Milanovo – Parshevitsa hut – Klyuch shelter – Opletnya

This route is a true adventure through some of the most beautiful and less commercialized parts of the Vratsa Balkan. It is suitable for both experienced hikers and mountain bikers looking for a challenging but accessible hike, combining nature, history and rural charm.
Milanovo Village – the starting point of the route
Located high above the Iskar Gorge, the village of Milanovo is a typical Balkan village with genuine charm. Once larger and livelier (also known as Osikovo), today it is quiet and surrounded by greenery. The village offers stunning views of the Kobilini Steni cliffs, the Iskar River valley, Izdremets Peak and Koznitsa Peak. The area around the village is dotted with karst formations, meadows and ancient beech forests.

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  Crossing to the Parshevitsa Hut
  From the village, you start on a forest trail or a dirt road that gently climbs to the west. You pass through cool deciduous forests and open areas with views of the Vratsa Mountain massifs.
  Gradually, you reach the Parshevitsa Hut - located at about 1450 m above sea level near the Beglichka Mogila peak. The area around the hut is popular among mountaineers, as there are picturesque cliffs and sheer cliffs nearby. Here you can take a long break or even spend the night if the route is divided into two days.
  From the hut. Parshevitsa to Klyuch shelter
  After the hut, the route becomes more open - you advance along the ridge of the mountain, with a wonderful panorama of Buk peak, Beglichka mogila peak (1480 m), as well as the steep southern slopes that descend towards Iskar. Klyuch shelter is located in a strategic location - in a saddle where several trails intersect. This is a small shelter, used mainly for a short break or when shelter is needed. The area around the shelter offers 360-degree views and is suitable for photography, relaxation and bird watching (eagles, buzzards and falcons are often seen).
  Descent to the village of Opletnya
  From here, the route gradually enters a lower belt - mixed and coniferous forests, meadows and narrow paths. The descent to the village of Opletnya is moderate, but technical in places, especially in wet weather.
  The village of Opletnya is located at the foot of the mountain, near the Iskar River. Small and picturesque, the village preserves the spirit of the past and is an excellent place for a final destination - with the possibility of transportation, accommodation or just a well-deserved rest by the river. A railway line passes by the village, which facilitates the connection with Vratsa, Mezdra or Sofia.