Cherni Vruh with Vali, 2026

Gaby and her boyfriend visited us last week and we did some travelling and hiking together. On the first day of their stay, Gaby had some uni reunion, while the remaining three of us went on a hike on Vitosha along one of our most favourite circular trails - from Aleko, along the "King's road" to Cherni vruh and from there down to the high altitude circuit back to Aleko hut.

Though it was forecast fairly hot and sunny in the city, the mountain has its own climate and the hike started a bit chilly and cloudy, which made the climb very pleasant.

Hike info:

Date: 28 June 2026

Destination: Cherni Vruh (2290 m)

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 16 km

Elevation gain: 500 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 5 hours

Average difficulty: 4.5 / 10 

We had our tortillas, cold beer and homemade muffins on the peak and from then on we continued east towards peak Skoparnika.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Burda cargo pants

I: lingerie, Burda raglan blouse, Burda color jeans

The mountain was probably at its best, green and full of flowers, some of which are emblematic for the region - mountain lily, yellow globe flower, wild orchids and many others, an impressive wild garden.

Probably my favourite - the emblem of Vitosha, the yellow globe flower.

Though fairly long - 16 km, the trail is very pleasant and we enjoyed it thoroughly.

Another marker on the way - the crooked pine.

And back to Aleko hut.