Best Sights of Triglav National Park: Komna

Komna is a mountain karst plateau rising up above western side of the Bohinj basin. Because of its unique location it is one of the best places to visit in Triglav National Park all year round.

Komna is among Best places to visit in Triglav National Park

Outdoor sports paradise in Slovenia

SUMMER SIGHTSEEING AND HIKING

You might want to escape the summer heat in the valley and go hiking with views of Bohinj and around Komna to enjoy the fresh breeze, explore ruins from Battles of Isonzo or follow endless military mule tracks built out of stone from World War 1, which are nowadays used as hiking paths. You can also just enjoy mountain food and the views from Dom na Komni mountain hut.

AUTUMN

Golden larches are also a good reason to visit this mountain paradise, but you need to perfectly nail the timing and have some luck since autumn weather can be unpredictable. Starting at waterfall Savica and going to Seven Triglav lakes Valley via Komna is probably the best autumn hike in Triglav National Park, if not in whole Slovenia.

WINTER

You might want to go ski touring or snowshoeing across the endless snow-covered hills if you are visiting Komna in the winter time. However, do not forget to bring enough warm clothes, since high altitude, strong wind and loads of snow also mean very low terperatures. You better get back in warm hut, or even better - at cosy hotel in the valley after the sun sets.

Did you know?

Frost hollow named Mrzla (Cold) Komna has the national lowest temperature record of freezing -49ºC, which was measured in January 2009.

Komna covers a big part of Triglav National Park

Since Komna plateau is so huge, it can be divided into three main parts:

• Spodnja (Lower) Komna on the south, where you will find abandoned pasture Govnjač with ruins of herdsman cottages under the mountains Tolminski Kuk and Mahavšček;

• Lepa (Pretty) Komna in the middle, which is full of hills with dwarf pines, which all disappear in the winter and the scenery looks like from some other planet;

• Zgornja (Upper) Komna on the north is rising above the Seven Triglav Lakes Valley and is rarely visited by human foot.

Autumn evening above Zgornja Komna

Map of Komna plateau

Total coverage is around 27 square kilometers (6700 acres), which is equivalent of 8 Bohinj lakes,
4300 footbal fields or about 4 percent of whole Triglav National Park.

Area of Komna plateau in relation to football fields and Lake Bohinj

In greater part, this vast karst plateau lies at elevations between 1300 and 1750 meters (asl), is covered with limestone pavements of all shapes and sizes and overgrown with dwarf pines and larches. Komna is very well connected to Soča Valley with a network of military mule tracks from World War 1 which are built out of stone and therefore very well preserved.

Hike to Komna

Classic hiking path from Waterfall Savica

Hiking time: 2h 30min

Difficulty: easy marked path

The easiest and most popular hiking path to Dom na Komni from Koča pri Savici takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes. The path starts at the end of Ukanc, where you can park your car at Savica waterfall parking (fees apply). You can also take a free bus to get to the starting point.

Hiking Route to Komna Description

From parking, follow the gravel road that leads towards Savica waterfall for about 100 meters and then take left. Follow easy path that goes up passing Savica waterfall reception. Bring good hiking shoes as the rocks and roots on the way may be slippery, especially after rain or snowfall. Since the path was a military mule track in WW1, the 5 kilometers long hike with 870 meters of ascent is fairly easy. You will gain elevation across 48 hairpin turns in the shade of broadleaf trees overlooking western-most wall of Bohinj basin. At the last turn, an amazing vista Lake Bohinj opens up. Continue following the path which will gradually ascend and continue left at the crossroads, pass a small cabin on the corner and after about 5 minutes you will arrive to one of the largest mountain huts in Slovenia - Dom na Komni.

Dom na Komni (1520m) / Komna Hut (1520m)

On the edge of plateau is located a mountain hut, which is actually visible from the Bohinj lake if you see far enough. Hut location is also one of the best viewpoints towards Bohinj lake, Pokljuka, Jelovica, spodnje Bohinjske gore, Triglav and Seven Lakes Valley. In the winter and autumn, there is a high chance of temperature inversion, which means you will be sunbathing at Komna, while looking down into the valley filled with sea of clouds.

Dom na Komni in winter

Lake Bohinj from above

The hut was built in 1936 by back then so called Slovenian Alpine Club, but it burnt down in 1941. It was restored to its previous state in 1948 and upgraded in 2005. Dom na Komni is open throughout the year, so you are always able to get hot or cold beverage and meal after a long hike up. It also has sleeping capacities for 90 people, but you better make a reservation (especially in the summer) if you don’t want to sleep outside, since the hut is located directly at the crossroad of many hiking trails and is therefore very popular place to stay.

Other possible routes to Komna

From Savica via Komarča

Hiking time: 3h

Difficulty: difficult marked path

Since this path is very steep and airy, it is not vertigo friendly. Use of helmet is strongly advised. This route joins with the one from Vogar at Black Lake.

Vogar to Komna via Black Lake

Hiking time: 4h

Difficulty: easy marked path

Longer path that passes few mountain pastures and goes through beautiful forests will lead you to Black Lake and turn left and up towards Komna.

From Vogel to Komna

Hiking time: 5h

Difficulty: easy marked path

Surrounded with gorgeous views at all sides this less known path to Komna is for those who want more solitude and longer hike. Bring enough water since there is no water sources from Vogel unitl Komna.

Hikes around Komna

Now that you’ve arrived to Dom na Komni, sun is shining and you are still full of energy. Where to go next?

EXPLORE AROUND

If you are feeling adventurous, you can try to find some old houses or mule tracks all across Komna plateau. You never know what you will find. Look around and if you see holes dug in the steep slopes, that’s home (well, one of many) of Alpine Marmot. You might have even heard their whistles when you are too close and are warning their pack of the danger. Meanwhile in the winter, try to spot some footprints of paws in the snow and figure out which animal they belong to.

Koča pod Bogatinom

Hiking time: 15min

Difficulty: easy marked path

Easy walk brings you to beautiful meadow “Na Kraju” where stands Koča pod Bogatinom hut which was originally built as hospital in World War 1. This is the crossroad between Soča Valley, Seven Triglav Lakes Valley and Bohinj.

Bogatin Saddle

Hiking time: 1h 15min

Difficulty: easy marked path

Beautiful views towards Krn peak above Soča Valley on one side and whole Komna plateau and Triglav with Seven Lakes Valley on the other.

If you are on a multi-day hiking trip in the Julian Alps, you should definitely go towards Krn Lake and then down into Soča Valley or Lepena, or in direction of Triglav through Seven Lakes Valley to Prehodavci hut,

Lake Krn

Hiking time: 2h 50min

Difficulty: easy marked path

The trail is ascending to the Bogatin saddle and then descends all the way down to one of the most beautiful lakes in Slovenia.

Valley of the Seven Triglav Lakes

Hiking time: 2h 30min

Difficulty: easy marked path

Wavy trail that goes a bit up and down across with gorgeous views with Bohinj mountains all around you.