Mount Kanin, or the final station of the cable car, serves as a fascinating starting point for mountain and hiking tours, appealing to both hikers and tourists. The Prestreljenik refreshment point at an elevation of 2202 meters can be reached effortlessly, without “knee-biting” climbs, thanks to the cable car. From there, marked trails offer the opportunity to ascend to the peaks of the Kanin mountain range or head towards Rombon via Prevala, meeting the demands of even the most avid hikers.
For those less adept at high-altitude hiking, there is a natural science educational trail. Kanin presents itself as a high-altitude karst, displaying all typical karst phenomena within arm’s reach. Geological history stretching back 220 million years reveals itself through layers, outcrops, and other surface forms. Despite its high-altitude location, the Kanin ridges bask in the Mediterranean sun. The view spans from the eastern Julian Alps across the Friulian Plain to the Gulf of Trieste and the lagoon around Grado, where the radiant Soča River meets the sea. Kanin’s plateaus are globally renowned examples of high-altitude karst plateaus and one of the most important speleological areas in Slovenia. Karst features such as sinkholes, dolines, shafts, natural bridges, and more are abound in quantity and diversity, which imparts a unique character to this high-altitude landscape. Due to its karst structure, water has carved its paths into the underground, creating the deepest Slovenian shafts and caves. Numerous karst springs line the southern slopes of Kanin, including the picturesque Boka Waterfall above Bovec.
Remnants from World War I are ubiquitous in the Posočje region. On Kanin, they can be found if one ventures through Sedlo to Prevala, where visible traces of an Italian hospital remain. Along this route, one often encounters the autochthonous Bovec sheep, renowned for the production of Bovec cheese. Children are particularly delighted by the “furry” sheep because they have ears resembling propellers and readily approach and indulge in treats offered to them.
For those seeking adventure in the form of adrenaline sports Kanin is an excellent starting point for paragliding descents and mountain biking. Mountain bikers can explore the Kanin via the well-maintained mountain bike park. Mysterious abysses are particularly inviting for cavers who opt for descending into the karst underworld and exploring its depths.
STARTING POINT: D Cable Car Station
A. NARAVNI MOST (Dolgi Prodi) 1.45 hours
F. PRESTRELJENIŠKO OKNO 2391 m. a.s.l., 45 minutes
DOM PETRA SKALARJA 2260 m. a.s.l., 45 minutes
(Not marked on the map)
LLOPA, 2406 m, challenging for experienced hikers, 2.30 to 3 hours
Through the KRNICA Valley to “B” station, 2.30 to 3 hours, to Bovec 4.30 to 5 hours
Koča CELSO GILBERTI, 1850 m. a.s.l., via Prevala, 2 hours
We recommend the following maps: Julian Alps – Western Part, Tourist Map of Bovec, Italian map Tabacco 019.
