Skakavitsa hut is located in northwestern Rila above Sapareva Banya and Panichishte at the foot of Kabul Peak. Near the hut is the Riska Skakavitsa waterfall, the highest waterfall in Rila at 70 meters. Above the waterfall are the two small Skakavitsa lakes, which feed the waterfall with water, but are usually frozen in winter.
Video from Skakavitsa:We chose Zeleni Preslap as the starting point for our winter walk. In fact, we left our cars at the turnoff on the main road because the section to Zeleni Preslap was quite icy.
From there, we first took the road to Zeleni Preslap, then took a dirt road that will basically take you to the Pionerska-Rilski Ezera ski slope. But at one point, the path to the Skakavitsa hut branches off to the right from this dirt road.
The path begins to climb gently until it reaches the foot of some rocks, where it becomes quite steep and winds in serpentines. However, this section is not long and can be quickly traversed. Winter can be problematic because it is usually icy there, and it is recommended that you wear at least chain-type hiking crampons with small spikes. Poles would also help you reduce the risk of slipping and falling. As a last resort, you can tie a piece of cloth or socks over your shoes, which significantly reduces slipping.
But even without crampons, many people climb the trail in winter. We were among the first to arrive at the hut, but many more people came after us. The hut is open all year round and offers delicious food, tea, and drinks. It is heated and can be used for overnight stays in winter.
It takes 20-30-40 minutes to get from the hut to the Skakavitsa waterfall, depending on where exactly you want to go. Before the waterfall itself, the path becomes steep and it takes a little longer if you want to reach the place where the water falls.
The walk to the hut and Skakavitsa Waterfall is pleasant and easy, suitable for all mountain lovers regardless of the season.
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