Welcome the day from the Lake Bled viewpoints
If you enjoy starting your day outdoors and doing something good for your health, then this forest hike to the viewpoints above Lake Bled might be the right choice for you.
On the western side of the lake, just above the area known as Velika Zaka, where Bled Camping is located, rise two hills: Ojstrica and Mala Osojnica.
There are several hills above Lake Bled where you can watch the sunrise, each offering a slightly different view. Still, Ojstrica and Mala Osojnica remain the most popular viewpoints. That is why I suggest setting out early in the morning, especially in summer when Bled is at its busiest, if you wish to experience them in a quieter atmosphere.
Real-time update: During the height of the tourist season, this trail can become quite busy during the day. If you prefer a quieter experience, consider visiting early in the morning or later in the evening.
Early morning on the Ojstrica viewpoint: A sunrise above Lake Bled feels like a peaceful beginning to the day.
On the way up to Ojstrica and Mala Osojnica viewpoints
Before setting off on your morning hike, pause for one last view of Lake Bled, still resting in the early morning silence.
As your morning hike begins at Lake Bled, take a moment for one last look at the lake, still resting in the silence of the early morning before sunrise.
The trail to the Ojstrica viewpoint leads through shaded forest, which slowly reveals itself through its sounds and scents. As you make your way up, you may wish to pause for a moment and breathe in the fresh alpine air.
The hike to Ojstrica is short, but as you are near the top the trail grows steeper, narrower, and becomes a little more rocky. After around 20 minutes of hiking, you reach the top, where the view opens up beneath you.
If you decide to continue on to the next hill, Mala Osojnica, which is slightly higher, you should allow for around 20 more minutes of hiking.
As you make your way through the forest towards Lake Bled viewpoints, take the time to enjoy the hike itself, not just the view waiting at the top.
Local’s point of view: While walking the trail to Mala Osojnica in the early morning, you may be rewarded with the sight of chamois, goat-like alpine animals native to the European Alps. I often come across them here at sunrise. Compared to deer, they seem more curious and less easily startled, sometimes allowing for a quiet moment of observation as they move gently between the trees.
Taking in the morning views from Ojstrica and Mala Osojnica above Lake Bled
When you reach either of the two hills, the view below almost asks you to pause for a moment. The lake slowly reveals itself, while Bled Island is gently touched by the first morning light. A little further on, you will notice Bled Castle shining atop the cliff above the lake, with Straža Hill rising opposite it.
In the distance, the Karawanks mountain range stretches along the border with Austria, while beyond it the Kamnik–Savinja Alps remain partly hidden in the morning mist.
A wide view opens from the hills (or so called isolated peaks) above Lake Bled.
Further on, Mala Osojnica reveals a different side of the surrounding landscape. The view shifts away from the lake and opens towards the valley below, where the Sava Bohinjka River winds through the landscape beneath the forested Jelovica Plateau. In spring, as the snow begins to melt in the mountains, the river takes on a vivid colour that adds another layer to the scene while in autumn, gentle mist rising above the water brings a quieter kind of atmosphere.
In spring, when the snow melts high up in the mountains, the Sava Bohinjka River takes on a more vivid colour. This is the view from Mala Osojnica.
In autumn a soft mist above the Sava Bohinjka River creates a different kind of atmosphere that you can experience from the Mala Osojnica viewpoint.
A peaceful start to the day above Lake Bled
There are many ways to begin a day at Lake Bled, but few feel quite as rewarding as watching the first light reach the lake and the surrounding mountains from the hills above. If you enjoy quiet mornings, forest paths and views that unfold slowly, Ojstrica and Mala Osojnica are well worth the early start.
Early morning view from the Mala Osojnica viewpoint above the western side of Lake Bled.
Below, you will find a few practical details to help you plan your hike up to Ojstrica or Mala Osojnica viewpoints. If you’d like a more in-depth experience with a local guide, feel free to contact me at petra@bledoscope.com.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
- Location: The hills rise above the western side of Lake Bled, Ojstrica at 611 metres and Mala Osojnica at 685 metres above sea level. The elevation gain is modest (130 metres and 200 metres).
- Starting point: The trail starts at Lake Bled, in the area called Velika Zaka where Camping Bled is also located.
- Hills nearby: You can also reach the hill of Velika Osojnica (756 m) via the same trail.
- Safety: It’s best to wear walking or hiking shoes with good grip, as the trail could be steep and rocky in places, and can be slippery after rain. Please keep to the marked trail and avoid walking on unmarked paths.
