Most comprehensive MTB guide book (gorskokolesarski vodnik Dolina Soče)covering 43 mtb tracks in the whole Soca Valley is comming out in summer 2009.
This year Mountminbike on tour went to San Remo, Italy. We did some rehearsals for the music festival, but anyway took the bikes with us in any case we would be tempted by the mtb paths in its surroundings. And the temptation was irresistible and the results of discovering the less known beauties of San Remo surroundings can be seen here.
To finish this year’s long season we went to Vrše. Milko - best Soca Valley mtb guide guy - took us on a splendid ride which left us speechless. The descent is so amazing you cannot imagine it is even possible. Its not that easy to find the way so you need to know us to help you :)
A better downhill track than the one in Bovec but it lacks a cable car .... if you know some local guys you might get a lift with their firemans van. The uphill is almost the same that one to Jelenk, just shortened in upper part. The DH section is very cool. Do go and ride it.
With a relatively short and easy ascent from Kanal you can reach the Banščice plateau. A vast plateau that extends from Sv.Gora in the south to Most na Soči in the north. Enormous region with plenty of forest and forestall roads and paths. One of most interesting ones is the path from the artifical lake on top of the pateau towards Jelenk hill top which crosses the west end of the plateau and occasionally offers some nice views to lower part of Soca Valley. To finish in stile take the Kanal's downhill path that brings you to Morsko village, just above Kanal city. Nice descent with jumps and some technical parts. Very fast single track though.
A vast hilly area called Kambreško extends northwest of Kanal. The whole area is intensively covered by forests roads where a detailed map and a good sense of orientation are needed for getting around. This trip included the climb up to Kambreško village from where great views open up, descent down to a valley that ends at Ajba and another climb to Sv.Pavel church from where an abandoned single track takes you back down to Ročinj. Nice afternoon trip although nothing special.
For this years end of the season we focused on the lower Soca Valley region. Near Kanal and Avče. One splendid goal in that part is definitly Marijino Celje which lies near Lig, above Kanal city. Once it was a very well known pilgrimage place to which a paved road led to the top. Today ruins of that road are seen only in the lower part of the descent which is quite tricky due to many many forestal paths and crossings on the way down. Recommended.
Gozdec is the third descent possibility from the road up to Kanin's cable car middle station. The one down from Krnica is definitely the best, the one down the MTB park is somehow special and the third one, down from Gozdec has the most bike carrying sections :) Well if you dare you can try to run the whole. If you succeed we'll put you on the though-guy list.
The trip that rounds the entire Bovec basin ends with a climb to Javorček and a drop down to Soča river. The trip passes by the oldest monument in this area, the St.Lenart church. Short but nice explorer trip.
Upper Soča Valley does not provide realy a vast choise of mountainbike trips, but those which does all got at least four marks out of five. Amazing where and what sort of single track you can find in those mountains where only sheeps and goats dare to 
Wanna go all day long on a trip toward Stol where a southern ascent never ends. The uphill road is loooooong. The only good thing is the view and the warm sun that keeps you in a good mood. On top, a favorite paragliding starting point, the wind blows like crazy. But the 360 view is absolutely fabulous, and the 4km long descent on the Stol crest another superlative of this mountain. The good descents are rare though, the one toward Trnovo not very exiting at all, but it ends with a moderate single track to improve the bad impression. The descent directly down to Kobarid still tops the dh choices.
Continuing on the road that heads to the MTB Park Kanin starting point you come to a mountain pasture Krnica under the Kanin ski area where a steep zigzag path rides the right side of Rombon mountain and drops you back down to Bovec city centre. This path is certainly more ride-able than the park one and offers from fast DH parts to some almost unridable down steps over some difficult rocky sections. This one is tricky, but in a way one of the most beautiful truly alpine MTB tracks in Soca Valley. Certainly in the club of Matajur, Stol and Razor ones! Find in in Google Earth
Where there is a cable car, all you need to find is an old shepherd path that goes down near it and you've got the MTB Park. And that's it. Bovec MTB park it just that - an excellent combination of these requirements. The downhill section is divided in three parts due to two road crossings and the most difficult part comes in the lowers part that brings you back to Bovec. The park offers a descent of 500 altitude difference and is equipped with "north shore" construction elements to allow fast curving, challenging obstacles surmounting and dare testing for the brave ones.
