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River Soča. Packraft in the section Otona - Kobarid

T5. 4.2 km of class III(III+) packrafting on the classic section of the Soca River.

By Packrafting.cat

December 3^rd, 2024

Río Soca

See the main post with all the sections and information for Packrafting and other activities on the Soca River in Slovenia.

https://blog.packrafting.cat/rio-soca-la-meca-europea-del-kayak

Spanish version

Visita la web Río Soča. Packraft en la sección Otona - Kobarid. T5. 4,2 Km de packrafting clase III(III+) en el tramo clásico del río Soca.

https://packrafting.exposure.co/rio-soca-packraft-en-la-seccion-otona-kobarid

Sections

The sections of the river Soca are:

T0 Upper Soca: From Lepena (just after the beautiful gorge of Velika korita Soče) to the confluence of the river Soca and the river Koritnica where we had our accommodation (camping Liza).
T1 Confluence Koritnica - bridge Čezsoča (Prijon Center) - Slap Boka - Sprenica 1: Quiet stretch for everyone where you can relax and watch the scenery while being carried away by the current of the river.
T2 Srpenica 1 - Tronovo1: 4 k Cl II to III (3+) a very entertaining section.
T3 Tronovo 1 to Tronovo 2 - Slalom section. Short slalom of approx. 1 km distance with class IV rapids.
T4 Gorge de la Soča. Cataract section. This is 2km of class IV+ with many potential siphon hazards. We did not do this section.
T5- Otona - Kobarid section. 3 km Cl III (3+) of beautiful route combining open mouth scenery with good and constant class III rapids.
T6- Kobarid - Tolmin: 14 km of calm water ride.

To these sections we have to add the section of the river Koritnica.

T1 Koritnica: One of the best stretches in the Soca Valley.

Here is the information on the section from Otona to Kobarid.

River Soča. Packraft in the section Otona - Kobarid

Google Map

Here you can find a detail of all the highlights of the Soca River.

T5 Otona section

Just after the difficult Cataract section we have a very interesting 3 km of Cl III (3+) from Otona to Kobarid. This is a nice canyoned area but much easier than the previous section.

We enter through the Otona 1 car park and go down a path with a 100-metre drop that leaves us in a very pretty bathing area, ideal for joining the river.

We finish just after the Napoleon bridge (Napoleon Most), the exit stairway is visible on the left bank of the river just before a landing.

The river's physiognomy is canyon-like with wooded banks and a remarkable mountain scenery. The isolation in this area of the river is total, which allows us to enjoy approximately 2 hours of disconnection from mundane life and absolute (re)connection with nature.

During the tour

The most sustained difficulty is during the beginning of the route, with a level 3+ that is accentuated by low water levels.

This is what the entrance to this section looks like, as Carlos says, it's pure love ❤️❤️❤️❤️:

Once we reach the first bridge (in 2.4 km) the difficulty decreases, allowing us to relax a bit and thus be able to observe the magnificent gorge of the final section. This gorge can be seen from the Napoleon Bridge on a beautiful hike from Kobarid.

The Otona section, as a section valued as a whole (the mythical passes of the Upper Soca gorge are too mythical to compete) is my favourite section and from the faces of the group at the end I think we agree!

The first disembarkation point is some 200 or 300 meters after the bridge, near a stairway that takes you back to the road. Another option is to continue a few hundred meters to a car park on the right bank (see the Wikiloc route).

All the photos in the Otona section.

Route Wikiloc Packrafting Otona Section:

Additional information on the section:

Eaux vives - P5 - Gorge de la Soca - Gorge de la Soca IV+
Rivermap Cataract Section Tronovo Otona IV+(V)
In the Whitewater guide application on the map of the Eastern Alps you will find the information about the river Soca.
In the RiverApp you will find all the documented stretches.

About the water levels in the first week I was there, this was the gŕafica of the riverApp app.

The first day it was raining hard and that helped the water levels. On the other hand, 15 days later the levels were close to "low water". The entrance to the Gorga and the Gorga itself is very different depending on the water level, less water does not always mean easier but, in the case of canyoned sections like this one, high water levels do mean more potential dangers as the Gorga can form powerful drosholes. Be safe please!

Click on the map to see it in full.

https://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/site-media/socarivermap.pdf

Carlos Gang

The first team was sponsored by Packrafting Spain (Jamón Ibérico Sponsorship ™), the whole team with the tuticolori Aoraki Packraft:

The hiking trails through the river valleys are highly recommended. Personally, it was a good idea to visit the starting point of the Koritnica Gorges just after arriving, we got some very mystical photos.

Velika korita Soče (Great Soča Gorge)

You will pass through here on your way to the Upper Soca T0 car park. It is well worth a stop to visit and get to know this narrow (and forbidding) canyon of the Soca River.

A picture is worth a thousand words...

Someday I will have to explain this story in detail, but for now here is a quick recommendation: climb Mount Triglav, there are several routes, but I recommend the one I chose, a climb with sections of via ferrata, a strenuous and unique experience.

Venice

If, like us, you fly to Venice, you can make an express visit...

Packraft in the Noguera Pallaresa river

Blogs

See you in the river Cowboy from Hell!

The river is a living environment, changing and subject to permanent development. The publishers of the river sketches and the creators of this website cannot be held liable in any case of inaccuracy, omission or error in the river sketches. The topos editors and website creators disclaim all liability in case of any accident that may occur on the rivers described in this guide.