Hotnishki Waterfalls and Ecotrail

During the last week of June we travelled to Razgrad and Ruse, as we usually do in the summer. This time we decided to vary our route a bit and accidentally happened upon one of the most beautiful natural  monuments in Bulgaria I have ever seen - Hotnishki waterfalls and the ecotrail. 

The day was hot, it was getting past noon and we were hungry, so I was looking for a suitable stop on google map, when I noticed, that we were very near a natural monument, that I hadn't heard of before. I googled the place quickly and it was decided - we had to visit it. Oh, boy, how happy we were that we did!

Only a few kilometers from the village we were passing through, we happened upon a paradise landscape - small lakes, waterfalls, fish, abundance of greenery  and rocks. It was a workday and noon, so the place was almost empty, which considerably contributed to our enjoyment of nature's beauty.

The ecotrail is extremely picturesque and through wooden bridges and stairs goes around and up the rocks, following the river. It is certainly not for everybody - people with a fear of heights, small children, in general people, who are  not fit, should not try it, as the numerous signs at the beginning of the trail indicate, and frankly I am very glad, as the beauty of the place is in its natural virginity.

The waterfall, seen from the ecotrail

A narrow passage through the rocks

Dare you go up - its on your own discretion :)

We climbed all the way up to the plateau on the rocks and continued a bit along the trail through the grasses and bushes. One way of walking the trail is gradually down to the fields and the parking lot, but we preferred to go back along the rocks and the river - the much more beautiful part of the ecotrail.

We had our picnic here, by the small waterfall, with a view to the lake and the colorful dragonflies, playing by the water. It was divine!

What a hidden treasure!

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

Kopitoto-Boyana Falls 2017

Today's hike on Vitosha - husband and I took the map and decided to make a round route, following the paths on the map and combining into one trail places, we've hiked before from different starting points. We left the car at the Golden bridges place and went to Kopitoto peak with the TV tower. Then we continued to the Boyana Falls - I've been many times there, but always hiking from below and this time we were high and descended to the falls from above, visiting the upper threshold first. After a short lunch break at the foot of the falls we climbed back up to Momina skala hut and from there back to the Golden Bridges - I just love it when the route is so intense and circular.

A wet meadow near the Golden Bridges

The path to Kopitoto

Kopitoto peak and the TV tower

A view to Sofia - there were clouds, but the wind carried them away

The Boyana river and a small fall before the big falls

The gorge of Boyana river

The upper threshold of the falls. I can only hope my children do not take such unfounded risks as the young folk on the photo :(

At the foot of the falls

Me, myself and I at the Boyana Falls :)