The eco-trail "Beli Iskar" is a circular route in the lower part of Rila, south of the town of Samokov. The trailhead is located about 3 km from the village of Beli Iskar, right at the border of Rila National Park. It follows the valley of the river of the same name, crossing back and forth over wooden bridges. The lack of steep climbs and major obstacles makes the route suitable for people of almost all ages. Walking time: 2-3 hours.
The eco-trail "Beli Iskar" is an ideal way to spend part of your day enjoying beautiful views, fresh air, and a pleasant walk at the foot of Rila Mountain.
The easiest way to reach the start of the eco-trail "Beli Iskar" is by car. Upon entering the village of Beli Iskar (if you're coming from Samokov), you will see a V-shaped intersection. Turn right (brown sign "Rila National Park - Eco-trail") and follow what looks like the main street. It will take you to the southern end of the village. From here, it's a 3 km drive on a road with broken asphalt. It’s passable, just avoid the deepest potholes and drive carefully. There is a parking lot at the trailhead, near the first bridge over the river, where you can leave your car.
If you're not traveling by car, the eco-trail "Beli Iskar" is still accessible, though a bit more challenging to reach. From Samokov Bus Station (phone: 0722 / 66540), there are several daily minibus routes to the village of Beli Iskar. From the village center, it takes about an hour on foot to reach the trailhead.
The trail is easy and pleasant to walk, with a gentle ascent along the river. The route is circular and approximately 7 km long. There are rest areas along the way—benches and gazebos (some of which are slightly damaged but will still provide shelter if it rains). On sunny days, you can rest in the open near the river. Most of the trail goes through a coniferous forest, but there are also open areas, and the air is cool and fresh thanks to the river. The markings are easy to follow—blue paint lines on trees appear frequently, making navigation effortless. Only near the upper part of the route, just before crossing the last bridge to head back, might you get briefly confused due to a fallen tree and an unmarked detour. However, it's generally hard to get lost.
At the end of the first part of the walk, you'll see a shelter building with a steep roof. Next comes a short descent to the river, where you cross the last, eighth bridge. The route turns right onto the asphalt road. After about 50 meters, there is a fork to the left. Depending on your preferences and abilities, you have two options:
- The more scenic but slightly harder option is to take the left fork and gradually climb to a meadow with views of the opposite mountain slopes and the Beli Iskar river valley. This is the highest point of the eco-trail, just above 1400 m elevation. After the meadow, a steep but short descent on a path with built-in steps and railings brings you back to the asphalt.
- The easier option continues down the asphalt road.
After the two paths merge, the route follows the same path used during the ascent. Alternatively, you can head straight down the asphalt road to the parking lot.
An interesting fact is that the valley of the Beli Iskar River is the longest glacial valley in Rila. The front of the Beli Iskar glacier lay in the Kanarski Cirque. Fed by lateral ice tongues and overloaded with avalanches from the steep side ridges, the glacier extended as far as the village of Beli Iskar. Above the village, three frontal moraine ridges are clearly visible, stepping one above the other at about 1100 m elevation. This means the Beli Iskar glacier had a length of approximately 22.5 kilometers.