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Moderate Hiking Trails in Bulgaria

69 routes in Bulgaria qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 8.0 km and 271 m (889 ft) of ascent.

That is 39 percent of the 177 routes we map in Bulgaria. They are shorter than the local average, 8.0 km against 24.8 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 271 m (889 ft) against 738 m (2,421 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Moderate routes are the sweet spot for most regular walkers: enough climbing to feel like a proper day out, never enough to turn into an ordeal. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

Mozgovishki Chukar peak - 2612 m
Moderate

За Спано поле

Pirin National Park · Blagoevgrad

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
410 m
Typical duration
1 hr 7 min
  • Waymarked route
Mozgovishki Chukar peak - 2612 m
Moderate

За Спано поле

Pirin National Park · Blagoevgrad

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
168 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

ST516a Devil's Gorge detour

Smolyan · Bulgaria

Distance
10.4 km
/ 6.5 mi
Elevation gain
229 m
Typical duration
2 hr 31 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

Beli Iskar Nature Trail

National Park Rila · Sofia

Distance
9.1 km
/ 5.7 mi
Elevation gain
201 m
Typical duration
2 hr 12 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Musala Pathway

National Park Rila · Sofia

Distance
12.4 km
/ 7.7 mi
Elevation gain
273 m
Typical duration
3 hr
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

blue bar

Central Balkan National Park · Lovech

Distance
11.5 km
/ 7.2 mi
Elevation gain
254 m
Typical duration
2 hr 47 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Вапски езера

National Park Rila · Blagoevgrad

Distance
6.0 km
/ 3.7 mi
Elevation gain
605 m
Typical duration
2 hr 9 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

ST425 Dragoman - Slivnitsa

Sofia · Bulgaria

Distance
15.4 km
/ 9.6 mi
Elevation gain
340 m
Typical duration
3 hr 45 min
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

ST511 Yundola - Velingrad

Pazardzhik · Bulgaria

Distance
15.2 km
/ 9.5 mi
Elevation gain
335 m
Typical duration
3 hr 41 min
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

ST513 Batak - Orlovetz

Pazardzhik · Bulgaria

Distance
13.9 km
/ 8.6 mi
Elevation gain
305 m
Typical duration
3 hr 21 min
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

ST516 Borino - Yagodina

Smolyan · Bulgaria

Distance
10.4 km
/ 6.5 mi
Elevation gain
229 m
Typical duration
2 hr 31 min
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

ST518 Mugla - Perelik

Smolyan · Bulgaria

Distance
12.4 km
/ 7.7 mi
Elevation gain
274 m
Typical duration
3 hr
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

ST701 Sofia - Mladost3

Sofia-City · Bulgaria

Distance
11.9 km
/ 7.4 mi
Elevation gain
263 m
Typical duration
2 hr 53 min
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

ST703 Red Cross - Novi Han

Sofia-City · Bulgaria

Distance
11.2 km
/ 7.0 mi
Elevation gain
247 m
Typical duration
2 hr 42 min
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

ST708 Vetren - Septemvri

Pazardzhik · Bulgaria

Distance
13.6 km
/ 8.4 mi
Elevation gain
298 m
Typical duration
3 hr 16 min
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

ST713 Asenovgrad - Cherven

Plovdiv · Bulgaria

Distance
13.2 km
/ 8.2 mi
Elevation gain
291 m
Typical duration
3 hr 12 min
  • Long-distance path

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
х. Бъндерица - ПремкатаPirin National Park3.7 km44 m50 minModerateJuly to September
Попово езеро - ЧенгелчалPirin National Park2.5 km453 m1 hr 12 minModerateJuly to September
х. Вихрен - Казаните - ПремкатаPirin National Park2.9 km56 m41 minModerateJuly to September
Банско - х. ДемяницаPirin National Park10.2 km34 m2 hr 11 minModerateJune to October
х. Вихрен - х. ДемяницаPirin National Park9.0 km668 m2 hr 53 minModerateJuly to September
з. Изворите - Кременски езера - в. ДжаноPirin National Park3.3 km548 m1 hr 31 minModerateJuly to September
х. Безбог - х. ДемяницаPirin National Park10.2 km815 m3 hr 20 minModerateJuly to September
х. Вихрен - х. СинаницаPirin National Park7.3 km681 m2 hr 32 minModerateJuly to September
з. Тевно езеро - в. ДженгалPirin National Park2.0 km83 m33 minModerateJuly to September
За Спано полеPirin National Park2.4 km410 m1 hr 7 minModerateJune to October

If you only have time for one, start with х. Бъндерица - Премката, Попово езеро - Ченгелчал, х. Вихрен - Казаните - Премката. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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