Hiking on Straža Hill with several viewpoints

Straža [pronounced strazha], a hill covered with meadows and forests, rises above the southeast side of Lake Bled (facing Bled Castle).

The hill of Straža is nowadays mostly known for summer toboggan, adventure park and skiing (in winter); however, there are also several viewpoints and well-maintained walking and hiking paths.

It is a convenient place for outdoor recreation and relaxation due to its location close to the centre of Bled.

Walking and hiking are popular leisure activities of many locals. Some would go for a short hike on Straža before going to work while others prefer after-work walk in nature.

Straža offers scenic walking paths also thanks to Swiss natural healer Arnold Rikli who lived and worked in Bled (during the summer months) in the 19th century.

Back in time, Arnold Rikli already acknowledged health benefits of walking in nature. Apart from having water and sun therapies, Rikli’s patients who were recovering from a disease or strengthening their health had to walk every day, including in the area of Straža.

On the top of Straža next to the trim trail, you will find a statue dedicated to Arnold Rikli or Sun Doc as the locals called him.

While walking on Straža, you will notice green signs with a binocular on them, pointing towards the viewpoints. There are three viewpoints on the top of the hill. Another one is on the way to the top that you will come across by following the trim trail.

If you wish to visit all the viewpoints, I would suggest you to do a panoramic tour that lasts around half an hour.

MAIN VIEWPOINT: From the main viewpoint you will see Lake Bled and Bled Castle, the centre of Bled and its neighbouring villages. In the distance, there will be Pokljuka Plateau and the mountains such as the Karawanks and Julian Alps.

You can reach the main viewpoint that lies above Straža chairlift by climbing up the main hiking path. (Or by taking a chairlift ride during spring or summer months.)

The main viewpoint is impossible to overlook while you will probably need more effort to find the rest of them. I suggest you to follow the trim trail (check out the map of Straža below to see where the trim trail goes).

Nowadays Straža is a popular place for outdoor recreation. Besides walking paths and several viewpoints, there is also outdoor fitness and exercise equipment that is placed along the trim trail, called Bled Fitness Promenade. 

You can go running on the trim trail and do some exercises at the fitness promenade.

LOCATION: Straža is a hill in Bled from which you can see Lake Bled from above. It rises 642 metres (2106 feet) above sea level.

Straža in Bled

REACHING THE STARTING POINT: You can start walking to the foot of Straža Hill while on the path that runs along Lake Bled. Look for the signposts pointing towards Straža placed near Grand Hotel Toplice.

Below Straža, there is a parking area (called Pod Stražo) where you can leave your car if you will drive there.

HIKING TRAILS: You can either follow the trim trail or the main hiking path to reach the top of Straža. It takes 20–30 minutes to reach the main viewpoint. The difference in altitude is around 145 metres (470 feet).

HIKING ROUTE IN PICTURES