There are three Skaklya waterfalls in Bulgaria or at least I am aware of three. About which one of them would you like to know? Well, read below, and you’ll see.
Each Skaklya waterfall is a very nice idea for a day trip from Sofia for any traveler seeking a nature escape. If you wonder what is the best time to visit the falls, springtime or after heavy rains are ideal for experiencing these destinations. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the various Skaklya waterfalls and the trails that lead to them.
Dobravishka Skaklya waterfall
The Dobravishka Skaklya waterfall is the first one in my list. It is about 20 meters high and its waters fall from a great rocky crown. Because of the mineral deposits on the surrounding rocks, in places the waterfall looks like molten gold. The place nearby is quiet, wild and beautiful. The waterfall is extremely friendly. You can stand at its base and bask in the cool, invigorating spray. Amazing and energizing feeling.
How do you get there?
This Skaklya waterfall is located next to the village of Dobravitsa. The village is located 60 km north of Sofia. While driving you pass through the village of Iskrets, and then through the village of Breze. After that, the turnoff for the village of Dobravitsa is located on the right of the road, about 400-500 meters from the starting sign of Breze.
After the turnoff to Dobravitsa, drive about 2.2 kilometers on a road with a crushed stone surface. The road leads to a square with a fountain in the Lower hamlet of the village of Dobravitsa. Behind the fountain there is an old house that used to be a school. At the square, it is best to leave the car and continue on foot up the dirt road. This road is not suitable for a car.
- Starting point: 43.016562, 23.239763
- Dobravitsa Skaklya waterfall: 43.01336, 23.25259
- Hiking duration: 25 minutes each way
The trail to Dobravishka Skaklya waterfall
After a ten-minute walk, you reach a fork, where you have to take the road to the left. After another 10 minutes, on the left of this road, before it turns right, a narrow path to the waterfall begins. From this point, you can already see the Skaklya waterfall, which pours from the rocky ridge opposite. Five minutes of walking along the path and you reach its foot.
The walk from the Lower hamlet of Dobravitsa to Dobravishka Skaklya waterfall takes about 25-30 minutes.
The route is short and relatively easy. Only in the last section should you be more careful, as the path is quite narrow in places.
Bovska Skaklya waterfall and the Vazova eco-trail
This is the most popular Skaklya waterfall in Bulgaria.
The Vasova eco-path is located in the Iskar gorge and connects the Bov train station and the village of Zasele. The trail is a great place for walking among beautiful views. The most interesting spot on the route is the Skaklya waterfall. With its total height of 120 meters, it is one of the highest waterfalls in Bulgaria.
The best time to visit the waterfall is the spring season.
How do you get there?
The Vazovа eco-trail is located 56 km north of Sofia and 11 km north of the town of Svoge. You can start the walk either from the Bov station, or from the village of Zasele. Keep in mind that from Bov in the direction of Zasele the trail goes up and is quite steep in some places. The way back is only downhill, which is significantly easier. I would recommend this way.
The village of Bov can be reached not only by car but also by train on the Sofia-Varna line.
If you’d like to start from the Bov, follow the nameplate near the train station. The distance from the train station to the beginning of the trail is less than 2 kilometers. If you get there by train, you need to walk to the trail start, otherwise you can get to the trails start by car. At the beginning of the trail, there is a small area that is used for parking and can accommodate about 8-9 cars, which can be extremely insufficient in a day with many tourists in the area.
- Starting point: Bov station – 43.035256, 23.337965; Zasele – 43.039617, 23.330194
- Bov Skaklya waterfall: 43.035622, 23.331787
- Hiking duration: 1:10 hours each way
The trail to the Bov Skaklya waterfall
The trail is very good for hiking. In general, it is a natural forest path. In some places, however, wooden bridges have been built, in others – stone stairs. The whole route takes about 70 minutes of walking in direction.
It takes about half an hour from the parking lot to the foot of the Skaklya waterfall. The path goes under the waterfall and continues on the other side. From there it takes about 40 minutes to reach the plateau above it.
Near the village of Zasele, up on the plateau, you can also see the stream feeding the waterfall – the Skaklya river. Not far away there is a large gazebo for relaxation. From the plateau there are amazing views of Bov and the Iskar Gorge.
Vratsa Skaklya waterfall
With its height of 141 meters, the Vratsa Skaklya waterfall is the highest waterfall in Bulgaria. Unfortunately, the creek that feeds it is very small and the waterfall is not permanent. It is active in the spring and after heavy rains.
How do you get there?
The starting point is the southwestern surroundings of the city of Vratsa, about 110 kilometers from Sofia. You can get to Vratsa by car or by public transport – train or bus. It takes about 2 hours to travel.
- Starting point: 43.193650, 23.554034
- Vratsa Skaklya Waterfall: 43.182996, 23.549474
- Hiking duration: 1 hour each way
The trail to the Vratsa Skaklya waterfall
The path starts from the end of Belasitsa street to the hospital in Vratsa. At the end of the street you will see a home for elderly people, opposite which there are convenient parking spaces.
From there, continue on foot along the wide path, which is a continuation of the street. You pass through the entrance to the Vrachanski Karst nature reserve that is a part of the Vratsa Balkan nature park.
The path continues to the nearby rocky ridge from which the Vrachanska Skaklya waterfall flows. The route is marked with red.
Final thoughts
In the article I shared information about the three Skaklya waterfalls in Bulgaria that I know. All of them jump from the very high rocks, hence their name – the word “skaklya” origins from “skok” that means “jump” in Bulgarian.
