Kozjak Waterfall Hike (Soča Valley)
The Kozjak Waterfall Hike in the Soča Valley is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful short hikes in Slovenia.
The 30-minute hiking trail takes you alongside the stunning Soča River before dipping into the forest and arriving at the picturesque Kozjak Waterfall.
The Kozjak Waterfall Hike is suitable for most hiking abilities and is a perfect introduction to hiking in the Soča Valley.
In this article, we will guide you through how to complete the Kozjak Waterfall hike, as well as provide you with plenty of tips for the hikes and suggestions on what else to do in the area.
So, let’s dive into: Kozjak Waterfall Hike (Soča Valley)
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How to get to the Kozjak Waterfall Hike (from Kobarid)
How to get to the Kozjak Waterfall by car
From Kobarid, you want to head East towards the Soča River until you reach the picture-perfect Napoleon's Bridge. Cross this stone bridge and take the first left towards Srpenica.
On the left-hand side of the road, you will see Camp Koren, and on the opposite side of the road, you will see the first of two parking lots for Kozjak Waterfalls. If the first parking lot is full, then the second is just 10m past Camp Koren, on the left-hand side.
Parking in either parking lot costs €1.50 per hour or €10 for the day.
Kozjak Waterfall
How to get to the Kozjak Waterfall on foot
To get to the Kozjak Waterfall on foot, you will be taking the same route as the cars follow from Kobarid.
One of the main advantages of taking it on foot is that you will not have to pay for parking, reducing the overall cost of the Kozjak Waterfall Hike.
The second big advantage of walking to the beginning of the Kozjak Waterfall hiking trail is that you can get plenty of photos from Napoleon’s Bridge - it really is quite beautiful.
How much does it cost to visit the Kozjak Waterfall?
The prices to visit the Kozjak Waterfall (as of summer 2022) are as follows:
Adults = €5.00
Children (7-14) = €3.00
Groups (10+ people) = €4.00pp
Family = €12.00
Seasonal Ticket = €12.00
Kozjak Waterfall Hike - Step-by-step Guide
The hiking trail begins from the Kozjak Waterfall parking lot (the car park 100m past Camp Koren - not the car park opposite the campsite) and is well maintained and signposted throughout.
Kozjak Waterfall Hike Car Park
The gravel trail runs directly alongside the beautiful Soča River, and throughout, you are greeted with many incredible views of the entire Soča Valley region - the region is so spectacular that it is often quoted as being one of the best places in the Western Balkans.
The first area of note you visit along the Kozjak waterfall trail is the swinging bridge over the Soča River. Walking across the bridge is a brilliant experience and a great introduction to the hike.
Swinging bridge over the Soča River
Continue along the trail for a few hundred metres and you will see a viewing platform surrounded by little wooden railings. In our opinion, this viewing platform offers the best photo opportunity in the entire Soča Valley - you can see for yourself below.
The viewing platform along the Kozjak Waterfall Hike
After the viewing platform, the trail bends to the right, away from the Soča River, and into the lush Kobarid forest.
The trail forks to the right just after you reach a mini stone bridge. The Kozjak waterfall is well signposted from here, but first, you will need to pay your entry fee at the small wooden shack.
Kozjak Waterfall Entry Hut
After paying the entry fee, it is only a 5-minute walk until you reach the steps to the Kozjak Waterfall.
The Kozjak waterfall itself is the reward for your hike and what a reward it is - the 15m waterfall crashes into the pool in the middle of the cavern, with the sunlight just penetrating through. It truly is stunning!
The beautiful Kozjak Waterfall
After you’ve seen the waterfall, you take the exact same trail back towards the car park and Kobarid.
Tips for completing the Kozjak Waterfall Hike
Wear sturdy footwear - despite the Kozjak Waterfall hike being relatively small; it is important to wear appropriate footwear because the trail is made of loose gravel, and you can easily lose your footing.
Keep looking up towards the sky - the Soča Valley region is one of the best places in Europe for paragliding and you can often see them throughout the hike. At one point along the trail, we saw a huge group of at least 50 paragliders all flying together in the air.
You can’t swim in front of the Kozjak Waterfall - unfortunately, it is no longer permitted to enter the water at Kozjak but you can still go in the water at any other point during the hike
The Kozjak Waterfall hiking trail
There we have it, folks, a complete guide to completing the Kozjak Waterfall hike in the Soča Valley region of Slovenia. It really is one of the best short-hikes in Slovenia, and whether you are spending 7 days in Slovenia or just one day, we hope you enjoy the views as much as we did.
