Skakavitsa Waterfall

Skakavitsa is a 70-meter waterfall in the Rila Mountains that drops in a single cascade over rocky terrain. It sits at roughly 1950 meters elevation and is surrounded by ancient Macedonian pine forests.

The area around the waterfall began to see organized tourism in the early 1900s, with a mountain hut built in 1922 to support visitors. This hut marked the start of regular access to the high-altitude site.

The name Skakavitsa comes from the Bulgarian verb 'skacham', which describes how the water bounces as it falls over the rocks. This naming reflects how locals observe and speak about the natural world around them.

Visitors can reach the site by following marked hiking trails that start from a mountain hut nearby. The best time to visit is spring, when snowmelt makes the water flow most powerfully.

A protected reserve was created in 1968 to safeguard the ancient Macedonian pine forests surrounding this location. These forests are among the oldest and highest of their kind in the region.

Elevation above the sea: 1,950 m

Height: 70 m

GPS coordinates: 42.22167,23.30472

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:05