Slap Pericnik Waterfall Slovenia – Walk, Photos and Planning tips

The Pericnik Waterfall 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 offer magnificent views. Discover it in Photos and Video + Plan your visit and walk.

Information to plan your visit at the end of the article

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Pericnick Waterfall in Video

Let's start with a short video that will show you why you should not miss the beautiful waterfall of Pericnik in Slovenia. Such an amazing drop! But don't forget to protect your camera, it is like taking a mist shower!

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 large parking are lcoated at the bottom of the hike

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 from in 2 stages:

• The Upper Pericnick Fall (Slap Zgornji Peričnik) drops on 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

From the parking, 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!

Hike to Lower Pericnik Falls

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.

There is also an unofficial walking path starting across from the café house. It less steep than the official one but with no indication

There is a turn to the left at one point that you clearly see on the way down but not on the way up. If you find it hard to walk up, you've gone too far!

The walk in a bit 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 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 step 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 way 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 Pericnik Waterfall Slovenia

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.

Fall from the back

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 side of people across on the rock, this gives you an idea of the size of the waterfall!!!

And then you return back 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 here is a picture from another photographer:​

Photo embedded from Flickr - Photos by Claudio Buran

Pericnik Waterfall in Winter

Pericnik is also very famous for its winter beauty. When the temperature drops, water freeze and the waterfall is covered with icicles dropping from the rock. Quite a sight! Very appreciated by photographers. Here is a picture from one of them:

Photo embedded from Flickr - Photos by Ivana Cunja

Want to see more of SLOVENIA?

Discover more things to do & places to see in my Travel Slovenia Destination Guide.

Have you ever walked behind a waterfall?

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