A forest hike above the Sava Bohinjka River to a cave below a tooth-shaped rock
Not far from Lake Bled, high above the Sava Bohinjka River, lies a cave that many visitors to this area have probably never heard of. It’s hidden beneath Babji Zob, a distinctive rock formation on the edge of the Jelovica Plateau. Its name translates as Old Woman’s Tooth, a rather unusual name for a place shaped by nature over millions of years.
Unlike some of Slovenia’s more famous caves, this one can only be visited with local cavers who look after it and guide small groups underground.
Getting there is part of the experience. Before reaching the entrance, you need to hike uphill through the forest, following a trail above the river valley.
And once inside, you discover a part of the landscape that is very different from the forests, lake and hills we usually associate with Bled.
Inside the cave below Babji Zob that is located at an altitude of around 1,000 metres above sea level.
Hiking through the forest towards the cave
From a wide gravel road branching off the main road towards Kupljenik, a narrow trail leads uphill through the trees. Some sections are quite steep, so it’s worth taking your time, especially if the ground is wet.
As you climb higher above the Sava Bohinjka valley, the surrounding forest occasionally opens up to views of Pokljuka, another large, forested plateau rising on the opposite side of the valley.
The hike to the cave below Babji Zob begins in the forest below the village of Kupljenik.
The cave entrance lies beneath the rock formation called Babji Zob on the edge of the Jelovica Plateau.
After approximately an hour of uphill hiking, you reach the entrance to the cave, at around 1,000 metres above sea level. From the outside, there’s little to suggest what lies beneath the rocks.
Entering the cave beneath Babji Zob
The cave is looked after by local cavers, who also organise guided visits. I think this is an important part of the experience. Caves are fragile environments, and even a small amount of damage can affect formations that have taken thousands or millions of years to develop.
Once inside, you follow the guide through narrow passages and larger chambers, gradually discovering the different formations hidden in the rock.
The cave under Babji Zob can only be visited with local cavers, who lead guided tours for small groups during the summer months.
The temperature remains around 8°C throughout the year, so even on a warm summer day, you’ll notice the change as soon as you enter. As your eyes adjust to the dim light, you begin to see stalactites hanging from the ceiling and stalagmites rising from the cave floor.
Some formations have unusual shapes, and it’s easy to find yourself looking at them for a little longer, wondering what they resemble. An animal, perhaps? Or even a human face? Everyone seems to notice something different.
Experiencing complete darkness underground
One of the most memorable moments of the guided visit comes when you are deep inside the cave. The guides switch off the lights for a short while, leaving you in complete darkness.
It’s a strange experience, particularly when you’re used to always having at least a little light around you. For those few moments, you cannot see the cave walls or even the people standing beside you. It gives you a different sense of what this underground world is like, far away from the daylight and the familiar sounds of the forest above.
Discovering the formations inside the cave
Like many karst caves in Slovenia, including the famous Postojna Cave, the cave under Babji zob reveals a quiet world shaped over time. Stalagmites rise slowly from the ground, while stalactites hang from the ceiling, each forming over thousands of years – growing only a few centimetres over the course of a millennium.
Inside the cave, different formations emerge from the dim light.
Further inside, more delicate formations begin to appear. Among them are helictites: small, curved shapes that seem to grow in unexpected directions.
Yet the oldest features of the cave are the calcite crystals. Formed millions of years ago, even before the cave itself took shape, they reflect a much longer history of the landscape. Calcite, one of the most common minerals in Slovenia, is also found in nature beyond caves, even within the skeletons of certain sea organisms.
Calcite crystals are delicate formations that require careful protection.
Stalagmites and stalactites in the cave below Babji zob.
Some of these crystals are estimated to be around 10 million years old. Over time, many have been damaged, a reminder of how fragile such formations are. What remains, however, still speaks of a slow and patient process that continues to this day.
There is a saying among cavers that I think captures this approach rather well: take nothing from the cave and leave nothing behind, except for the mud on your shoes.
Beyond the usual views of Bled
When we think about spending time in nature around Bled, we usually imagine walking by the lake, hiking through the forest or climbing one of the surrounding hills. But beneath this familiar landscape lies another world, hidden underground. Visiting the cave under Babji Zob offers an opportunity to discover a little of it.
And I think there’s something particularly interesting about combining the forest hike with a visit underground. You begin by hiking among the trees, with occasional views across the river valley, and end up discovering formations that have been developing beneath the surface for millions of years.
It’s a very different experience from visiting the familiar viewpoints around Lake Bled, but one that reveals another part of the area’s natural history.
If you are planning to visit the cave under Babji Zob, the details below will help you prepare for this experience. If you would like to explore Lake Bled and its surrounding hills with a local guide, I’d be happy to take you on a guided walk, sharing some of my favourite places and local stories along the way.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
- Location: Set at just over 1,000 metres above sea level, the cave under Babji Zob (Google maps) lies tucked into the Jelovica plateau, with the villages of Kupljenik and Bohinjska Bela resting below.
- Starting point: The forest trail begins below Kupljenik. Allow approximately one hour for the uphill hike, with around 350 metres of elevation gain.
- Getting there: It is best to reach the starting point by bike, as there is no official parking area nearby. If you come by car, you can park in the village of Bohinjska Bela (Google maps), near the cultural centre (Dom krajanov Bohinjska Bela in Slovenian), and walk from there. From Bohinjska Bela, it takes around one hour to walk to the cave entrance. Follow the signpost marked “Jama” (cave in Slovenian).
- Visiting the cave: For more details about guided visits, please contact the local caving association. This experience, including the visit to the cave, takes around three to four hours.
- Safety: The trail to the cave is at times steep and narrow, so a steady step and good grip make the walk more comfortable. Trekking poles can be helpful, especially on the way down. Inside the cave, the temperature remains low, around 8°C, offering a cool contrast to the outside air in the summer, therefore a warm layer is welcome here. A small torch or headlamp helps make each step safer and allows you to notice the finer details in the dim light.
