Hiking to Krn Lake, the largest alpine lake in Slovenia

Slovenia has many incredible destinations for hiking lovers, but the hike to Krn Lake is still one of my favorites. Krnsko Jezero lake is located in the Triglav National Park, the most beautiful and nature-rich area of Slovenia. In this post, we will tell you all you need to know to do the hike to Krn Lake.

Ps: Krn Lake and Krnsko Jezero Lake are the same place; the second is just how we write the lake’s name in Slovenian.

What makes Krnsko Jezero so special?

Krnsko Jezero is the largest alpine lake in Slovenia, being 400m long and 150m wide. It gets this name because it overlooks Mount Krn, the highest peak of the Krn mountain chain.

Krnsko Jezero Lake is located at 1.391 m high in the Julian Alps, in the heart of the Triglav National Park. The entire park is incredibly beautiful and well-preserved, but this hike to Lake Krn is considered to have one of the most incredible sceneries in the entire region.

Aside from being a picture-perfect hiking destination, Krnsko Jezero Lake hosts a very rich natural ecosystem with over 40 species of water plants and 24 species of lower animals. For its protection, it is not allowed to bathe or swim in Lake Krn (even though I have seen many hikers dipping their feet in the water to chill off from the exercise).

Essentials about the hike to Lake Krn

Here is the basic information you need to know before going on the hike to Lake Krn:

• Hike duration: 2h30 each way
• Total distance: 11,8 kilometers (both ways)
• Starting point: Mountain hut located in the Lepena Valley, named Dom dr. Klementa Juga v Lepeni. Easily reachable using Google Maps, but here are the coordinates if you need them: 46,3037°N / 13,6814°E
• Difficulty level: Easy
• Elevation gain: 691 m
• Price: Free! The only thing you will need to pay for is the food if you decide to consume any at the hut.
• Infrastructure: There is a hut located only 15 minutes from the lake that offers food and accommodation. They are open every day from June to September.
• Public transport: It is not easy to access the starting point of this hike using only public transport, we recommend renting a car or booking a private tour.
• Best months for this hike: During the hiking season, from June to September, although it is also possible to go during the low season (less friendly terrain depending on the weather, but still possible in most months).
• Is it accessible to kids? Yes, as long as the kid is used to long exercises, he/she shouldn’t have a problem doing the hike to Lake Krn. I have seen people recommend it only to children of 8 years or older, but I’d say it depends on how active your kid is.

Hiking to Krnsko Jezero Lake is a perfect one-day trip if you will be visiting the Soča Valley for a few days. We recommend doing the hike early morning if you will be going during the summer months to avoid being on the toughest part of the trail (the start) during the extreme heat that hits around midday.

How is the hike to Lake Krn?

Once you park the car at the mountain hut in the Lepena Valley, you will see the signs pointing to the start of the trail right after the parking lot. The entire path is extremely well marked, so you don’t need any guide to hike to Krnsko Jezero.

The start of the hike to Lake Krn is the most demanding part because you will cover most of the altitude gain within the first 1h30. This first stretch is a forest trail, you will not be able to see much of the view. In the second 1h, the path will open up and you will enjoy the scenery of the mountains.

A bit before you reach Krn Lake, you will pass by the mountain lodge called Planinski dom pri Krnskih jezerih. This is the closest hut to the lake. From there, you will only have an easy 15min walk to reach the Krnsko Jezero.

We recommend making a stop at the hut and enjoying some local Slovenian dishes, either before or after you check out the lake. The hut also offers accommodation so you can sleep up in the mountains – but book a bed ahead because they are usually quite full during the high season.

The Krn Lake is the starting point to many other longer hikes, but they are more demanding and may require a bit more hiking experience. The hike to Mount Krn, for example, will take you another 3h hike to reach the top.

Take your time to enjoy the lake, make sure to go around it, and take in the beautiful view. If you do this hike on a good-weather day, you will be able to see some amazing reflections on the lake, making it a picture-perfect location.

The hike down back to the parking lot should take you a similar amount of time or maybe a bit less, considering the way back is entirely descent.

Best time to hike to Lake Krn

The best time of the year to hike to Krnsko Jezero Lake is during the summer season, between June and September. During this season, the weather is the most favorable for hiking, and the mountain huts will be operational.

That being said, we have already hiked to Lake Krn in mid-October and it was a really nice experience. The weather was very pleasant as it wasn’t so hot anymore and we had incredible autumn views. All the mountains surrounding the lake were boosting a mix of yellow, orange, and green autumn colors that was breathtaking! However, the hut at the top was closed, so if you go hiking to Krn Lake out of high season, make sure to bring snacks with you!

Where to stay if you want to do the hike to Krnsko Jezero

The best place to stay and the nearest city is Bovec, located in the heart of the Soča Valley. In Bovec, you will find all the structures you need such as options of hotels and apartments, markets, pharmacy, etc. Here are our suggestions for accommodation in Bovec:

• Hotel Sanje ob Soči – One of the best hotels in Bovec, this property is high-rated and has an extremely beautiful design. The rooms are very comfortable and the guests always compliment the friendliness of the staff.
• Hotel Soča – Another great hotel option in Bovec. This property is very new and modern, but it has already been getting quite nice reviews from its guests. A big advantage is that they have a swimming pool, which will for sure come in handy during the extreme heat that hits during summer in Slovenia.
• Garni Hotel Alpine – Located only a 10-min drive away from Bovec, this place is a hidden gem. From every room, you will have amazing mountain views and the peace and quiet of the neighborhood. It is a small, family-run business, that offers breakfast included in the price. We’ve been to Hotel Alpine on our last visit to the Soča Valley and absolutely loved it.

If you want, you can also stay further away from the Soča Valley. Here are other nearby towns that you can use as a base and their distance to the Lake Krn hike:

• Trenta Valley: 18.4 km
• Kobarid: 42 km
• Tolmin: 58 km

How to extend your trip

Even though the hike to Krn Lake is a perfect day-trip activity, it is worth saving a bit more time to explore the Soča region. Here are a few activities we suggest for extending your trip:

• Explore the waterfalls in Soča Valley
• Go rafting or kayaking at the river
• Cross the highest road in Slovenia, the Vršič Pass
• Visit the amazing Tolmin Gorge

Looking for other hikes in Slovenia?

Check out some of our favorites:

• Best hikes in the Logar Valley
• Hiking in Velika Planina
• Golica Hike
• Hiking Mt Triglav
• Viševnik Hike