Yesterday was a rare day of sunshine in Sofia, at least in the morning. For our weekly hike, we set our sights on Lulin mountain, hoping for solid trails and a bit of Vitamin D.
The trail to the peak, starting from Bonsovi Polyani, was easy and fairly dry, the sun shone shyly and the air was warmish, we quickly stripped off our jackets.
Hike info:Date: 14 February 2026
Destination: round trail to peak Dupevitza
Mountain: Lulin
Total length: 10.5 km
Elevation gain: 320 m
Total duration (plus picnic): 3 hours
Average difficulty: 3 / 10
About an hour in, we reached the summit. The jackets came right back on, plus everything else in our packs! The wind on the ridge was strong, cold, and frankly brutal. Still, we braved the chill for a picnic at the tables, overlooking the Sofia valley and the stunning, snow-covered ridges of Vitosha standing tall across from us.
Me-made items, worn on this hike:
Husband: men's boxers, socks, green Burda longsleeve, blue longsleeve, cargo pants
I: lingerie, Sinclair Lotte sweater, rib knit homemade hat, socks
After Dupevitza we continued west along the ridge. This section was a bit of a slog; the trails were "mighty muddy" and scarred by patches of snow. It was disappointing to see how much the ground had been disturbed by motorbikes and ATVs, despite the strict driving ban in the area. Deciding to bypass our usual route to peak Dobrinina Skala, we opted for an alternative track. It was a great call.
The track was in much better condition than the alternative towards
Dobrinina skala, almost untouched by motor tires, and and led us through beautiful stands of birch and pine, a refreshing change of scenery from the usual forests on Lulin.
It's clear that spring is taking its time this year, or rather it is not as early as in previous years, which is no surprise. Winter is still holding its ground with cold snaps, rain, and lingering snow.
By lunch, the sun had abandoned us, but the temperatures stayed comfortable enough. Despite the graying skies, the hike felt incredibly refreshing and invigorating.
I didn't fall; I just had a close contact with the terrain :)
