Mechi chal, Mountain summit in Chepelare, Bulgaria

Mechi Chal is a summit in the Rhodope Mountains, 1 km from Chepelare and 11 km from Pamporovo, reaching 1,872.6 m. A four-seat cable car climbs to the top in 9 minutes, and a ski resort with a chalet at the foot of the peak spreads over its slopes. Twelve runs of varying difficulty descend from the summit, 20 km in total.

Mechi Chal's ski zone was officially merged with the Pamporovo resort for the 2016/17 winter season, creating the combined area marketed as "Pamporovo – Mechi Chal", described in Bulgarian sources as the largest ski zone in the Balkans. The runs radiating from the 1,872.6 m summit include the Mechi Chal 1 trail, certified by the FIS for world-class competitions. A four-seat cable car climbs to the top in nine minutes.

The ski slopes of Mechi Chal draw competitors from across Bulgaria during winter sports events held on the mountain each season. Away from the runs, the surrounding forest paths are a favorite with locals who walk there in autumn when the trees change color.

The summit can be reached by mountain roads and hiking trails, with conditions varying a great deal depending on the season and the route chosen. In winter, visitors should come prepared for rapidly changing weather and bring gear suited to the cold and snow.

One of the runs at Mechi Chal is considered among the longest in Bulgaria that meets international competition standards, which is rare for the Rhodope region. This is why the mountain is regularly chosen to host national winter sports competitions.