Category Archives: Mountain pass Vršič, Slovenia

The Vršič Mountain Pass, with an elevation of 1.611 metres, is a high mountain pass across the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia. It is the highest pass in Slovenia and the highest in the Eastern Julian Alps. It connects Upper Carniola with the Trenta Valley in the Slovene Littoral and is considered an excellent starting point for excursions to surrounding peaks. Over Vršič, there was an old trail, which was upgraded for military purposes and logging and timber transportation in the early 20th century. The modern road, now known as the Russian Road (Ruska cesta), was built in 1915–17.

The Vršič Pass is considered an excellent starting point for excursions to surrounding peaks, including Mala Mojstrovka (2.332 m), Velika Mojstrovka (2.366 m), Planja (2.453 m), Prisojnik (Prisank) (2.547 m), Razor (2.601 m), Šitna Glava (2.087 m), Slemenova Špica (1.911 m), Sovna Glava (1.750 m), and Suhi Vrh (2.109 m), or shorter hikes in the immediate area.

The trail also starts at the Erjavčeva mountain hut. There are small parking lots at the pass, but you must get here early in the morning to get a spot. If they are all taken, there is plenty of room to park on the shoulder of the road.

We arrived at the Vršič Pass at 8:30 am, and all the parking lots were filled. We parked about a quarter of a mile downhill from the Vršič Pass along the shoulder.

The trailhead is at the top of the pass, opposite the main parking lot. Look for the large Vršič Pass sign. Just a short distance away is the trailhead. Look for a red sign that points towards Slemenova Špica and Mala Mojstrovka, and then follow the trail uphill through the low spruce forest.

Several mountain lodges are located near the pass: the Erjavec Lodge or Erjavčeva mountain hut (Erjavčeva koča; 1,525 m), the Tičar Lodge (Tičarjev dom; 1.620 m), Mike’s Lodge (Mihov dom), the Forest Lodge (Koča na Gozdu; 1.226 m), and the Postman’s Lodge (Poštarska koča; 1.725 m).