Hiking the Mala Osojnica and Ostrica Trail at Lake Bled, Slovenia

Last updated on January 19th, 2026

Want to see Lake Bled’s most iconic view? We’re sharing everything to know to hike the Mala Osojnica and Ostrica Trail!

If you’ve ever seen a photo of Lake Bled, it was likely taken from either Mala Osojnica or Ostrica. These two famous overlooks offer sweeping views of the lake, Bled Island, and surrounding mountains and valleys. It is easily one of the best things to do at Lake Bled and is a must on any Lake Bled itinerary!

However, with multiple trailheads, differing views, and rugged trails, there is quite a bit to know before tackling this hike! In this guide we’re sharing all of the details from our personal experience hiking the Mala Osojnica and Ostrica trail, plus answering some important questions, like “which viewpoint is actually better?”

Where does the Mala Osojnica and Ojstrica Trail start?

The Mala Osojnica and Ojstrica Trail is located in the southwest corner of Lake Bled. And there are two different trailheads you can use to get to either viewpoint.

If driving, you can either park a car at the Velika Zaka car park and walk to the Ojstrica trailhead. The parking lot for cars isn’t very large, so you may have to find parking elsewhere. But if you’re exploring the lake by bicycle or walking from town, then we’d suggest starting at the Mala Osojnica trailhead, as there is a big bike rack. 

Since this hike can either be done as a loop or out and back, you can either start and end at the same trailhead or start at one and end at the other. We personally started at the Mala Osojnica trailhead and then ended at the Ojstrica Trailhead, which is right by our favorite beach at Lake Bled, perfect for a post-hike swim!

The Mala Osojnica and Ojstrica Trail Stats

Miles (roundtrip): 3.2 km (2 miles)
Elevation gain: 216 m (711 feet)
Reviews & Current Conditions

Mala Osojnica and Ojstrica are two separate viewpoints that offer slightly differing views over Lake Bled. And while you could hike to just Mala Osojnica or Ojstrica, we highly recommend hiking to both! 

The two viewpoints are located close together and the trail shown above is the exact route we took to see both viewpoints. We opted to start with Mala Osojnica and then finish with Ojstrica, but you can do it in either direction!

What to expect along the Mala Osojnica and Ojstrica Trail

Trailhead to Mala Osojnica

The trail to Mala Osojnica starts out pretty steep right from the get go. You’ll start climbing up some steps just seconds after getting on the trail. And it doesn’t let up from there! Along the way you’ll climb up an especially long and steep section of stairs that feels more like a ladder. Plus narrow trails with cables to hold onto.

The silver lining is that the distance to the first viewpoint isn’t overly long, but with the incline and rugged and root-filled terrain, it will be a bit slower moving at times.

But after about 30 minutes of uphill climbing, you reach Mala Osojnica and its picture perfect view. The viewpoint itself is fenced off, but from along the fence you can see Bled Island, the bright blue waters of Lake Bled, and the area’s mountains and valleys. It is one of those scenes that we had seen photos of countless times and it was a surreal feeling to finally get to stand there and see it for ourselves!

From Mala Osojnica to Ojstrica

Once leaving Mala Osojnica you can either head back down or continue on to Ojstrica! The hike to Ojstrica will be mostly downhill, with some slicker sections full of loose dirt (good shoes are key here!). However, right before you get to Ojstrica you will go to the left off the trail to climb up a rockier section. The overlook is right at the top of this!

Unlike Osojnica, which is fenced off, you can wander around a bit more at Ojstrica. There are some rocks you can stand on to get photos, plus some rocks you can sit on and rest for a bit. It’s not a huge area, so it does get crowded with people. Remember to be patient and be considerate of others wanting photos too!

Ojstrica to the trailhead

Which viewpoint is better? 

If you’re like us, you may be curious which viewpoint is better: Mala Osojnica or Ojstrica? And it’s a tough question to answer! We personally loved the view at Mala Osojnica better. It’s a bit higher up, so you can see more of the area, including a better view down onto the lake and its blue water. Plus you have more views of the neighboring valleys!

However, the viewpoint at Mala Osojnica is fenced off, so it’s not really a great spot for photos if you want to be in the photos. But if just getting photos of the scenery is your goal, the views are amazing from up here!

Ojstrica still has fantastic views of the lake, but since it’s a bit lower, you don’t get as good of views of the neighboring valleys and the lake is a bit more head on. However, this viewpoint has a rocky section you can stand on that overlooks the lake which makes it better to take photos of people and the lake.

In our opinion, you should hike to both, as they do offer a different experience, but if you can only choose one, that will depend on what your top priority is. 

Should you hike at sunrise, midday, or sunset?

Mala Osojnica and Ojstrica are some of the most popular spots at Lake Bled, so they can get very busy. And before arriving at Lake Bled we went back and forth on what time of day we should do this hike. Despite normally doing busy hikes at sunrise, we actually opted to go more mid-day. Below is a quick rundown of what to expect at each time, plus why we chose what we did.

Sunrise

Sunrise will be the least busy time to hike up Mala Osojnica and Ojstrica. The sun rises behind the island, allowing you to actually watch the sun rise from the top of the hike. However, it will take a couple hours for the sun to be high enough over the mountains to fully illuminate the lake and island. 

While sunrise could bring some beautiful golden lighting and possibly some shades of pink, you won’t get to see the vibrant blue color of the lake.

To get less crowds, but brighter conditions, you could start your hike shortly after sunrise and make it to the top when the sun is a bit higher.

Mid-day

Mid-day is the busiest time to hike the Mala Osojnica and Ojstrica trail, but we ultimately decided to go for it anyway. We lucked out with a crystal clear, sunny day and by visiting when the sun was more overhead, the colors of the water really pop! It also allowed us to see the surrounding area with a bit more light.

We hiked between 10 AM-12 PM and while we did encounter lots of people, it was manageable. Just be prepared to wait your turn for photos at Ojstrica!

Sunset

While sunset is typically a beautiful time to hike, the sun sets behind you when at Mala Osojnica and Ojstrica, which means that some parts of the lake will be in the shadows, while others will be illuminated. This contrast in lighting can be a bit tough for photos. 

How long does it take to hike?

The Mala Osojnica and Ojstrica hike is pretty short, but with its steeper elevation gain, will be slower moving. To complete both viewpoints and walk between the trailheads, you will need anywhere from 1.5-2 hours. 1.5 hours is likely doable for very fit hikers, while photographers (who want time to snap photos) and those not used to steeper hikes may need closer to 2 hours.

What to bring on the Mala Osojnica and Ojstrica trail

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