Otlica's Natural Window

Hiking in Slovenia » Vipava Valley » Otlica's Natural Window

Otliško okno (Otlica Window) is a large natural window at the edge of the Gora plateau high above Vipava valley. It’s just a short walk from Otlica, a village on Gora, but it’s more fun to hike there from the valley.

At a Glance

Difficulty: Occasionally steep footpath through a sparse forest
Altitude: 820 m
Average time: Ascent: 1 hour 30 minutes
Descent: 1 hour
Total: 3 hours
Elevation gain: 580 m
Coordinates: Start: 45.904010,13.912406
Peak: 45.916335,13.912842

Starting point Hiking map Download GPX file

Getting There

Park in a small parking lot just before the Hubelj bridge. There’s another (less organized) parking lot a bit further up the street.
Cross the bridge over Hubelj and follow the red signs onto a narrow footpath ascending into the forest. Pass the nearby inn, find a hand-painted sign for okno, and follow the waymarks.
The slopes around Hubelj are crisscrossed with trails, but it’s pretty easy to stay on the widest footpath (most of the paths merge into yours). Be careful on the way back and avoid taking the wrong fork at a junction; while you won’t get hopelessly lost, you’ll reach the asphalt road far from where you left the car.
The footpath meanders across the terraced northern slopes of Vipava valley, resulting in a mix of steeper sections and leisurely walks until you get to Gora’s steep limestone slopes, where the mud stops and the real work starts.
Fortunately, the farmers creating the trails from Vipava valley to Gora believed in moderation. Instead of a fierce uphill struggle, the path zigzags across the slope, rarely becoming too steep for a comfortable hike.
You’ll be in the forest most of the time, but when you reach the clearings just below Gora’s edge, you’ll be rewarded with phenomenal views of Vipava valley and a glimpse of the Otlica window.
When reaching the edge of the Gora plateau, turn right; you’ll reach your destination in a few minutes.

I’ve been at Otlica Window several times but never descended to it to get a better view; the terrain was always too muddy and slippery. Someone added wooden steps in 2022, making it really easy and comfortable to get close to the window. Don’t miss that opportunity; the view of the sunny Vipava valley through the rock window is stunning.