Walk through an old fishing village to a rocky cliff shared by climbers and birds
If you’ve ever travelled from Bled towards Bohinj, you may have noticed a tall, pale rock formation rising above Bohinjska Bela, an old fishing village just a short distance from Lake Bled. It’s called Iglica, and there’s something rather interesting hidden between its steep rock walls – a small waterfall.
Bohinjska Bela is just a few kilometres from Lake Bled, yet it feels quite different from the lakeside. It’s one of those places in the Bled countryside where you can spend some time exploring the village, enjoying the surrounding nature and discovering a corner you might otherwise pass by.
And the short hike to Iglica Rock and Waterfall is a lovely way to do just that.
Iglica Rock rises above the old fishing village of Bohinjska Bela.
Through the village of Bohinjska Bela
One of the things I appreciate about exploring the countryside around Bled is that even a short walk can take you somewhere completely different.
Bohinjska Bela is a village surrounded by forested plateaus and hills, with the Sava Bohinjka River flowing through it. It has a long tradition of fishing, which is still celebrated each August when locals gather for a festival of fish dishes.
The Sava Bohinjka River flows through the village of Bohinjska Bela, adding to its peaceful and calming atmosphere.
The village is also popular with climbers, and it’s easy to see why when you look up at the steep walls of Iglica Rock.
As you walk through the village towards Iglica, the rock rises above the houses. You might even spot a climber making their way up its pale walls.
Walking through the village of Bohinjska Bela, with Iglica rising above it, has a charm of its own.
It’s a short hike, but there’s more to discover here than you might expect.
Once you reach the village of Bohinjska Bela, look out for the signposts pointing towards Iglica.
A waterfall hiding between the rocks
As you leave the last houses behind and approach the rock, you begin to hear the sound of water.
Between the steep walls of Iglica, there’s a 24-metre waterfall. What I find particularly interesting about this waterfall is how well it’s hidden. You can see the rock from quite a distance, but you wouldn’t necessarily know that water flows between its walls.
Of course, the waterfall doesn’t always look the same. During warm and drier summer months, the flow can become very weak, and sometimes the waterfall dries up completely.
The surrounding rock walls are impressive in their own right, and this is also a place where climbers and birds share the rocky landscape.
Steep rock walls are shared by climbers and birds, with the Iglica Waterfall flowing in between.
A short set of steps leads you to the top of Iglica Rock.
Climbing above the waterfall
If you’re comfortable with heights, you can continue up to the top of Iglica Rock. The climb is short, but it’s not quite an ordinary walk. Three sets of steep steps lead upwards between the rock walls.
The final stretch of the trail before reaching the top of Iglica Rock.
Once you reach the top, the landscape opens up. From here, you can look down towards Bohinjska Bela and across the surrounding countryside. In the distance, you’ll see the village of Kupljenik, resting beneath the forested slopes of the Jelovica Plateau.
A wide view opens towards the villages below when you are standing on the top of the Iglica Rock.
There are also two viewpoints with wooden seats where you can stop for a while and take in the view.
A peaceful corner of the Bled countryside worth discovering
Iglica isn’t a large waterfall, and the hike to reach it doesn’t take long. But that’s part of what makes this place interesting.
There’s the village itself, with its fishing tradition, the tall rock that attracts climbers, the waterfall hidden between its walls and, if you decide to climb to the top, lovely views over the surrounding countryside.
It’s a place that can easily be overlooked when travelling between Bled and Bohinj.
If you enjoy discovering smaller places beyond the famous sights and taking time to explore the local countryside, Iglica Rock and Waterfall might be worth adding to your visit.
Below, you will find a few practical details to help you plan your hike to Iglica Rock and Waterfall. If you would like to discover Bled and its surrounding countryside with a local guide, I’d be happy to take you on a guided walk, sharing local stories and some of my favourite places along the way.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
- Location: Iglica Rock (Google maps) rises above the upper part of Bohinjska Bela, a village just around five kilometres from Lake Bled.
- Starting point: The climb begins in the village of Bohinjska Bela. The difference in altitude is 50 metres.
- Getting there: You can reach Bohinjska Bela by bike, following the bike lane, or by bus. If you come by car, you can park in the centre of the village (Google maps), near the cultural centre (Dom krajanov Bohinjska Bela in Slovenian).
- Walking time: The walk from the village is short – it takes only around 10 minutes to reach the top of Iglica Rock.
- Nearby hills: From Bohinjska Bela, the path also leads further, on a longer hike of around two and a half hours one way, towards Galetovec. It is a peak on the edge of the Pokljuka plateau, from where Lake Bled reveals itself from a distance.
- Safety: Because of the steep steps, it is best to wear sturdy walking shoes with a good grip. Before setting out, it is worth checking the current conditions here. Please stay on the marked trail.
