The Pericnik Waterfall in Slovenia is one of the most beautiful in the country with the possibility to walk behind it! Off the beaten track, Slap Pericnik is set in the Vrata Valley and offers magnificent views.
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit and walk, with photos, tips and map.
Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Slovenia:
My favorite platform to rent a car in Slovenia: DiscoverCars
My favorite adventure from Bovec: Kayak on the Soca River
My favorite excursion from Ljubljana: Postojna Cave and Predjama castle
My favorite places to stay:
- Lubljana, central – see the best rated hotels or my favorite hotel: Lesar Hotel Angel
- Bled, iconic – see the best rated hotels or my favorite hotel: Vila Bled
- Bovec, outdoorsy – see the best rated hotels or my favorite hotel: Dobra Vila
- Piran, historic – see the best rated hotels or my favorite hotel: Hotel Piran
Why visit the Pericnik Waterfall in Slovenia?
In my opinion you should not miss the beautiful waterfall of Pericnik – definitively a must see in Slovenia and one of the best falls in Slovenia.
The second drop over 52m (171ft), where you can walk behind with views of the mountains is magnificent.
But don’t forget to protect your camera, it is like taking a mist shower!
Video – Virtual Tour
Below is a s short video to give you an idea of what the hike and waterfall look like:
A great excursion not far from lake Bled, don’t you think?
More photos after the planning tips.
PLANNING TIPS & Map – Slap Pericnik, Slovenia
How to get to Pericnik waterfall – Location & Map
- South of the village Mojstrana, North West of Bled
- Bled to Pericnik – 30min drive (30km – 19mi)
- You can drive to the carpark but the last 2km are unpaved
- You can also reach it on foot – A trails takes you from Mojstrana: the Triglaska Bistrica Trail
- Below is a map to help you get oriented and locate the waterfall:
This location is included (with GPS coordinates, map of location and planning info) in my travel guide eBook that helps you easily plan your Slovenia road trip:
Plan your dream trip in Slovenia thanks to my guide
- 7 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 100+ pre-selected locations
- 16+ extra ideas
- GPS + info to make the most of your time
- 190+ original photos to help you choose
Visit Tips
- Price – Free access but carpark for a fee
- 10min uphill hike – easy access to the lower waterfall, more technical to get to the upper one
- Wear good shoes
- Have a towel in the car or wear a K-way on a cold day as you will be wet
- Protect your camera from the mist!
- Café with toilets at the carpark
Need to rent a car in Slovenia?
My tips:
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Choose a car with enough power for the mountain roads
- Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
Pericnik Waterfall in Winter
Pericnik is also very famous for its winter beauty. When the temperature drops, the water freezes, and the waterfall is covered with icicles dropping from the rock.
Quite a sight! Very appreciated by photographers. Have a look here for a picture from one of them
Where to stay nearby
- The closest town is Mojstrana – Check out the best rated accommodations in Mojstrana
- Otherwise you are not far from Bled, it can easily be done as a half day trip – Check out the best rated accommodations in Bled
Road to Pericnik carpark and the Vrata Valley
Slap Peričnik is a little off the beaten track in the Triglav National Park but not that difficult to reach.
It is located South of the Mojstrana village in the Vrata Valley.
The road is small but not difficult.
The last 2 kilometers are unpaved, so it is bumpy but not really difficult. And this is not in the mountains so no big drops on the side! Just trees.
A cafe house and a carpark are located at the bottom of the hike.
Past the carpark to same road leads to the Vrata valley.
From the carpark, you can see the lower falls in a clearing in the trees.
Across from the clearing don’t miss the beautiful view of River Triglavska Bistrica with the summits in the background!
About the Peričnik Falls – Facts & Geology
Let’s learn a bit more about the Pericnik Falls. They were created as a result of glacial activity in the Valley of Vrata. When the glacier retreated, material was carried away by water in the valley, and here it created a conglomerate rock face.
The Falls are in 2 stages:
- The Upper Pericnick Fall (Slap Zgornji Peričnik) drops for 16m (52ft)
- The Lower Pericnik Fall (Slap Spodnji Peričnik) drops 52m (171ft) – This is where you can easily walk behind – pictures below in the article
About the Name Pericnik
The name is derived from the verb “Prati”. Originally it meant ‘to strike or beat, especially with water’.
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Hike to Lower Pericnik Falls
Official hiking path
The official hiking trail to the Falls starts at the bottom of the clearing, left of the water as you can see in the photos below.
Unofficial path
There is also an unofficial walking path starting across from the café house. It is not as steep as the official one but with no indication.
There is a turn to the left at one point that you clearly see when you walk too far above but not on the way up. If you find it hard to walk up, you’ve gone too far!
The walk is a little steep but not that long. Just take your time and wear good shoes!
Under the fall
After 10 minutes of walking uphill, you find 2 bridges which allow the passage between both tracks below the waterfall. This is where you can see up close the conglomerate rocks transported by water from the glacier.
You discover the waterfall but not yet in its entirety.
Still partially hidden! Let’s keep walking.
52 m Drop view
After a few more steps on the left side of the waterfall, you finally get to see the 52m drop in its entirety. The splash sends a lot of mist in all directions.
I did not have a wide angle, so it was quite difficult to capture the whole waterfall. In the photo above I used the panoramic function of the iPhone vertically. Not that bad…
You can also walk down to the pool level, but be ready to take a shower!
Walking behind Waterfall Pericnik
The best part of the Pericnik Waterfall is that you can walk behind it. I did it in Iceland, behind Seljalandsfoss and it is as much fun!
I really like the overall experience with the roar of the splash reverberating on the rocks and the mist hitting your skin. (Once again, make sure you have something to protect your camera!)
The path is a little bit scary, with the drop to the pool of the fall on one side, but it is not too narrow, so I managed. Make sure you are wearing good shoes. The small rocks with the water make a slippery ground.
Falls from the other side
Once at the other end of the Lower Pericnik Falls, this is the view. Definitively worth the walk, don’t you think?
Look at the size of the people across on the rock, this gives you an idea of the size of the waterfall!!!
And then you return and walk down…
Upper Pericnik Waterfall
Or if you are fit and don’t mind a more technical walk (you have to hold a chain), you can keep climbing to reach the upper falls.
The atmosphere is quieter and more intimate, but with only a 16m drop it is far less impressive.
I decided not to hike up, but have a look here for a picture from another photographer.
Want to see more amazing waterfalls in Slovenia?
- Slap Savica and its emerald pool – read article
- Slap Kozjak hidden in a cave – read article
- Slap Boka, impressive drop visible from the road – read article
- Or check out my article about the best waterfalls in Slovenia including Slap Virje – read article
Planning a trip to Slovenia?
Check out my travel guide to help you plan:
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- 100+ pre-selected locations
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Want to see more of SLOVENIA?
Discover more things to do & places to see in my Travel Slovenia Destination Guide.
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