The hardest hikes in Slovenia, by the numbers
Of the 41 trails in Slovenia in our dataset, 17 (41 percent) rate strenuous or very strenuous on the gain-and-distance scale we use and run 3 to 30 miles with at least 1,500 ft of climb; all 17 are listed here, highest rating first.
Slovenska planinska pot leads with 5,673 ft of gain over 17.3 miles, 328 ft per mile, with a steepest pitch of 42 percent.
Across the 17, gain runs from 1,525 to 6,718 ft and distance from 3.4 miles to 23.8 miles; the median gain is 4,645 ft and the median distance 6.3 miles.
17 of the 17 are out-and-back routes.
| # | Trail | Miles | Gain (ft) | Ft per mile | Max grade | Elevation (ft) | Rating | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slovenska planinska pot | 17.3 | 5,673 | 328 | 42% | 4,719 to 7,111 | 443 | |
| 2 | Jakobova pot - Maribor | 23.8 | 2,853 | 120 | 24% | 827 to 2,154 | 368.5 | |
| 3 | Jakobova pot - Gorenjska veja | 12.6 | 3,451 | 274 | 33% | 2,355 to 5,745 | 294.9 | |
| 4 | Log - Mangart | 6.4 | 6,718 | 1,050 | 80% | 2,162 to 8,598 | 293.2 | |
| 5 | Alpe Adria Trail E23 | 12.7 | 2,977 | 234 | 38% | 2,087 to 5,529 | 275 | |
| 6 | Via Alpina Red R14Triglav NP | 8.5 | 4,424 | 520 | 68% | 2,024 to 6,008 | 274.2 | |
| 7 | Via Alpina Red R13Triglav NP | 6.3 | 5,484 | 870 | 44% | 2,051 to 7,109 | 262.9 | |
| 8 | Via Alpina Purple A1Triglav NP | 5.4 | 5,185 | 960 | 71% | 3,271 to 7,109 | 236.6 | |
| 9 | Drežnica - Krn (južna)Triglav NP | 4.5 | 5,482 | 1,218 | 62% | 1,789 to 7,288 | 222.1 | |
| 10 | Zaka - Šport hotel PokljukaTriglav NP | 8.3 | 2,851 | 343 | 36% | 1,639 to 4,349 | 217.5 | |
| 11 | Možnica - JerebicaTriglav NP | 4.7 | 4,985 | 1,061 | 68% | 1,967 to 6,776 | 216.5 | |
| 12 | Sentiero Natura Mersino Alto Matajur | 4.7 | 4,645 | 988 | 43% | 662 to 5,311 | 209 | |
| 13 | Vršič - Zav. pod Špičkom - JalovecTriglav NP | 5.3 | 4,041 | 762 | 55% | 4,799 to 8,272 | 207 | |
| 14 | Tamar - Kotovo sedlo - JalovecTriglav NP | 3.6 | 4,718 | 1,311 | 70% | 3,643 to 8,320 | 184.3 | |
| 15 | Tamar - Jalovška škrbina - JalovecTriglav NP | 3.4 | 4,781 | 1,406 | 89% | 3,643 to 8,274 | 180.3 | |
| 16 | Via Alpina Red R3 | 10.3 | 1,525 | 148 | 33% | 1,282 to 2,346 | 177.2 | |
| 17 | Rosenkogel | 3.6 | 3,188 | 886 | 55% | 2,005 to 5,207 | 151.5 |
How this list is ranked
Rating = the square root of 2 x elevation gain (ft) x distance (miles), the gain-and-distance formula Shenandoah National Park publishes for its own trails. Bands: under 50 easiest, 50 to 100 moderate, 100 to 150 moderately strenuous, 150 to 200 strenuous, 200 and over very strenuous.
This list: band strenuous (150 to 200) or very strenuous (200 and over), 3 to 30 miles, at least 1,500 ft of gain, ordered by rating desc, gain per mile desc, capped at 25. The rating column is computed from the miles and gain printed in the same row, the numbers each trail page uses, so every row can be checked from the row itself. The rating says nothing about exposure, scrambling, altitude or conditions.
Only trails with a full page count, so "Slovenia" here means the 41 trails in Slovenia in our dataset, not every trail in Slovenia.
Each trail page shows the full elevation profile behind these numbers and the same data drawn as a topographic print, made to order. Start with Slovenska planinska pot.
Hardest hikes elsewhere.
The same ranking for other countries in our dataset.