# Mangart Saddle Road (2026): €10 Toll, Open to Km 9, Hike to the Top

> The Mangart road climbs to 2,055 m, Slovenia's highest. In 2026: open to km 9 (rockslide), €10 eco-toll, the saddle reachable on foot. Full driving and hiking guide.

- Author : Patrick Faust — French expat living in Slovenia since 2004, founder of e-Slovenie
- Published : 2026-07-15
- Updated : 2026-08-05
- Language : English
- Canonical : https://www.e-slovenie.com/en/articles/mangart-road-most-impressive-slovenia/
- French version : https://www.e-slovenie.com/articles/mangart-la-route-la-plus-impressionante-de-slovenie/
- Tags : mangart, scenic road, julian alps, triglav national park, mountain pass, hiking, bovec, soča valley, road trip

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The **Mangart road** is the highest road in Slovenia: it climbs to the **Mangart Saddle (Mangartsko sedlo, 2,055 m)**, at the foot of the country's third-highest peak (2,679 m). In **2026**, it has been open since mid-June, for a **€10 eco-toll** — but a rockslide restricts traffic to **kilometre 9**: the final stretch is on foot. I've been driving up here regularly for years, and I'll say it plainly: this is the finest balcony in the Julian Alps. Go early in the morning.

## The short answer

- **2026 status: road open** since mid-June, but only up to km 9 (car park) — the final section to the saddle is closed to vehicles because of a rockslide.
- **The saddle is still reachable on foot** via the trail that passes near the mountain hut (allow about 40 minutes from the car park).
- **Eco-toll: €10 per vehicle** (cars, motorbikes, buses up to 35 seats; trailers are prohibited).
- **Season: June to November** depending on snow — the road is closed all winter.
- **~12 km, 980 m of elevation gain, 5 tunnels** carved into the rock from the Predil pass road, with a succession of tight hairpins.
- **90 vehicles maximum** at any one time: an automatic barrier counts entries and closes when the car park is full.
- **Mangart summit (2,679 m)**: reachable from the saddle via a very demanding cable-protected trail (~2 h up).
- **Hut closed in 2026**: the Koča na Mangrtskem sedlu is being renovated this summer — bring your own water and food.

![The Mangart road carved into the mountainside on the climb to the saddle — photo taken on one of my ascents](https://eslovenie.b-cdn.net/images/wp/2013-01-DSCN2896-480x640.jpg)

## A legendary road

In the far north-west of Slovenia, against the Italian border, **Mount Mangart** tops out at **2,679 m** — barely 200 m lower than Triglav. The road up to its saddle was built in **1938** by the Italian army, at a time when the whole area was militarised. It branches off the Predil pass road above Log pod Mangartom and swallows **980 m of elevation gain in about twelve kilometres**, through **five tunnels carved straight into the rock**, in the heart of Triglav National Park.

What impresses is not just the altitude. It's the setting: dizzying drops, raw tunnels where the bare rock shows through, the **Fusine lakes** glittering on the Italian side and the wild **Koritnica** valley on the Slovenian side. The [Vršič](https://www.e-slovenie.com/en/articles/vrsic-pass-new-traffic-rules-2026/) road has its cobbled hairpins and its crowds; the Mangart has the void, the light and the silence. From Tolmin, where I live, it's my favourite climb when I want to gain some altitude in half a day.

![Hairpins of the Mangart road seen from the climb, with the walls of the Julian Alps as a backdrop](https://eslovenie.b-cdn.net/images/wp/2013-01-randonnee-mangart-480x640.jpg)

## Practical information for 2026

Here is the situation as verified for summer 2026. A rockslide still rules out the last section: vehicles stop at the **km 9 car park**, 400 m past the turn-off for the hut. Beyond that, the roadway is closed to everyone — cars, bikes and pedestrians alike — but the **waymarked trail** lets you reach the saddle and carry on towards the summit.

| **Info** | **2026 details** |
| --- | --- |
| **Access** | From the Predil pass road, above Log pod Mangartom (15 min from Bovec) |
| **Status** | Open up to km 9 (car park); final section closed due to a rockslide |
| **Toll** | €10 eco-toll per vehicle, collected at the barrier |
| **Season** | June to November depending on snow; closed in winter. 2026 opening: mid-June |
| **Length** | ~12 km, 980 m of elevation gain, 5 unlit tunnels |
| **Driving difficulty** | Narrow, exposed road, tricky passing places; uphill traffic has priority; trailers prohibited |
| **Shuttle** | Public bus from Bovec and Log pod Mangartom in July–August |

My resident's tip: **drive up before 9 am**. The morning light on the rock faces is superb, you get through the tunnels without any stressful oncoming traffic, and you'll have the car park to yourself — the automatic barrier blocks access as soon as the **90 spaces** are taken. In summer, head back down before mid-afternoon: storms build quickly on this side of the mountain. Before setting off, check the road's live status on [promet.si](https://www.promet.si/en/mangart), Slovenia's official traffic website.

## The drive: what to expect

Let's be honest: this is not a road for everyone. The **five tunnels are unlit**, narrow, with an uneven road surface — switch your lights on and give a honk before entering when visibility is zero. Between the tunnels, the road is often too tight for two cars to pass: it's the descending driver who reverses, as **uphill traffic has priority**. Forget large motorhomes: beyond a compact van, you won't enjoy a metre of it, and trailers are prohibited in any case.

Going down is even more impressive — make sure you have **VERY good brakes** and use engine braking. And you're bound to meet a few lunatics doing the road by bike (they too stop at km 9 this season: the closed section is closed to everyone, cyclists included)! I wave to them every time: 980 m of climbing at that gradient, hats off. On a motorbike, on the other hand, it's pure joy: the ideal size for this road.