Short-but-fun. Many hill tops around Bovec are steep and unapproachable by bike, so all it is there are the one way valleys. The one to Možnica has a nice return path that goes through the Možnica river gorges and back out to the road to Kluže, a monumental fortress dated centuries back. Although short these valleys lower part is very picturesque and impressive.
With reaching the Mangart's mountain hut at 1906 m this is the Soca Valleys highest mtb destination. Although it seem that nothing is ride-able from up there the alpine path that drops down to Mangarts mountain pasture offers a tricky but doable descent. Taking a path above Strmec village makes you avoid the main road and gives you the possibility to drop down to Loška Koritnica with a total of more than 500 m of an interesting single-track descent. Some parts on this one are tricky though and require excellent technique and self-confidence. Try yourself out.
It seems like an innocent small hill looking at it from Tolmin or Most na Soči. But proves to be a hard one. The overall length of this tour hardly beats the one to Vodil Vrh but even if you tried that one and think it is hard to seize than Bučenica will remain an unconquered hill top for you. The uphill part is so difficult due to terrain that the cycling do-ability is on its extreme limits ... but once on top it all gets repaid with two amazing view points. The downhill single-track offers a fast and smooth descent back down to Most na Soči. And a beer or two makes you wonder how come this short trip was so fatiguing ...
Gabrje-Krn-Pretovč-Gabrje 
A 1000m ascent to Kuk, another hill on Slovenian - Italian border, is not easy. The slope in its first half is very steep, but yet not so difficult as some others since all the way to the top is asphalted. The descent takes you across the border toward Topolovo and switches back to Livek from where a funny descent to Idrsko is available. Funny cors there are so many forest roads you easy miss the right one but eventually get down to Idrsko village.
The Italians call this village "The one with that name ...". Just try to pronounce it. Well, the Matajur/Montemaggiore hill is full of beautiful single tracks. Especially ones on the Italian side. This one is a shorter version of the one to ŠpieterSlovenov/SanPietroAlNatisone and spares you the fatiguing return.
Another picturesque and fascinating tour in Soca Valley. This one goes from Kobarid through Drežnica across Špit to Krn village from where a splendid open view ascent under the mount Krn plateau begins. The descent is one of the fastest by following the grassy path all the way down to Kosec village. Hadn't been for some unavoidable bike carrying this one would get a 5 star mark. Find it in Google Earth
One of Soca Valley’s best. Certainly in the club of Matajur and Stol rides. The crossing from Razor to Spodnji Kal and the descent to Čadrg village offers splendid views, nice technical single-track and some difficult parts on the descent to make it very interesting. The many possibilities how to get to Razor and how to get out of Čadrg gives this one an infinite possibilities of making an ideal and always different trip to same places. Best places are always hidden!
South of Tolmin lays a Banjšice plateau. Its northern part is easily accessible from Most na Soči and the rides here are pretty much different than those in northern Soca Valley part. Not to mean they are less attractive. On the contrary, climbs are less though, the top doesn't really exist. Because you are going up and down all the time on the plateau, and the descents are direct, steep, fast and technical. Where to find Grudnica? here
This one is another short but nice up and down trip. Špik can easily be a finish-in-stile end of a much longer trip up to Planica or Bes chapel. Find this place in Soca Valley 
South west of Tolmin lies a remote land with plenty of forests and small valleys. Good orientation capabilities are demanded (or a GPS) in order not to get lost in the woods. Its a very nice and long ride with an interesting return on the left side of the Soča river toward Most na Soči.
