Soteska Vintgar

Do not go with young children!!!! Please see image for trail back through the forest. We went on this tour very enthusiastic on a Monday afternoon (29.04.24) close to closing hours, it was 16:30. We knew very well this route and it is magnificent. We had our 4 year old daughter w us. All was well going towards the end, but as we reached the cabin at the end of the trail, the personnel there forbid us to go back the same way we came saying very non challantly that the way back is through the forest up ahead, it is a really easy hike. Well you know what it is said about the theory and practice they don't match... Here is where our real adventure started. We went ahead and it was really steep, really not adequate for a child not to mention younger ones who are carried and for their parents. we returned after about 5-10 min in the forest because our child kept complaining that she was tired since we were only going up and much as we wanted we didn't see the plateau mentioned by the personnel... We went the second time in the forest since there is a tourniquet at the cabin blocking the way back, it didn't matter that we told them that groups of elderly people and some young people were going back the same way, they just said in the forest. We kept looking at the map who was showing us that we actually we were distancing ourselves from the car, going complete opposite directions. We were tired, angry and w a complaining child w us. Not a fun situation. No indicators as to where you are or how long it will take to reach the parking lot again. It was at least 30-40 min of steep trail w roots and mud road and in total until we reached some kind of civilization more than one hour. This is at St. Katerina church where the trail splits and from which point you have at least another 40 min to walk until parking or shuttle, on a very narrow dirt road. There is no shuttle schedule or none that we saw, no warning about the way back, we went thinking that we will go back the same way as many years ago when we went for the first time, no indicators and ultimately no understanding. Lucky for us we met a local family who guided us, but we saw many people confused as to where to go, turning back, lost. As for us we remained at St. Katerina waiting for my husband to bring the car because our daughter refused to walk anymore and we were tired of carrying her. In conclusion, we have been explained by the local people that it was too crowded the trail and accidents happened and we understand but what we do not understand is why there is no warning for the families w young children and elderly. We personally might have chosen not to visit. We were left no option, perhaps just not go to the cabin at the end and just return.