The River of Trees Trail

The biggest river waterfall in Slovenia, with a drop of 13 metres, creates a stirring sight on the last part of the route through Vintgar Gorge. Šum Falls were actually the first tourist attraction in Vintgar Gorge, with visitors coming to see them even before the rest of the Vintgar was discovered in 1891.

Male stag beetles often have to fight for food, territory or a mate. Their battles are fierce and lengthy. Watching two stag beetles fight is like watching a wrestling match, except that instead of arms and legs they use their big red-brown mandibles, which are reminiscent of a stag’s antlers. These mandibles are not well suited for cutting, so the males rely on females

Ideological border
The range is made up of a characteristic series of ridges and villages that extend like a caravan from Tarvisio in the west to Slovenj Gradec in the east. Because of their specific position and shape, in the years following the Second World War they symbolised an ideological border between East and West, a border that was slowly erased following the break-up of the Soviet Union

The only settlement along the trail is Blejska Dobrava. More than 800 years old, this rural village enjoyed its period of greatest prosperity with the coming of the railway, when it became the main point of entry for Vintgar.

Spruce cones are female
The spruce is monoecious, with male and female flowers on the same tree. Female flowers are only found in the top third of the crown. Initially red and erect, after fertilisation they develop into cones which hang down as they ripen. They remain on the tree until February, when they open and the winged seeds began to fall. Only empty cones fall from the tree.

Needles with

When following the trail it is important to tread carefully and keep your eyes open. Partly because of the sheer walls of the gorge, which begin right next to the trail, and partly so as not to disturb the viper, one of the poisonous snakes found in Alpine Slovenia, which on sunny days likes to warm itself on its favourite rock.

Two of the 23 protected plant species found in the gorge. More than 600 other species grow here too, some of them described for the first time more than 130 years ago.

The beech is the most common tree species in Slovenia. It thrives in the shade and on damp soil. But if we remove the surrounding trees and expose it to direct sunlight, burn marks can form on its trunk.

Solitary by nature, this bird is very slow to form ties with a mate and other family members. When it does so, it uses a system of calls that allow it to communicate efficiently.

Lily of the valley and stiff club moss are just two of the 24,000 plant and animal species recorded in Slovenia to date. The former is often found in spring posies and wedding bouquets, while the latter was once used to make a herbal beverage with rather special effect.

As protection forests, the forests covering the slopes of Hom and Boršt also act as guardians of the gorge. Every season a squad of 20 workers undertake more than 10,000 hours of work to help them protect the trail and visitors.