Nature always impressed a human with its wonders: canyons, mountains, seas, iced continents, flabbergasting animals. Waterfalls are also included in this list. Have you ever experienced walking closer to one? You hear it from far and feel the vibrations. This creates a feeling of natural suspense. When you do the last step before the revival of a landscape, boom, here it is, the Rinka Waterfall.
The highest waterfall in Slovenia is The Rinka Falls. It is in the northern part of the country, in Logar Valley. This place is full of picturesque views, nature, hiking trails, but some of them can be really demanding. So it’s better to prepare your body for the challenge.
The Rinka Falls
The name in the Slovenian language sounds like “slap Rinka”. The waterfall is located in the Logar Valley, which lies in the northern part of Slovenia, to be more precise in the Municipality of Solčava. This is the traditional region of Upper Carniola. The center of the municipality is the town of Solčava. The region also includes such settlements as Logarska Dolina, Podolševa, and Robanov Kot.
The Rinka Falls are the source of the Savinja River. The height of its drop is 105 meters (344 ft), which makes it the highest one among the other 20 waterfalls in the Logar Valley as well as the highest waterfall in the Republic of Slovenia. The longest step is 90 m (300 ft) in its length, so the water here flies this distance uninterruptedly.
We recommend going to the Kamnik Saddle for observing the waterfall because it has the best view of the landmark.
In the Slovene language, the name “rinka” means ring, hoop, or a link of a chain. In fact, it was borrowed from German, where it sounds like Ringel, Ringl, and means a rounded or ring-similar topographic feature.
Vicinity Mountains
As it is the highest mountain of Slovenia, it is located in quite a mountainous area. In its surroundings, you can find four peaks that belong to the central Kamnik–Savinja Alps in northern Slovenia. The highest of them is Carniola Mount Rinka (Kranjska Rinka) that has 2,453 m in height or 8,048 ft.
A little bit lower next one is Carinthia Mount Rinka (Koroška Rinka), with an elevation of 2,433 meters (7,982 ft). On the west, you will find Styria Mount Rinka (Štajerska Rinka) with 2,374 m of height (7,789 ft), which ends with the Turski Žleb Ravine. The lowest one is located a little bit further. It is Little Mount Rinka (Mala Rinka; 2,289 m or 7,510 ft).
These mounts are located at the border between the traditional Slovene regions, thus they got their names: Carinthia, Carniola, and Styria.
All the mentioned above mountains are good for everyone to challenge herself or himself. They are not too high to be impossible to reach without special equipment. On the other hand, it will not be an easy-peasy walk in a city park. For example, in order “to tame” Carinthia Mount Rinka, you will need entire three hours from the Carniolan Lodge at Ledine, passing the Jezersko Pass, or three and a half hours from the Frischauf Lodge at Okrešelj, through the Turski Žleb Ravine. Despite more time of duration, the second path is more sloping, hence easier.
The Savinja River
It is the direct continuation of the Rinka Waterfall. The river’s length is 101.8 km (63.3 mi), and the basin size covers an area of 1,848 km2 (714 sq mi). After the waterfall, the river flows into the bigger Sava River, then into the main water battery of Europe, the Danube, and in the end, it flows into the Black Sea.
The biggest Slovenian cities this river goes through are Celje and Laško. Also, this is the main river of the Savinja Alps. The river was often flooded in the 1960s and the 1990s. However, now it shows more calm behavior. The main tributaries of the river are the Jušef and the Klobaša at Solčava, the Lučnica at Luče, the Ljubnica at Ljubno, the Dreta at Nazarje, the Paka at Šmartno ob Paki, and the Ložnica and Voglajna with the Hudinja at Celje
For travelers, it’s important to know that the quality of water is first-class level only until the Radmirje village.
Along the river, you can find a bronze sculpture of a raftsman that was created in 1961 by Boris Kalin, and it is located at the left bank of the river in Celje town.
Logar Valley
Its full name is Logar Valley Landscape Park because it received the protected status in 1987. It got its name relatively recently, from the Logar Farm located here, which in its turn is derived from log meaning “swamp”.
Logar Valley is a typical U-shaped valley formed by the process of glaciation. In simple words, a long time ago, it was here a big ice boulder that gave this shape to the valley. Now, Logar Valley is divided into three parts: Log, Plest (or Plestje), and Ogradec.
Officially, the population of the valley is only 35 people who live on the isolated farmsteads.
A walking path through the valley takes approximately two to three hours.
What to Do in the Valley?
As the valley is protected, you will find an entrance fee if you travel in your own transport. The sums are the following: for a motorcycle, it’s 5 EUR, car – 7 EUR, van – 8 EUR, and for one bus (any people quantity) is 30 EUR. On the other hand, if you enter the valley on foot or by bicycle, the fee is absent.
The valley is full of hiking trails that you can take in order to observe local landmarks. There are some of them we recommend:
Klemenči jami Hiking Trail
This one is 2.1 km long one-way. Therefore, count in advance the back path duration. Approximately, you will need 1:15 hours for one-way. The difficulty of this trail is easy because you will be higher only for 371 m. On the other hand, it can become just a warm-up before continuing your hike to Strelovec, Krofička, or even Ojstrica.
The trail is zigzagging through the forest for an hour, so keep the attention and don’t lose the marking points. The ending point of it is Klemenči jami mountain hut that is situated on a wildflower meadow. You can even enter it. The hut is opened from June to September every day, and in April and May only on weekends.
From this point, you can extend your hike to Strelovec, the ridge that separates the valleys of Logar and Robanov Kot, and to Ojstrica that is only for ambitious hikers because it will take additional 3 hours from the hut (and don’t forget about the back hike).
Frischaufov dom na Okrešlju Hiking Trail
The starting point of this trail is the Rinka Waterfall, it is 1.6 km one-way, and it will take one hour 15 minutes of your time.
The trail is extremely picturesque. It is ascending along with the Savinja river. You will see forests, cliffs, the glacial cirque Okrešlj, Carniolan lilies, and slipper orchids. This is definitely worth it. The trail is well marked, and there are a lot of wooden ladders and ropes for your security.
Very unfortunately, but Frischaufov dom na Okrešlju, the ending point of this trail, another one mountain hut, burned down in 2019, and it is currently a construction site.
To extend this path, you can try to go to Ledinski Vrh, which is quite a reachable mountain peak nearby. It takes a little bit less than two hours to hike from Okrešlj. Also, experienced hikers who have at least some hiking equipment can try to go for Turska Gora (2.5 hours), or Skuta (4 hours), but consider it as not a challenge for newbies.
Hike to the Kamnik Saddle
Definitely, it is the best continuation of the previous hiking trail. As we mentioned above, the path will open for you the best view of the Rinka Waterfall. On the other hand, this is a demanding route. The hike to Kamnik Saddle will take approximately two and a half hours of your time walking 4.1 km for one-way (in total with Frischaufov dom na Okrešlju Hiking Trail).
However, it is definitely rewarding. Kamnik Saddle is one of the most picturesque destinations in Slovenia. During the way, you will find Slovenian nature the best one in the world, and reaching the point of destination will award you with jaw-dropping views on Mount Brana, Mount Planjava, and some others.
Let’s Hike It
The Rinka Waterfall is the highest one in Slovenia. However, this fact doesn’t make it so special. However, what really does is the place where it is located. The magnificent Logar Valley is the place where nature still rules. The only 35 people living here only on farms couldn’t spoil it with urbanization, therefore the valley is not for regular travelers. You still need to conquer nature, and it brings a lot of self-enjoyment. Try it yourself here!