![Plunging view over the valleys from the Mangart road, at the gates of the Soča Valley](https://eslovenie.b-cdn.net/images/wp/2013-01-randonnee-mangart-soca-480x640.jpg)

## From the car park to the Mangart summit (2,679 m)

In 2026, the ascent comes in two stages. First, from the **km 9 car park to the saddle**: about 40 minutes of easy walking along the trail that passes near the hut (closed this summer for renovation — no food or drink available, bring water). The saddle, at **2,055 m**, already offers an exceptional panorama: many visitors stop there, and it's a magnificent outing in itself.

Then, for seasoned hikers, the **Slovenian route** climbs from the saddle to the summit: **624 m of elevation gain, about 2 hours up**, rated “very demanding” by Slovenian trail guides. Steep sections are equipped with **cables and pitons**, the exposure increases with altitude and a **helmet is essential** (rockfall is frequent). Proper mountain boots are non-negotiable — I've seen too many people attempt this in trainers. For the descent, the **Italian route**, slightly easier, lets you close the loop. Detailed route descriptions are on [hribi.net](https://www.hribi.net/izlet/mangartsko_sedlo_mangart_slovenska_pot/1/4/19), Slovenia's reference hiking site.

![Cable-protected section on the trail to the Mangart summit — helmet and proper boots essential](https://eslovenie.b-cdn.net/images/wp/2013-01-randonnee-mangart-5-480x640.jpg)

Up there, the 360° panorama takes in **Triglav**, the **Jôf di Montasio** on the Italian side, the Fusine lakes below and the entire border ridge of the Julian Alps. A snack at the top is mandatory — the climb works up an appetite! To plan your outing and pick the right level for you, have a look at our hiking guide to Slovenia.

![Panorama over the Julian Alps from the heights of Mangart, with the Italian border peaks on the horizon](https://eslovenie.b-cdn.net/images/wp/2013-01-randonnee-mangart-8-480x640.jpg)

## Fitting the Mangart into your itinerary

The Mangart road pairs naturally with the Predil pass, since it branches off it: if you arrive from Italy via Tarvisio, you drive right past the junction. Coming back down, you're a quarter of an hour from **Bovec** and the [Soča Valley](https://www.e-slovenie.com/en/articles/soca-valley-without-a-car-2026/) — rafting in the morning, 2,000 m of altitude in the afternoon, that's the charm of this corner of Slovenia.

And if you're torn between the Mangart and the Vršič: since summer 2026, the Vršič pass has a new traffic scheme (no more parking at the top, shuttle buses). The Mangart — higher, wilder and far less busy — is my standard answer to travellers who want THE panoramic road without the crowds. Both earn their place on a [one-week Slovenia itinerary](https://www.e-slovenie.com/en/guide/slovenia-road-trip-itinerary/), of which the Soča Valley is the most spectacular stop.

![Hiking trail between the Mangart Saddle and the summit, in the heart of Triglav National Park](https://eslovenie.b-cdn.net/images/wp/2013-01-randonnee-mangart-3-480x640.jpg)

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the highest road in Slovenia?

The Mangart road is the highest road in Slovenia: it climbs to the Mangart Saddle (Mangartsko sedlo) at 2,055 m. In 2026, vehicles stop at the km 9 car park because of a rockslide; the saddle is reached on foot in about 40 minutes.

### How do you get to Mangart Saddle?

The Mangart road branches off the Predil pass road above Log pod Mangartom, 15 minutes from Bovec. Drive the 12 km toll road (€10) up to the km 9 car park — in 2026 the final section is closed by a rockslide — then walk about 40 minutes on the waymarked trail to reach the Mangart Saddle at 2,055 m.

### How much is the Mangart road toll in 2026?

Access to the Mangart road costs €10 per vehicle in 2026. This eco-toll, collected at the entrance barrier, funds the road's maintenance and the protection of the site, which lies within Triglav National Park. Cars, motorbikes and buses up to 35 seats are admitted; trailers are prohibited.

### When is the Mangart road open?

The Mangart road is open from roughly June to November, depending on snow; it is closed all winter. In 2026 it opened in mid-June, but only up to km 9 (rockslide on the final section). Check the current status on promet.si before setting off.

### Can you reach the Mangart summit without being a mountaineer?

Yes, provided you are sure-footed: the Slovenian route from the saddle (624 m of elevation gain, ~2 h) is a waymarked but very demanding trail with cable-protected sections, and a helmet is essential. Without mountain experience, stop at the saddle (2,055 m): the panorama there is already exceptional.

### Is the Mangart road dangerous?

It calls for caution more than courage: narrow unlit tunnels, tricky passing places, sheer drops without guardrails in places. Uphill traffic has priority. With a normal-sized car, good brakes and calm driving, it's perfectly doable — just avoid large motorhomes.

Road status verified in early July 2026 (sources: [promet.si](https://www.promet.si/en/mangart), Slovenia's traffic information centre, and the [Soča Valley tourist board](https://www.soca-valley.com/)). We will update this article if the final section reopens. All photos are my own, taken over the course of my climbs up the Mangart.

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Source: [https://www.e-slovenie.com/en/articles/mangart-road-most-impressive-slovenia/](https://www.e-slovenie.com/en/articles/mangart-road-most-impressive-slovenia/) — e-Slovenie, Slovenia travel guide by Patrick Faust. Full index: https://www.e-slovenie.com/llms.txt