Central Balkan National Park

The Central Balkan park runs about eighty kilometres along the highest section of the Stara Planina, the range that gives the Balkans their name, protecting beech and mixed forest on the slopes and open grassland along the ridge above 1,500 metres, with nine strict reserves inside it. Several of its old-growth beech stands were added in 2017 to the UNESCO listing of ancient and primeval beech forests of Europe. It holds brown bear, wolf, chamois and a substantial raptor population, and the Botev peak at 2,376 metres is its high point. The Kom to Emine ridge trail, which crosses the whole country, runs through it, and the park is threaded with marked routes and mountain huts.

What you actually see

• UNESCO-listed old-growth beech - the primeval stands on the slopes.
• Botev peak at 2,376 metres - the highest point in the range.
• The Kom to Emine ridge route - the long-distance trail crossing the park.
• Brown bear and chamois - the large mammals the reserves protect.

When to go

June to September for the ridge; snow lies late and the huts are shut outside the season. A day for a valley walk, several for a ridge traverse. Afternoon storms are frequent in summer.

Honest expectations

Weather on the ridge changes very fast and the open grassland offers no shelter. Huts are basic and crowded at weekends. Strict reserves are closed to entry. Bears are present and food should be handled accordingly. Marking is good but not everywhere.

Nearby

Raysko Praskalo falls inside the park; Troyan Monastery lies north.