The Zelenci nature reserve is located near the beautiful alpine village of Podkoren (near Kranjska Gora), in the far northwestern corner of Slovenia, just a mere 5 minutes by car from both the Italian and Austrian borders. The unspoiled natural beauty of the multiple springs and emerald-green lake is phenomenal! Its serene atmosphere is so relaxing and the water is clearer than you could possibly imagine. Wildlife and wild flowers are everywhere. The maintained trails feature informational signage, as well as viewing bridges and an observation tower. Following a wooden footbridge, you can walk to the lake and around the swamps without harming nature. If you climb up the viewing tower you get great views of cows in the field, mountains, and an overview of the spring that is the source of the Sava Dolinka river. Very impressive and well worth a stop of you’re in the area.

The Zelenci nature reserve is a good half an hour’s drive from the Bled area. The path starts at the little restaurant at the parking lot.

Zelenci is a quiet and tranquil place. The emerald green water, the beautiful surroundings, the peace, the view of the Slovenian Alps. Just stunning! (photo: Matej Vranic / slovenia.info)

With a length of only 1200 meters and width of 150 meters, Zelenci isn’t really a big nature reserve but the place is so beautiful. (photo: Alan Kosmac / slovenia.info)

Not only humans like to be in Zelenci, it’s also home to various birds, amphibians and fishes. (photo: Bojan Kolman)

Lake Zelenci with its crystal clear and 2 meter deep water! (photo: Ales Krivec / Dreamy Pixel)

Zelenci Nature Reserve was named after its colour: ‘zelen’ means green in Slovenian. (photo: Boris Pretnar / slovenia.info)

To avoid some crowds, we’d recommend to visit the Zelenci Nature Reserve early in the morning or late in the afternoon. (photo: Bor Rojnik / slovenia.info)

Zelenci is also the source of the Sava Dolinka River, a tributary of the Danube. (photo: Ales Krivec / Dreamy Pixel)

Zelenci Nature Reserve is located in the far northwestern part of the country, basically almost on the border with Austria and Italy. (photo: Drazen Stader / slovenia.info)

If you’re driving from Kranjska Gora, the parking lot is on the left side of the road shortly after the village of Podkoren (5-minute drive). From the parking lot to the lake, it’s a 10-minute walk. (photo: Matevz Lenarcic / slovenia.info)

There are a trail and a wooden boardwalk that leads to a viewing platform, where you can see the astonishingly clear and green waters of Zelenci. (photo: Bojan Kolman)

While it may look like just a lake, it’s actually a spring and the source of the Sava Dolinka River. The porous chalk bottom of the pool allows a continuous up-welling of groundwater. You’ll see bubble streams emerging from the bottom. (photo: Bojan Kolman)

Zelenci is the perfect leg-stretcher, with a short path to a green-coloured lake. (photo: Bojan Kolman)

Lake Zelenci never freezes no matter how cold the winter temperatures are. (photo: Iztok Medja / slovenia.info)

More info about the Zelenci Nature Reserve: All you need to know about the Zelenci Nature Reserve

Location:
Zelenci Nature Reserve Address: Podkoren 75b, 4280 Kranjska Gora, Slovenia
Zelenci Nature Reserve Latitude and Longitude Coordinates: 46.49429, 13.73437
Zelenci Nature Reserve GPS coordinates: 46° 29′ 39.4620” N     13° 44′ 3.7680” E
Traditional region: Upper Carniola (Slovene: Gorenjska)
Municipality: Kranjska Gora

Directions from Apartments Fine Stay to the Zelenci Nature Reserve (drive 34 km, 33 mins)

Directions from Apartments Fine Stay Bled to the Zelenci Nature Reserve (drive 43 km, 38 mins)