Cherni Vrah is the summit of Vitosha, one of the most recognizable and beloved mountains in Bulgaria. It is 2290 meters high and is among the most visited mountain peaks in Bulgaria, and its popularity is due not only to the beautiful panoramic views it offers, but also to the easy access and close proximity to the capital Sofia. Every year thousands of tourists, photographers, mountaineers and nature lovers climb the peak for pleasure, sports, photos, or simply to relax in nature.
There are several well-marked hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulty leading to Cherni Vrah, making it a suitable destination for both experienced mountaineers and beginners. In the following lines, I will introduce you to the main approaches to the summit and help you choose the most suitable route according to your time, capabilities and preferences.
I have arranged the routes by length. The descriptions refer to seasons without snow cover. Although many people climb the peak in winter, it should be borne in mind that there are avalanche-prone areas near it.
Cherni Vrаh in 9 interesting facts
- Cherni Vrah (meaning Black peak) is the highest peak of Vitosha Mountain and rises to 2290 m above sea level. This ranks Vitosha in fourth place among the mountains in Bulgaria.
- This is one of the most easily accessible two-thousanders in Bulgaria – the shortest hiking route is only 3 km long – see below.
- The beginning of Bulgarian organized tourism was laid at the summit – on August 27, 1895, Aleko Konstantinov, a Bulgarian writer and public figure, organized the first mass ascent of Cherni Vrah with over 300 people, including another famous Bulgarian writer and poet Ivan Vazov.
- One of the oldest meteorological stations in Bulgaria (opened in 1935), which is still operating, is locating at the summit.
- The average annual temperature on the peak is around 0°C.
- From the summit, beautiful views open up in clear weather – to the north, panoramas open up towards Sofia and the Sofia Plain and the Stara Planina Mountain, and to the south – towards Rila Mountain.
- It is part of the Vitosha Nature Park – the first nature park in the Balkans, established in 1934.
- Cherni Vrah is part of the watershed between river basins that flow into the Aegean and Black Seas.
- It is believed that the name “Cherni Vrah” comes from the dark color of the rocks and the often foggy weather, which makes it appear gloomy from afar.
There are several marked hiking routes to Cherni Vrah and in the following lines I will tell you about them. Be sure to take into account that the indicated time for each of the routes is approximate and is for walking only. You should also plan enough time for breaks and return.
From the northeast: Aleko hut – Cherni vrah
- Start (Aleko hut): 42.582304, 23.292346
- Distance: 3 km
- Elevation gain: (+) 476 m, (-) 0 m
- Duration: 1:30 h
How to get to the start of the route
We start the hike from Aleko hut. You can get there by car or by bus 66. If you have a car, you can leave it in the parking lot next to the lift station. Keep in mind that on holidays and weekends, cars are not allowed in Vitosha between 10:00 and 15:00. In addition, this parking lot is quite full on weekends and you may have to stop down the road.
If you decide to go by bus 66, you can check its schedule here. It leaves from Vitosha metro station, travels for about 50 minutes, and its final stop is the Moreni restaurant, just before Aleko hut.
Route description
We follow the red markings. From Aleko hut we head up towards the mountain. The first section of the route is known as the Wall and is quite steep. It takes about 45 minutes to complete.
Once you climb the Wall, you can take a well-deserved short break. There is a shelter at the top. After it, the path to Cherni Vrаh is quite wide and there are no such steep slopes. It takes about 40 minutes to reach the top.
From Cherni Vrаh, you can return back to Aleko hut, and if you have a car, this is the most logical option. On the way back, when you reach the Wall, for a change, you can return along the path with the stake markings that goes around the Wall on the left (in a northwesterly direction).
Another option for getting down, especially if you are using public transport and don’t need to return to the car, is to get down to the Golden Bridges. I have personally done this hike twice.
Another interesting hike I did was from Aleko hut via Cherni Vrah and Yarlovski Kupen peak to the village of Zheleznitsa.
From the northwest: Golden Bridges (Zlatnite mostove) – Kumata Hut – Cherni Vrah
- Start (Golden Bridges): 42.609467, 23.238898
- Distance: 7.71 km
- Elevation gain: (+) 864 m, (-) 3 m
- Duration: 3:30 h.
How to get to the start of the route
We start from Zlatnite Mostove along the path to the right of the stone river. How to get to Zlatnite Mostove see here.
