Vršič Pass to Slemenova Špica

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Overview

Vršič Pass to Slemenova Špica: Short Julian Alps Viewpoint Hike

Published 17 July 2025 Updated 5 June 2026

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HikeList Score

Vršič Pass to Slemenova Špica scored 74/100 on HikeList's trail-quality metrics.

Very Good

See score breakdownHide breakdown

Ideal length 55
Balanced challenge 94
Scenery & wildness 85
Varied terrain 83
Accommodation 49
Food & support 65
Path quality 98
Season flexibility 76

Computed from length, challenge, scenery & wildness, terrain variety, accommodation, food & support, path quality and season flexibility.

Vršič Pass to Slemenova Špica is a short alpine out-and-back in Triglav National Park, north-west Slovenia. The standard walk is about 5.5 km return with roughly 450 m of ascent, usually taking 2.5–4 hours, so it works well as a half-day hike. It is easy to moderate: mostly a marked mountain path over grass, earth and rock, with a steeper, rockier final approach. It suits fit families and hikers wanting big Julian Alps views without a full-day ascent.

Route Overview

Start and finish at the Vršič Pass car park / Erjavčeva koča area. From the pass, the marked path climbs to the Vratca saddle in roughly 30–40 minutes, where a junction branches towards Mala Mojstrovka. For Slemenova Špica, turn for Sleme and continue over a gently undulating grassy plateau with larch and dwarf pine before the short steeper final climb to the 1,911 m summit. The standard route returns the same way; a circular variant via scree below Mala Mojstrovka exists, but the true Mala Mojstrovka summit is not part of this walk. For a longer nearby crossing, compare the Kranjska Gora to Trenta Trail, or the higher Bohinj to Triglav Trail.

Vršič Pass and the Russian Road

The Vršič road was built over the pass in 1915 by the Austro-Hungarian army to supply the Isonzo, or Soča, Front. An estimated 10,000–12,000 Russian prisoners of war were used as forced labour. In March 1916, an avalanche buried a POW camp and killed about 110 prisoners. Survivors later built the wooden Russian Chapel, dedicated to St Vladimir, in their memory. The road is still known as the Russian Road.

Notable highlights

Slemenova Špica viewpoint (1,911 m): The summit gives an almost 360-degree sweep over the Julian Alps, including Jalovec, Mojstrovka, Prisojnik and the peaks above the Trenta valley.
Autumn larches at Sleme: The grassy Sleme plateau is ringed by larch trees that turn gold in late September and October, making this a classic autumn day hike.
Prisojnik (Prisank) north face: The huge north wall dominates the view across Vršič Pass, including the well-known natural window, Prisank okno.
Vršič Pass (1,611 m): The trailhead is Slovenia’s highest road pass, reached by a dramatic road of about 50 hairpin bends between Kranjska Gora and the Soča/Trenta valley.
Russian Chapel: On the Kranjska Gora side of the pass, this wooden Russian Orthodox chapel commemorates prisoners of war killed during construction of the Russian Road.

Challenges to expect

The walk is short, but it is still an alpine route. Expect a marked mountain footpath with grass, earth and rock, plus a steeper, rockier final section with light scrambling. In summer and autumn, paid parking at Vršič Pass can fill early. Navigation is generally straightforward on Knafelc red-and-white waymarks, but mist can make the open plateau less obvious. Winter requires proper equipment and experience.

790

Ranked #790 of 974

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