Best paragliding starting point in Europe that is. Kobala. The grassy hill from which a paraglide jump to either of sides (toward two different valleys) is possible. The air conditions in this part of Soca Valley allow day long glides and plenty of fly kilometers. Well on the ground side there are also two very nice downhill paths which would be a shame to miss. Find the place in Soca Valley.
One of Soca Valley's top mountain bike places. Being the highest mountain in its nearby area it offers a 360 view reaching as far as the Adriatic sea on a clear day.
Foni. A forgotten village above Soča river, hidden on the northern slope of Kolovrat. Only one house is still inhabited confirming this small village’s remote location. Even home animals get scared if they see strangers coming...
This ride follows the footsteps of the Montefosca one save for the descent on the trail No. 735, which proved to be uncyclable for the most part. We found another descent down to Montefosca village this time which proved to be far better. The trail that continues from the village starts promising but becomes more demanding in its second part. The slope becomes steeper and the trail abounds in small loose rocks and rock stairs. Not for everyone, but it’s still worth its while for able riders.
The ride in the most western part of Slovenia takes you through some remotest villages in Soca Valley. The Breginj village was also the biggest victim of 1976 earthquake which can steel be seen today by completely deurbanized and temporary housing architecture. The access to Breginj is possible only by asphalt road, but from here some forest roads takes you above the village from where some decent descents are available. Overall is a more get to see the places than a real mtb tour in this area.
Drežnica offers two different ways of ascent. One toward planina Zaprikraj on the west side of Krn and one toward the alpine meadows under Krn’s southern part. The latest was done this time. The good thing about this ride is the round trip that it offers. The descent from the planina Zaslap toward Drežnica is very demanding in some parts bike carrying comes in place but overall an attractive ride under the impressing Krn plate.
The over hill trip to upper Soca Valley - Bovec, the valley's winter ski centre. The cutting through the woods makes you suffer here. Plenty of rock falls, landslides, high grass, big stones, ravines etc makes the large part of downhill only partially ride able. But overall it is an interesting trip worth trying every 5 years or more....
This is a slightly shorter version of the ride to Vodil Vrh. You still get to climb the same steep concrete and gravel tractor road towards Pretovč and Sleme but instead of going all the way up to Pretovč turn left at Zavrh just as the climb starts to ease up a bit. From that point a steep grassy road takes you past a shepherd’s station and delivers you on top of the grassy Vodil Vrh. The familiar single track descent is only a short hilltop ride away.Numbers better picture this loop’s steepness: 750m of altitude difference, 5km of ascent, 3km of descent ........ just amazing!
Senica is a splendid alternative to avoid the main road from Tolmin to Most na Soči. The climb up from Ljubinj is intense but rewards you with an amazing view of the valley below from the viewpoint on its top. You have the full view of the artificial lake spanning from Most na Soči to Tolmin and the mountain ranges beyond it. The descent begins on a fire road but soon switches to a rocky singletrack that brings you down to Most na Soči again.
Only ruins await you in this hardly accessible part of Tolminka valley where once big property marked this part of territory. The round trip takes you across two bridges, passes by two of the most interesting places in this area (which you are able to pay a visit of course) and brings you back out of this picturesque valley directly to an outdoor bar. The beer there is absolutely perfect.
Kovačič Planina lies on Kolovrat ridge, from which great views on Soca River and the Krn’s mountain chain open up. There are many ways to get back down to the valley and cool down in Soca itself. One of those ways takes you down on single track via Kovačič Planina pasture and finishes with a really badly shaped forest road.
Many years ago described in one of the first mtb guides in Slovenia, this crossing from Razor toward eastern Lower Bohinj Mountains, offers yet again a unique impression of how well the “mule paths” were build during the WWI. Today after 50+ years the path still exists, although only in a form of a single track on once more than 1,5m wide mountain road. .....................................
