Yablanishko Gorge

Overview

Yablanishko Gorge is a canyon-like gorge of the Yablanitsa River (right tributary of the Erma River) in western Bulgaria, between the southwestern part of Mount Greben in the east and the northeastern slopes of Ezdimir Mountain in the west, in Trun Municipality, Pernik District, about 5 km northeast from the town of Trun.

The entire length of the gorge is about 4 km and its average altitude is about 680 m.

Along the gorge, there are many waterfalls, springs, caves, rock walls, and towers. The combination of water, rocks, and plants is remarkable. There are dozens of tree, shrub, and grass species. Some of them are extremely beautiful, such as the lilac in May or the sumac in September and October, and especially the extremely rare Freichenbach's iris, found only on the Balkan Peninsula, which can be seen in June. Аlong the Yablanishko gorge you can see the small cave Mecha Dupka and the popular in the region Zeleni vir, as well as a miniature cave in the rocks.

An eco-trail has been built on the gorge, otherwise, it is inaccessible for tourists. It starts from the village of Bankya, Trun municipality. The eco-trail is well marked, completely renovated in 2021. It is not easy to cross, in its upper part there are quite steep sections and it is not suitable for people with limited mobility. The area is uniquely beautiful.

There are many wooden bridges over the almost vertical rocks, under which the stormy river flows. The center of this gorge is Zeleni vir, where you can relax and have a picnic. The width of the gorge is a few meters. Despite the convenience of stairs and bridges along the eco-trail, crossing the gorge by untrained tourists could be quite exhausting.

Location: 3 km from the town of Trun between the villages of Bankya and Vrabcha.