After winter comes spring, the season of awakening and flowering of our beautiful nature. Bulgaria is among those destinations where the spring magic is in full force and we can find unique places filled with neat natural sights.
It is during this season that some of the most interesting natural phenomenas come to life – the waterfalls. On this occasion, I continue the series, in which we look at some of the most attractive, distinctive and beautiful waterfalls in the territories of Rila, Pirin, Stara Planina, Rhodopes and Belasitsa.
In this article, we will dive together into the majestic Rila, the roof mountain of the Balkans, which proudly rises and creates irreplaceable landscapes with mysterious and fabulous locations. Find out in the following lines which are the five waterfalls that you should visit!
Table of Contents
Gorica waterfall
Gorica Waterfall is an easily accessible waterfall located at the foot of Rila Mountain. The route of the Gorica eco-trail passes through the valley of the seven waterfalls above the village of Ovchartsi near Sapareva Banya, and reaches the area of Sokolov view, which is located at 1200 meters above sea level. At the moment, the section to the first Ovcharchensky waterfall – Goritca – has been built. It is 39m high and was declared a natural landmark in 1965. In addition to the large waterfall, six smaller waterfalls with a height of 5-15 meters can be seen upstream of the river.
The waterfall is full of water all year round. You will find the location of the waterfall here.
Difficulty level: Low.
Starting point: The upper end of the village of Ovchartsi and reaching the area of Sokolov.
Route: A comfortable and safe eco-path has been built, which takes 20 minutes to reach a panoramic platform from which you can take beautiful photos.
Kazanite Waterfall
The „Kazanite“ waterfall is located 8 km from the town of Belitsa and is located in the „Stenitsi“ area, surrounded by high natural rocks with bizarre rock figures. The waterfall itself is a large number of cauldron-shaped waterfalls that flow into each other and form a whole chain. The total length of the waterfalls is 1.5 km, divided into 3 groups with several waterfalls. The highest waterfall is located at the end of the group, which rises to a height of 3.5 m.
The waterfall is full of water all year round. You will find the location of the waterfall here.
Difficulty level: Low.
Starting point: It is located along the road from the town of Belitsa to the area „Stenitsi“.
Route: The waterfall is located right on the side of the road. By parking the car in the extension, you will be able to lean over and see the beautiful view from above, where from the jumps in the „cauldrons“ can be well observed.
Rilska Skakavitsa
Skakavitsa waterfall is a real natural treasure, located in the Skakavitsa reserve on the territory of the Rila National Park. The height of its waterfall is 70 m. It is the highest waterfall in Rila, as well as one of the highest located in Bulgaria – at 1750 m above sea level.
The waterfall is full of water all year round, with the strong periods being April-June. You will find the location of the waterfall here.
Difficulty level: Medium.
Starting point: Zeleni preslap area. There is a wide and convenient parking lot where you can leave your vehicle.
Route: The path enters the coniferous forests of Rila, where there is a serious but safe ascent in places. The duration is 2 hours each way, at a normal walking pace.
Kostenski waterfall
Kostenski waterfall is one of the most picturesque and visited waterfalls in Rila mountain. It is located 3 km south of the village of Kostenets and has a water fall of 12 meters. The waterfall was declared a natural landmark in 1974. It was described by Ivan Vazov in 1917 in his works „What the mountain sings“ and „Kostenets – travel notes“.
The waterfall is full of water all year round, being at its strongest in the spring and completely freezing in the winter. You will find the location of the waterfall here.
Difficulty level: Low.
Starting point: The path starts from the center of the “Vili Kostenets” resort area, where you will find a wide parking lot.
Route: The trail here is well built and has designated rest areas. The duration of the entire route is about 20 minutes.
Ropalishka waterfall
The Ropalishka waterfall is one of the most unknown tourist destinations in Bulgaria, and for a reason – it’s a hard-to-reach location. This is the highest located waterfall in Bulgaria and rises at 2300 m above sea level in the southern part of Rila mountain.
The best time to visit is the period April – June. You will find the location of the waterfall here.
Difficulty level: High.
Starting point: Ropalitsa area, 7.5 km from Nekhtenitsa area in the direction of the Belmeken dam.
Route: As the place is not very popular, the markings are scarce and you have to look around carefully, as well as stay off the beaten path. The duration in one direction is between 1:30 and 2:00 hours.