Looking so not attractive, this 1200m hill top doesn't realy look as a favorable mtb destination. So wrong. Its dense forest provides excellent shield from hot summer sun, and the best on this hill starts at its top - descent. If the one from Stol to Kobarid is intense this one is non-stop technical. Steep descent plus many of stone stairs sections on the path makes it really interesting. But surely brings a smile on your face once back in the valley.
Trip to Razor always offers a variety of choices of getting up to it or descend from. This time we took advantage of a beautiful afternoon sun and made the crossing from Stador to Kal pasture and from there by some short cuts single tracks all the way down to the valley to get out the Tolminka gorge at the very end of our trip. As always Razor is an excellent choice.
Reaching Magozd by taking an old road from camp Koren near Napoleon bridge over Soca river and heading towards Zaprikraj pasture allows you to avoid a big bunch of asphalt road. From the pasture we literally climbed to Krasi Vrh from where a great view on Drežnica and Krn is offering. The uphill suffer paid off on the return. The way down to Dreznica is demanding and technical. To finish in stile a path down the Kosec gorges to Ladra village was taken.
Gran Monte (Sella Križ) lies west of Stol in Italy. As once was Slovenian land it has two names, like many villages in that part. This way up to the pass Križ is a very airy and panoramic. The "muletera" path made in times of WWI makes you suffer all the way to the top. Fortunately you can make it in the saddle all the way although someone would turn back at the very beginning of this mule path.
Wanna go the steepest way up and down?. Simple: head from Zatolmin to Pretovč (two third of the way to Sleme) than cross back to Vodil Vrh from where a straight-down-path starts and brings you quickly to your starting point. Intense and steep and narrow and technical round trip. Plus for a bonus Vodil Vrh offers one of the best panorama views on Tolmin basin and hills around it.
West part of Trebuša valley offers some intense uphill challenges. With almost un-ride-able slopes the effort makes you feel you gained a lot of altitude but you only managed mere 250m. But all that is only possible if you get a guide like Milko who is able to find the most remote paths you can imagine. Back to the picturesque road again and to the top of Vrše pasture and back down again to no mans land. The uphill is the most interesting part on this tour.
Starting the season at sea side is absolutely the best way to get bike adicted for the rest of the year. This time the MountainbikeOnTour was visiting Liguran Alps in Italy. The place surprises you with great views on every path you choose
Result of Milko's new attractive mountain bike paths exploration, especially in eastern Tolmin's region is another fine excursion with nice rise to Vrše and drop down to Trebuša valley and a river side return to Most na Soči. The best thing is that most of the biking is done outside traffic roads, including the access to start of the climb and the return from the descent. This one should not be missed.
This one is certainly Tolmin's best "backyard" single track. There are plenty of possible access options to reach the start of this descent at Lom mountain pasture. Directly via Stador or around Kobilja glava by Sela. Or the longest way up to Razor (via Tolminske ravne) and back down to this branch. If you are able to run all the tricky parts than all paths described on this page will be a pleasure for you. If not than many of them will be considered a suffer-walking-down the "unrideable" sections.
Sveta gora (681m) lies just above Nova Gorica, some 45km south of Tolmin. It’s a famous pilgrimage site. The mountain bike journey to this hill involves a very interesting route across the Banjščice plateau. The way is a constant up and down but it offers a vast variety of excellent views to Julian Alps in the north and Adriatic Sea to the south. When returning, there are plenty of possibilities to get to Avče village from where the path on the left side of Soca River brings you back to Most na Soči. Consider it as a long regeneration journey after some intensive bike tours to high Soca Valley Mountains.
This pasture is on the way to Sleme and can be reached by the same steep road from Zatolmin. But there is another, maybe even better possibility to reach it from Gaberje by forestall road that narrows to a steep path towards the Krn village. From there another intensive but interesting path through the woods brings you just above Pretovč. The descent can be done again as already described in Sleme post, but there are two other single tracks available from Vodil vrh that drop down quite fast to Zatolmin. More pics in Marko's gallery.
