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Will Climbing Triglav Soon Require a Reservation?

Due to the (over)crowding of Slovenia’s highest peak, new measures are on the horizon.

According to estimates, as many as 70,000 people climb the mountain each year.

The Triglav National Park area has been experiencing a steady increase in visitors. For certain overburdened spots, measures have already been introduced, and similar steps are now being considered for ascents of Triglav itself — possibly through a reservation system to limit the number of climbers.

Will Climbing Triglav Soon Require a Reservation?

Problems caused by excessive visitation are also emerging in Slovenia’s high mountain areas, though no precise visitor data exists. Restrictions on access to specific starting points and a reservation system for mountain huts may partly help redistribute the number of visitors.

Particularly heavy pressure is being felt on Slovenia’s highest mountain. “Triglav is a national symbol — a mountain you are expected to climb if you want to call yourself Slovenian. Foreigners want to reach it too, because it’s a myth, a legend, a mountain known far and wide,” explained Tit Potočnik, Director of the Triglav National Park public institute. It is estimated that up to 70,000 people climb Triglav annually, though visits are heavily concentrated on a few fair-weather days.

Will Climbing Triglav Soon Require a Reservation?

Mass tourism in the Julian Alps, Vršič pass included

A 2018 study already showed that three-quarters of respondents listed overcrowding as their worst experience on Triglav. “The situation is chaotic — people move up and down, they can’t pass each other, they shout about who should wait. It’s disorganised, confusing, unregulated, harmful to nature, and dangerous for people,” said Potočnik. “Visiting Triglav during peak times is more or less a stressful experience. It’s the park’s duty to ensure that it’s not stressful for visitors, and that safety and environmental protection are maintained,” he emphasised, convinced that proper regulation would make climbing Triglav a much better and safer experience.

“We are reaching a point where, even if some measures are unpopular, society must recognise that something needs to be done,” said Majda Odar, Head of the Information and Education Service at the Triglav National Park public institute. She agrees that certain measures are needed during the high season — not only from a conservation perspective, but also for visitor safety. However, in her opinion, any restrictions on access to the summit of Triglav would require a broader social consensus. “It’s about our shared responsibility toward visiting this area — not only because it is the heart of the national park, but also because it’s a national symbol,” she emphasised.

As Potočnik also pointed out, just like other heavily visited areas of the park, Triglav requires a calculation of its carrying capacity — taking into account nature conservation, visitor experience, and safety. This task is already included in the work program of the TNP institute. Once the capacity is determined, Potočnik believes it will be essential — in agreement and cooperation with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, and with support from the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport — to clearly explain to visitors why such limitations are necessary and what positive effects they bring.

Possible measures include setting a maximum number of climbs per day, supported by a system that allows both reservations and monitoring of planned ascents.

Will Climbing Triglav Soon Require a Reservation?

Further Access Restrictions Across Triglav National Park Are Inevitable

Visitor numbers in TNP this year were similar to last year’s, and in some places even higher. Among the most visited sites are the Tamar Valley, Martuljek waterfalls, Peričnik waterfall, Pokljuka Plateau, and several points in Bohinj and the Soča Valley.

When ticket sales for the most visited natural attractions — such as Vintgar Gorge, Savica waterfall, and Mostnica Gorge — are added to the park’s visitor counters, Odar says the total reaches around 1.5 million visitors annually.

At certain micro-locations within TNP, the carrying capacity has definitely been exceeded, she warned. This means that further restrictions on access are essential — not only due to environmental pressure, but also due to the social capacity of the area and the need to maintain decent living conditions. This, she stressed, is the shared responsibility of all stakeholders managing the area.

Odar expressed satisfaction with the new traffic regime introduced this summer that limits private car access to the Vrata Valley, helping to calm traffic and improve the visitor experience. “However, the system will need to be further monitored and upgraded,” she added. A special regime is also being tested on the Vršič Pass road, where a new barrier system is currently in trial phase. Yet, in recent days, this system has already shown flaws — despite barriers meant to distinguish between transit travellers and those parking at the summit, a traffic collapse still occurred at the pass.

Plans are also underway to reduce private car access to other sites, such as the source of the Soča River and the Lepena Valley.

Erjavčeva koča - Slemenova špica - Sleme

Will Climbing Triglav Soon Require a Reservation?

Vršič Under the Pressure of Mass Tourism

Mass tourism is increasingly affecting Slovenia’s highest mountain pass – Vršič. For years, mountain hut caretakers have been warning about the chaotic conditions caused by excessive visitation. Numerous articles have been written and several initiatives proposed, yet the situation remains unchanged.

Residents in the surrounding areas, from Vršič Pass to Kranjska Gora and all the way to Bovec, are increasingly losing their quality of life. The number of visitors continues to grow each year, while traffic congestion impacts both the environment and the overall visitor experience.

This raises an important question: could the introduction of a regulated visitation system be the solution, for instance, by limiting access only to those who have a confirmed reservation for accommodation in a mountain hut? Such a system could improve organisation and reduce the pressure on nature.

Triglav National Park is under heavy strain. Hikers are often exposed to the constant noise of cars and motorcycles on the road to Vršič. At the same time, there has been an increase in illegal overnight stays in motorhomes, cars, and even tents – even though camping and overnighting outside designated areas are strictly prohibited within the national park.

These conditions call for responsible action from all stakeholders and a profound reflection on how to maintain a balance between accessibility to the mountain world, the preservation of nature, and the quality of life for local communities.

Traffic on Vršič pass

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