Route description
We follow the blue markings. From Zlatnite Mostove (the Golden bridges) begins a relatively steep climb to the Kumata hut. However, for convenience, the path is like an alley. In addition, it is entirely in the forest, quite suitable for the hot weather.
Shortly after the hut, you go out into the open, then you pass by Konyarnika and the old ski facilities, the Tri Kladentsi shelter, and then you go out onto the ridge. There, in our blue-marked trail, the trail from the Selimitsa hut, which is red-marked, joins. The route continues past the Samara shelter, and after it is the final assault to Cherni Vrah.
The next three routes are quite challenging. They are long in distance, elevation gain, and time to complete. Therefore, I advise you to carefully assess your time and strength before deciding to head out on any of them.
From the west: Selimitsa hut – Cherni vrah
- Start (Selimitsa hut): 42.572631267830729, 23.202386805787683
- Distance: 7.8 km
- Elevation difference: (+) 1079 m, (-) 66 m
- Duration: 3:30 h
How to get to the start of the route
Selimitsa hut can be reached by car on an asphalt road. You can also use public transport – bus line No. 21 from Pernik and a minibus from Sofia. They will take you to the village of Kladnitsa and then you have to continue on foot to the hut.
Route description
We follow the red markings. From the parking lot to the Selimitsa hut we set off on the dirt road and after about 20 minutes we reach an old fountain on the left of the road and bungalows on the right. Opposite the bungalows, the path to Cherni Vrah separates on the steep side. There is a sign to it. From there you’ll start a very steep climb, initially in a forest, and then in the open air and among the bushes to the ridge. The path along the ridge is almost flat, and the goal – Cherni Vrah – is visible from afar. We continue along the ridge to the Samara shelter, after which the final climb to Cherni Vrh begins. The peak seems close, but it is not that close. The distance from the shelter to it is 1.75 km and takes about 45-50 minutes. The elevation gain is 206 meters.
From the southeast: Zheleznitsa village – Cherni vrah
- Start (Zheleznitsa village): 42.534491339341564, 23.36417537877535
- Distance: 8.62 km
- Elevation gain: (+) 1240 m, (-) 14 m
- Duration: 4:05 h
How to get to the start of the route
The trail starts from the western outskirts of the village of Zheleznitsa, just before the bridge over the river from the road to Samokov. There is a small tourist sign on the right side of the road. You can get there by car or by public transport from Sofia, buses 69 or 98. They stop in the center of Zheleznitsa and from there you have to continue on foot up the mountain.
Route description
We follow the blue markings. The first section of the route is the most difficult because it is very steep. It is to the Akademik sports center under Golyam Kupen peak. After the center, we walk in the high parts of Vitosha and there are not so steep climbs. About 800 meters after the sports base, the trail branches. To the right, a yellow-marked trail separates, which leads to the Aleko hut. To Cherni Vrah, you must continue straight along the blue markings. The trail intersects Skoparnik peak and shortly after it joins the trail from Yarlovo. From there, it is about 1.5 km to Cherni Vrah.
From the south: Yarlovo village – Yarlovski kupen peak – Cherni vrah
- Start (Yarlovo village): 42.469530152551926, 23.27813653175818
- Distance: 12.72 km
- Elevation difference: (+) 1280 m, (-) 65 m
- Duration: 5:00 h
How to get to the start of the route
The starting point is the square of the village of Yarlovo. It is most convenient to get there by car and park on the square.
Route description
On the square behind the fountain, there is an arrow pointing to Cherni Vrah via Golyam Vetren Peak. From there, the yellow marking begins, which you follow all the way to Yarlovski Kupen Peak. From the center of Yarlovo, take the street to the left of the church. After a few meters, it merges into another one. There, turn left, and then take the first straight road to the right. It takes you out of the village. The longest and steepest section of the route to Yarlovski Kupen Peak follows. You pass by several peaks and through Golyam Vetren Peak. Generally, you walk in the open air and with views back, only shortly after the village of Yarlovo the path is in a forest.
From Yarlovski Kupen Peak to Cherni Vrah, there are not so many steep slopes.
Final thoughts
Whether you are an experienced mountaineer, an avid photographer or simply looking for a break in nature, Cherni Vrah has something to attract you. The well-marked routes that lead to it from different sides of the mountain offer a variety of experiences – from shorter and easier walks to longer and steeper hikes. Whichever route you choose, the climb to Cherni Vrah is always worth it – for the views, the fresh air and the feeling of stepping on the highest point of Vitosha.