A nice round trip through a very interesting village Robidišče - the most western settlement of Slovenia, reached from Podbela and extending the trip across Italian border to the Vogel hill (1124m), climbing down to Montefosca and descending by a typical well-done-Italian-rock-paved path (il sentiero) down to Stupica/Stupizza and back to Kobarid. If you avoid the 735 path from the top of the hill to Montefosca and return by road you easily avoid some 3 hours of bicycle carrying to reach the village. The 735 way to it is a clear case of no way.
The village to which the Queen of Sweden and the CIA director also paid the visit is a must see. The village gave place to Don Perino commune and lately become popular for its eco-food production. The way up takes you through the Tolmin gorges across Devils Bridge (60m) where the road gets very steep until the first houses some 2km ahead. From there the steepness eases and in half hour you reach this amazing settlement. To round up the trip take the path down to Polog and return back to Zatolmin. A short but attractive trip.
This mountaineer’s favorite mountain pasture was our goal for a quick afternoon’s trip this time. With Lian we paid a short visit to the Razors alpine hut which lies on 1330m above sea level. Due to bad weather we decided to quickly descent by the road. Razor is certainly the place for mountain bikers also. There are three different paths up to the pasture and even more from here on. The "kings" trip to Dobrenjšca starts here and others to Čadrg, Polog, Knežke ravne and Stržišče. There are also some very nice paths that turn off the main road on return to Tolmin. With this kind of choice no wonder it’s the most visited place in Soca Valley.
This 1642m high grass covered hill on the border with Italy represents another favorite destination. The uphill climb is not very fatiguing and opposite sex mountain bikers tend to like this climb very much. The top is already on the Italian side from where a vast choice of well marked paths takes you to the valley of Natisone/Nadiža. The longest one is nearly 10km long and if you consider the way back it usually tends to become an all day journey. The return can be done via Robič back to Kobarid or by climbing back to Livek and descent down to Kobarid. Some older impressions from trips to Matajur also available here: spring2006, autumn2006
1300m of altitude difference, 10km of ascent, 13% of average slope, with 20% steepness on the very beginning of ascent just outside Zatolmin - these are some facts that make this way up to Sleme not very popular among mountain bike riders to say the least. But there are some who like it just for these facts. The way up takes some effort but when you get to the top where the highest mountain pasture of Tolmins region lies the view opens to the Julian alps on the East and West side. From here many possibilities for descent are available. The most popular is to go down to Mederje and via Pretovč straight down to Zatolmin. The single track is always empty and it allows a very high speed descent with some rocky sections just to keep the thing interesting.
In case of bad injury dial 112 for Rescue!. Some paths in Tolmin surroundings are so remote and uneasily reachable only helicopter rescue is possible.
The neighborhood of a winter cross country skiing centre Vojsko offers plenty of excellent through the woods mountain bike trips with some breath taking descents. One of those is definitively the run down the Pršjak valley.
Sunday's trip took as to mount Stol (1673m) west of Kobarid. The ascent is more or less boring, but the great view pays off. The mountain pass at cca 1400 m is easily reachable by bikes from where a wide path in gradual descent heads east and ends some 1150m just above Kobarid. From here a very nice and long single track or better a very rocky path takes you on a long descent toward the town. 
A very interesting visit to a nice Italian village just across the border. It took us 8 hours to make the trip although it can be made in less than six. We encountered problems. We always encounter problems when we decide to explore new paths. Hint: do not take every shortcut signed on the map!
Korada lies south of Tolmin, with some 20 km by car to Plave from where a nice path takes you to the top where a nice cottage is located. They serve beer and food. The view from the top reaches many Italian villages to the west, Sveta gora above Gorica to the south east and Julian Apls to the norh.
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