Lakatnik train station – Trustenaia hut

The route is marked with red tourist markings. It is a section of Kom-Emine, which is on the longest marked hiking route in Bulgaria, which in turn coincides with the final section of the European tourist route E3.
The route starts from the railway station and heads east along the streets of the village. It passes by the community center and after less than 10 minutes leaves the road to the village of Lakatnik. The path gradually climbs up, passing by meadows and gardens. Almost all the time a wonderful view of the Lakatnik Rocks opens up. In 20-25 minutes you reach a steep meadow. The road goes around to the right and above, but if you go through the meadow itself, the best view of the rocks will open up in front of you.

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  The path crosses the road several times. Most of the time it runs under the shade of oaks and hornbeam. About 40 minutes after the start, the path comes out onto the road and follows it all the way to the village of Lakatnik. On the right, a dirt road separates into the hamlet of Propast. The slope is minimal, and along the road there are alternating groves, gardens and individual houses. In a little less than an hour from the station, a larger hamlet is reached, and on a small widening on the right of the road there is a fountain. After a few more tens of meters, again on the right of the road there is a large shed with tables and benches.
  From here to the village of Lakatnik, the road is completely open between meadows and pastures. After another ten minutes, the road makes a large bend and begins to descend smoothly towards the village. Right at the bend are a gazebo and the stone cross of the "Balinov Grob" vow.
  A small soldier's monument stands in the center of the village of Lakatnik. There is a square next to it where you can park if you come by car. The walk from Lakatnik station to Lakatnik village takes about 1:15 hours. Following the signs, you leave the village in a southeasterly direction in just a few minutes. A dirt road leads to the Trustnaya hut, which, however, makes many turns. Therefore, the route follows it only for a short time. After leaving the road, the trail crosses a small grove and enters an old orchard, of which only individual trees remain. A beech forest follows. After the forest, the trail passes along the periphery of a large meadow and again comes out onto the road. Right there, a new and comfortable shelter with tables, benches and a fountain has been built. It is about 40-45 minutes from the village, and 2 hours from Lakatnik station. After the shelter, the main road makes a left turn, and a new dirt road separates on the right, along which the marked route passes. From here to the hut, the altitude gradually increases. You cross a vast pasture and enter a beech forest with impressive trees. The path crosses the road again and soon the hut and raspberry plantations open up before you. In front of the hut itself there are several large beech trees between which is located the relic of St. Pantaleon.
  On the way back, the route takes less time - about 2 hours.