Trail of Two Waterfalls Above Višnja Gora (748 m)

Two picturesque waterfalls and two panoramic peaks, vast forests, grassy plateaus, and peaceful farming villages. The loop Trail of Two Waterfalls above Višnja Gora is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful mid-mountain hikes in the Ljubljana hinterland. The route has no steep or particularly demanding ascents or descents, but requires a good level of fitness as it is relatively long.

You can start the waymarked Trail of Two Waterfalls from two trailheads: the railway station in Višnja Gora or the Church of St Giles, with both having convenient parking facilities. The two starting points lie on opposite sides of the motorway that divides Višnja Gora, one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Slovenia. If arriving by car, we recommend starting at the church.

From either trailhead, set off along the road towards the village of Dedni dol. After a while, the asphalt gives way to a wide gravel track flanked by meadows and fields. You’ll begin to follow the flow of the Višnjica stream while still in the village. You’ll be walking along a gentle path, eventually embraced by woodland at the edge of the village’s. Crossing the stream is made easier by the wooden footbridges spanning the banks. Soon, the first waterfall comes into view, its water fanning out gracefully into a shallow pool. The path splits temporarily just before this. One option takes you to the base of the waterfall, from where you can climb a ladder onto a narrow, exposed path above it. The other option is less exposed and more comfortable. However, we recommend you pause briefly beneath the falls if you choose this easier route. The two paths soon reunite.

From the waterfall, continue walking towards the first peak on the route, Kucelj, mostly along a forest gravel road that gently climbs in switchbacks. Emerging from the forest onto a wide plateau, you reach Kucelj, the highest point of the hike at 748 metres. Here, you’ll find a small geodetic tower. From the summit’s viewpoint, there are magnificent views over the surrounding hills and the Slovenian Alps, including the highest peak, Triglav.

From Kucelj, you descend through woodland and meadows into a village, from where the trail leads you towards the second peak on the route, Gradišče (706 metres). This peak is also gently sloping, spacious, and offers sweeping views. Gradišče was once a fortified prehistoric settlement from the Hallstatt period, of which only the last remains of a defensive wall can be found, hidden beneath the grass.

From the summit, descend across a meadow into the village, passing houses on your way to the forest. Shortly after, you will come upon the spring of the Kosca stream. The world here is entirely different from the one by the first stream – the stones and rocks are thickly carpeted with moss, and the vegetation is lush and abundant. The trail descends along a narrow path beside the stream to the second waterfall, which also cascades in a fan shape over a thick tufa ledge. During dry spells, only narrow streams of water trickle down, but after heavy rain the waterfall transforms into a far more impressive and thunderous spectacle. The Kosca stream waterfall is the highest tufa waterfall in Slovenia, plunging 20 metres deep.

You can then choose between more challenging or easier routes to continue the descent along the valley. The harder path crosses the stream and follows its bed for a while before eventually joining the easier, more comfortable path, which runs higher above the water.

You remain within the forest for some time, walking along a gravel road before stepping onto an asphalt road that leads you back along the roadside to the starting points at either the Višnja Gora railway station or the Church of St Giles. Please take care when walking beside the road, although traffic is generally light here.

Of interest: tufa was once a highly prized building material, and much stone from this area was used in the walls of the famous Stična Monastery, located about 8 km from here.