuli Plain and the Gulf of Trieste are breathtaking. At the same time, we cycle in the footsteps of General Erwin Rommel during the First World War when attacking Italian positions. You can cycle to the higher-lying hut below Matajur, and it is worth pushing the bike all the way to the chapel, which also offers views of the other, alpine side.
The descent down the trails to Špetal (San Pietro al Natisone) is long and demanding, but certainly one of the most beautiful around. At the top of Matajur, look for route 725, which leads in the direction of Štupica, then keep left towards Marsina Planina, where you turn towards Gorenje Marsin (Mersina Allto). We join the asphalt road and after a short climb we reach the saddle Hlevišče (Glevizza), where we turn onto route 749 in the direction of Špeter. At the crossroads, simply follow route 749. The route occasionally goes up and down, and sometimes you have to get off your bike. We drive past St. George (San Giorgio), later passing by St. San Canziano.
In the lower part, you can connect to the road in several ways. It is worth persevering all the way to the macadam path that leads us to the church in the center of Špetr. A well-deserved refreshment in the beautiful old part of Čedad is practically only separated by a short section along the valley bicycle link.
Difficulty: very demanding
Suitable for: mountain bikes
Duration: 5.5 h
Total length: 46 km
Altitude difference: 1530 m
Route description
We start the tour by turning left on the main road at the exit for Residence Soča to the first bridge, where we cross the Soča river. After crossing the river, continue to the right in the direction of Great Soča Gorge. The path takes us to the beginning of the Lepena valley, where we can see the Small and the Great Soča Gorge.
We continue to the left and after a few minutes at the Klin campsite we cross the Lepenjica river over the bridge and continue to the right in the direction of Bovec along the Soča trail. We continue along the forest path until we reach the suspension bridge (follow the signs for the Soča trail), cross it and return to the main road and continue along it for about 2 km in the direction of Bovec.
We reach a brick bridge, which we cross and thus return to the Soča trail. Here we will also drive past Brijeka, where there are beautiful pools. We continue to the village of Jablanca, where we join the regional road. The regional road takes us to the village of Čezsoča. We drive through the village and on the other side of the village continue along the regional road towards the village of Log Čezsoški and the Boka waterfall.
After about 4 km, before the village of Log Čezsoški, we will reach a bridge, which we cross and then join the main road and continue straight and come directly to a larger bridge from where we can see the Boka waterfall. From the Boka waterfall, continue along the main road towards Bovec to the junction marked Golf Bovec, where you turn left and continue along the path to the village of Plužna.
Here the path climbs. In the village of Plužna, you can continue the path to the Virje waterfall (follow the signs for the Virje waterfall) or turn right and follow the regional path all the way to the center of Bovec, which you can reach directly on this road. In the center of Bovec, turn left and continue along the main road.
At the end of the town of Bovec, at the roundabout, we take the third exit in the direction of Trenta and Log pod Mangrtom. We continue along the main road for another 1.5 km until we reach a slight descent, where we reach an intersection and turn right in the direction of Trenta. We drive past the military cemetery and continue along the main road past the villages of Kal-koritnica and Soča until we get back to our starting point.
Attractions along the way
On this route, we pass many places of interest such as: Small and Great Soča Gorge, Lepena valley, Brijeka bridge and pools, Slatenik, Boka waterfall. If we decide to visit the Virje waterfall, we will be able to see the source of the Gljun stream and the reservoir lake in addition to the waterfall. During first parts of the route, we drive along the Soča River, and we have such a wonderful view of the river. We also drive through some beautiful villages of the Soča valley.
Difficulty: medium/very demanding
Suitable for: mountain bikes
Total length: 38.0 km
Altitude difference: 570 m
Ime priimek – to je prostor za predstavitev vodiča, če ga imamo.
Cycling is one of the best types of exercise to stay in shape because it gets your heart rate up and you can control it easily based on how fast you go or the type of cycling you do. When you’ve been cycling for a while, you also find that you can do some everyday tasks more easily.
Exploring the Soča Valley
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Opis slike
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