Simeonovo - Dragalevtzi 2025

We've hiked the easy trail from Dragalevski Monastery to Simeonovo lakes many times, yesterday however we decided to drive to Simeonovo, leave the car there and walk the trail to Dragalevski monastery and back. 

The start from Simeonovo added some 3 km total to the hike and a good cardio exercise at the beginning of the trail, where the hiker has to cover a significant elevation gain. The pay off - we had our lunch at the picnic area near the monastery, which was nice and quite comfortable.

As we get usually Fridays off,  when we can and the forecasts are favourable, we prefer to hike on Fridays, especially along well frequented trails, like the low altitude circuit of Vitosha.

Yesterday was no exception - the trail was quiet and empty, with a fellow hiker here and there and without the weekend crowd. Unlike the previous week, the weather was sunny, but with clouds and chilly winds, so we had our sweaters on most of the time.

One of Simeonovo lakes - there are several of these, forming a cascade along the river

Hike info:

Date: 09 May 2025

Destination: Dragalevski Monastery

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 13 km

Elevation gain: 310 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 4 hours

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

The beech forests on Vitosha are simply marvelous in May, when they are just covered in fresh greenery.

The Aleko waterfalls - the highest point of the trail, literally but also figuratively

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Burda blous, Burda cargo pants

I: lingerie, Central Park cardigan

The picnic area near Dragalevski monastery, where we had our well deserved delicious lunch. A wood nuthatch flew casually on the neighboring table during our picnic :)

After the lunch break, we took a short walk around the grounds of the monastery

And the Aleko waterfalls again, on the way back, this time from the other side

Dragalevtzi 2024

We continue with our exploration of Vitosha, yesterday along a familiar trail from Dragalevsky monastery to Simeonovi lakes and back along the same track. This is probably among the easiest hikes we've done lately, short and close to home, with little elevation gain. However, for the beech forests on Vitosha and the Aleko waterfall May and early June are probably the best time to visit, so our hike was very pleasant and enjoyable.

Although the difference between the lowest and the highest altitude along the track is only 100 m, it's a mountain, so there was still constantly up and downhill hiking and the trail was not always as level as on this photo :)

Hike info:

Date: 01 June 2024

Destination: Simeonovi lakes

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 10.2 km

Elevation gain: 100 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 3 hours

Average difficulty: 2 / 10

A glimpse towards Sofia on the fault of Skakavitza river. I haven't checked, but wouldn't be surprised if Skakavitza (jumping) and Bistritza (clear) are the most common names of Bulgarian rivers :)

Aleko's waterfalls, the crux of the trail

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Burda shortsleeve blouse

I: lingerie, Sabrina Slims I, Burda raglan blouse, Burda Hoodie

The first of the Simeonovi lakes on the Starata reka river

We had our lunch near the river and headed back along the same track

After we got back to the parking lot, we left our backpacks and went to the nearby Dragalevsky monastery, just to have a look at its grounds

Dragalevtzi - Simeonovo 2023

A few photos from our hike to Simeonovo lakes on Vitosha. Today's weather was supposed to be warm for the season, but Sofia woke covered with clouds and though the air was warm, there was a strong wind.

Luckily, we had chosen a trail through the forests in the low parts of the mountain, and though we could hear the hauling of the wind all the time up in the tops of the tall trees, down along the trail within the forest it was fairly calm and quiet.

We didn't know what to expect at this altitude, so we even brought our snow protectors in the car, but the paths were actually snowless and dry. Luckily, we had a very mild winter this year.

Hike info:

Destination: Simeonovo Lake

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 11 km

Elevation gain: 180 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 3 hours

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

The trail passes by the small, but scenic Aleko Waterfalls. We've seen them frozen, we've seen them full-watered, today they were in between - half-frozen, half-running :)

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Knipmode Cargo pants, Knipmode blouse, hat

I: socks, lingerie, Sinclair Lotte hoodie, hat, gloves

 

We had our lunch here, by the second of the Simeonovo lakes.

Here and there, the first spring flowers are testing the air.

On our way back we passed by the Dragalevski Monastery.

Simeonovo Lakes 2022

Today's hike was an impromptu hike from Dragalevtzi to Simeonovo lakes.We started this morning to Aleko hut, and though we were within the time frame private cars are allowed on Vitosha, there were too many cars on Aleko, so the traffic police had started to stop and turn back cars some 5 km before the hut. The day was glorious, sunny and warm and the road was so overfilled that the only place we managed to find to park the car was near the Dragalevski monastery. I say near, as the official parking lot was full and the additional extension on the road nearby was quickly filling with turned back cars.

Despite the disappointment, we quickly reorganized our plans and decided to go to Simeonovo lakes along the 5 km trail from Dragalevski monastery. We have actually never hiked this trail in winter and it was really different and unrecognizable from how we've seen it before.

:Aleko's Waterfalls, beautifully frozen

 

Hike info:

Destination: Simeonovo Lake

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 10.4 km

Elevation gain: 180 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 3 h 30 min

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

 :We had our lunch on a sunny spot near the river Starata reka

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Knip Mode cargo pants, old sweater I knitted pre-blog, knitted socks, hat

I:  socks, lingerie, Grasser sweater, CC copycat hat, Borika gloves, scarf

:A view over Sofia

:As our trail ended at the Dragalevski monastery, we went in to have a look at its beautiful grounds