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Soča River. Packraft Peaceful waters from Kobarid to Tolmin

T6. Comparisons are odious. Beautiful stretch of packrafting initiation, 14km class II.

By Packrafting.cat

December 5^th, 2024

Soca River

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/soca-river-the-european-mecca-of-kayaking

Versión en castellano

Consulta Río Soča. Packraft Calma chicha de Kobarid a Tolmin

https://blog.packrafting.cat/rio-soca-packraft-calma-chicha-de-kobarid-a-tolmin

Sections

The sections of the Soca river 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 river current.
T2 Srpenica 1 - Tronovo 1: 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. It is 2km of class IV+ with many potential hazards due to siphons. 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 Koritnica river.

T1 Koritnica: One of the best sections of the Soca valley.

Here is the information about the T6 section from Kobarid to Tolmin.

Google Map

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

This section has nothing more to highlight than the beautiful surroundings and the quality of the water of the Soca River. Nothing else! How unfair comparisons can be, if we had this stretch of river at home it would be a top stretch. But of course being the last section and coming from doing all the previous sections you know.

The starting point is after the Napoleon bridge near Kobarid, you have several options to enter the river. There is no remarkable rapid or danger, just paddle and enjoy the views, and several bridges and 13 km later we reach the Tolmin bridge. Once over the bridge on the left bank of the river there is a beach that will give you access to the parking of the bar / beach bar that is on the bridge.

This part of the river is accessible for all levels and it is possible to do it in all types of boats, all the rapids are accessible and do not go beyond class II at least with normal water levels.

The stillwater packraft section from Kobarid to Tolmin on Wikiloc:

The Soca river is very well documented, all the sections have their corresponding gauges that allow to know in real time the state of the river. The following is a list of all the information I have found:

Rivermap
In the application Whitewater guide on the map of the eastern Alps you will find the information of the Soca river.
In the RiverApp are all the documented stretches.
The French website Eaux vives also has information on the Soca.

If you know of any other resource, do not hesitate to add a comment.

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, about 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, not always less water means easier but, in the case of canyoned sections like this one, high water levels do mean more potential dangers because in the Gorga powerful drosages can form. Be safe please!

Click on the map to see it in full.

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

Carlos Gang

Soča River. Packraft Peaceful waters from Kobarid to Tolmin

Equipo Aoraki

El primer equipo fue patrocinado per Packrafting Spain (Jamón Ibérico Sponsorship ™), el equipo al completo con los 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, we got some very mystical pictures.

Velika korita Soče (Great Soča Gorge)

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

A few pictures are worth a thousand words...

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

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

Packraft en el río Noguera Pallaresa

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 responsible in any case in 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.