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Hiking Trail recommended route Hiking Trail  · Rhodope Mountains

ST517 Yagodina - Mugla

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  • Bear Museum, Trigrad
    Bear Museum, Trigrad
    Photo: Maria Veronese, Google Street View

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    This route is a stage of Section ST5 of the Sultans Trail, an international long-distance hiking trail from Vienna to Istanbul. The hiking route follows historic roads through eight countries (Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey), linking towns and villages in a traditional cultural and historic landscape.

    The route passes Trigrad and Chairski ezera before arriving at Mugla.

    moderate
    Distance 21.7 km
    7:25 h
    1,011 m
    759 m
    1,660 m
    1,093 m
    From Yagodina, the trail continues through the pastures, forests and rocky mountain terrain toward Trigrad, a village lying deep within one of the most spectacular limestone gorges of the Rhodope. Nearby caves and ravines have long inspired legends and local traditions associated with the underworld and hidden worlds beneath the mountains.

    Beyond Trigrad, the route ascends through conifer forests and alpine meadows toward Chairski Ezera, a group of mountain lakes surrounded by high ridges and open pastureland.

    The Rhodopes remained isolated for centuries, preserving seasonal pastoral traditions and small mountain communities connected by forest paths and mule tracks.

    The stage ends in Mugla, a remote mountain village situated high in the central Rhodope Mountains.

    Author’s recommendation

    The village of Trigrad lies deep in the Trigrad Gorge, a compact mountain settlement surrounded by sheer limestone walls and dense conifer forest. Its wooden houses, steep lanes, and quiet pastures give it the feel of a remote Rhodope enclave shaped by centuries of pastoral life.

    The Ottoman Bridge in Trigrad spans the Trigradska River, a single‑arch stone crossing built along the old mountain route toward the high pastures. Its simple, sturdy vault and riverside setting make it one of the most evocative historic structures in the gorge.

    High above the valley, Charski Lake is a small, quiet mountain tarn set among open meadows and scattered pines. Its still waters and broad views toward the surrounding ridges give it a peaceful, upland character far removed from the dramatic cliffs of the gorge below.

    The village of Mugla sits at the end of a long, winding valley, one of the most isolated settlements in the western Rhodopes. Known for its traditional wooden houses, pastoral economy, and strong local identity, Mugla feels like a self‑contained mountain world on the edge of the high pastures.

    Difficulty
    T1 moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Experience
    Landscape
    Highest point
    1,660 m
    Lowest point
    1,093 m
    Best time of year
    Jan
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    Track types

    Length
    21.7 km
    Show elevation profile

    Safety information

    At this stage, no specific safety precautions are required.

    Tips and suggestions

    Trigrad is a very nice village where you may find accommodation, as well as in the Charski area.

    Mugla is a very tiny and remote village. You may find accommodation there in:

    •  Family House Mugla
    • Guest House Vasolina
    • Guest House Nadya
    • Family Hotel Mugla

    Roadbook

    From Yagodina, the trail climbs out of the Buynovsko Gorge, leaving the sheer karst walls and cave systems behind for the softer, greener ridges of the high Western Rhodopes. The ascent leads through mixed beech and conifer forest, with occasional openings giving long views back toward Mount St. Ilia and the deep cut of the gorge. Higher up, the terrain broadens into rolling meadows and quiet pastures—classic Rhodope country of rounded summits, scattered pines, and long, easy contours. Approaching Trigrad, the landscape tightens again around the limestone rim of the Trigrad basin before the route turns south‑east into more open uplands. The final kilometres to Mugla cross a high, pastoral plateau where the forest thins and the air feels cooler and clearer, with wide views toward the Perelik massif. Mugla itself appears suddenly at the end of a long valley: an isolated mountain village of wooden houses, hay meadows, and a strong local identity—one of the most atmospheric settlements in the Western Rhodopes.
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    Bear Museum, Trigrad
    Ottoman bridge, Trigrad
    Chairski Lakes, Trigrad

    Public transport

    Yagodina can be reached by car from Plovdiv via Route 197 and Devin, and from Dospat via Borino.

    Mugla can be reached by car from Smolyan.

    Smolyan is reached by direct intercity buses from Plovdiv. BG Razpisanie lists multiple daily departures, typically taking 2h10–3h depending on the carrier and stops. Services leave from Plovdiv Bus Station “Rodopi” and arrive at Smolyan Bus Station. Carriers include Emiliya 98, Boristurist, and Rema.

    Directions

    For the bus timetable Plovdiv - Smolyan, check bgrazpisanie.com here

    Coordinates

    DD
    41.634448, 24.351677
    DMS
    41°38'04.0"N 24°21'06.0"E
    UTM
    35T 279411 4612579
    w3w 
    ///desertions.adores.agreeable
    Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

    Recommended maps for this region:

    Show more

    Equipment

    This stage of the Sultans Trail requires standard long-distance hiking equipment. Weather protection is essential, including rain and cold gear, depending on the season. In late spring and early summer, mosquito deterrents are strongly recommended, while during the hot season, sun protection and a sufficient water supply are essential. Reliable offline navigation tools should be carried at all times.

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    Difficulty
    T1 moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Distance
    21.7 km
    Duration
    7:25 h
    Ascent
    1,011 m
    Descent
    759 m
    Highest point
    1,660 m
    Lowest point
    1,093 m
    Linear route Scenic Refreshment stops available Cultural/historical interest Geological highlights Flora Fauna Insider tip

    Weather at the starting point

    10-day forecast

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