Hike The Devil’s Eco Trail (Near Yagodina) In Rhodope Mountains

Some call it the most extreme trail in Bulgaria: the Devil’s Eco Trail in the Rhodope mountains. And although that is definitely exaggerated, I would recommend to add this hike to your bucket list. It’s a lovely day trip in the Rhodope! In this article you will find everything you need to know to prepare yourself for this hike.

I have done this hike multiple times, mainly in summer (August) and the last time was in October 2024.

Last update & prices in the article are from May 2025.

Practical info about the Devil’s Eco Trail

Starting points of the hike: this hike goes through a gorge, so you have 2 options where you can start the hike. On the end of each side of the gorge there is a parking lot. Parking Lot A (on the western side) is close to the village of Borino. These are the Google Maps coordinates for Parking Lot A. On the eastern side you also have Parking Lot B. This parking lot is closer to Yagodina. These are the Google Maps coordinates for Parking Lot B.

Total kilometers: 3,5 kilometers one way / 7 kilometers in total

Elevation: you go up and down for about 220 meters one way, so 440 in total

Hiking time: I would say 4 to 5 hours is enough to hike from the start to the other parking lot and back. I have done the hike once where it took me a bit more than 1 hour to go from parking A to parking B. But I also have done the hike once with my dog (that I had to carry via all the stairs) so that took a good 2,5 hours one way haha. If you’re only hiking one way and want to go back with the jeep to the starting point, you might have to wait a bit for the jeep to leave. Be a bit flexible, but they definitely won’t let you wait for hours.

Type of hike: point-to-point and the same way back (there is NO WAY to make this hike in a loop, unless you want to cross the river. Don’t trust Mapy.cz or other hiking apps if it shows the loop, because it is not possible). An alternative is taking a jeep back from one parking lot to your starting point.

Dog friendly: if you start from Parking Lot A it is possible to walk with a dog easily to the Devil’s Bridge. There is little elevation and no stairs. It’s a different story from Parking Lot B, since there are MANY stairs from that side. I had to carry my dog (medium size and a good 17 kilos haha) up on the stairs, because most are too steep for her to climb herself. She is proof that it is doable, but it’s better to either do the hike and start from parking lot A or leave your dog at home if you wanna do this hike.

Hiking trail: you can open the Devil’s Eco Trail hike on Mapy.cz via this link

Everything you need to know about the Devil’s Eco Trail

1. Where is the Devil’s Eco Trail in Bulgaria?

The Devil’s Eco Trail, in Bulgarian Dyavlskata Ecopteka, is located in the area of the Rhodope mountains, in the southern part of Bulgaria. This eco trail is going through a beautiful gorge. The closest towns to this gorge are Borino and Yagodina. Notice: this is NOT the Trigrad Gorge; that one is a bit more south of this gorge, close to the village Trigrad.

From Bansko it’s about 2,5 hours driving to this hike, from Plovdiv it’s a bit more than 2 hours and from the Pamporovo ski resort it’s a 1 hour drive.

2. What can people expect on the Devil’s Eco Trail?

The Devil’s Eco Trail goes through a beautiful gorge in the Rhodope mountains. Even though the trail is relatively short, you will enjoy some diverse nature. I love hiking trails that follow rivers, so that’s already a big plus for the Devil’s Eco Trail. For almost all of the trail you’ll walk next to the Chatak Dere River.

There is no entrance fee for either the hike or the Devil’s Bridge. Also parking is free on both parking lots.

If you start from Parking Lot A you have a small truck selling coffee and some food before you see the gate with the devil’s head. The hike starts very flat through a forest, so it’s a great way to warm up your muscles. After 20 to 30 minutes you will see a tourist shelter next to the river and the beginning of the gorge.

The trail is marked with signs, but in general there is only 1 route, so it’s almost impossible to get lost.

Follow the trail (there are some old, wooden structures along the trail) and after 10-15 minutes you will reach the Devil’s Bridge. This is such an impressive and picturesque place! Via wooden stairs you can go through the Devil’s Bridge.

Some people visit the Devil’s Bridge and turn around, back to the parking lot. But I would recommend you to visit the rest of the gorge as well. There is another shelter after the Devil’s Bridge where you can sit down for a drink or some food. After the Devil’s Bridge the trail and the river gets more wild and you can see the power of water. There are a bunch of pretty waterfalls along the way as well.

3. What should you bring for this hike?

Technically you can visit this gorge the entire year, but the best months for this hike are May to October. I would recommend to use layers for your clothes, since it can be more chilly than you would imagine in the gorge. I did this hike twice – once in August and once in October – and although it was warm, it was definitely nice to have a jacket both times.

I would recommend bringing the following for your hike:

• Water bottle or Camelbak
• Snacks and lunch: parking lot A has a a truck that sells food and drinks, but it’s only open in the summer months. Bring enough water and snacks for this hike. You can buy some things in Borino (a shop or the gas station) or in Devin if you’re coming from that side.
• Water- and windproof jacket
• Hiking shoes or comfortable shoes to walk
• Hiking poles to stabilize yourself (not necessary, but some people love it)
• Sunscreen, in the summer months. There is not a lot of direct daylight in the gorge, but it’s always good to bring some
• First Aid Kit, because you never know when you need it
• Camera gear, since the gorge is quite photogenic and you want to capture the beauty of it!

4. Accommodation for this hike

A lof of people will probably do this hike as a day trip from places like Plovdiv, Devin or Bansko. There are not that many options for accommodations in the area, but it is definitely possible to do a weekend trip to this area and visit multiple places. Here are a few options:

1. Hotel Mursal in Yagodina. This hotel is at the starting point of the Eagle’s Eye hike (Orlovo Oko). It’s a decent hotel with an amazing view over the area. Average price is 140 leva (€70) for 2 people in a private room. Breakfast included.
2. Guesthouse Milka in Yagodina. A more local option is this guesthouse in the town center of Yagodina. To be fair: Yagodina is only a few streets, so it’s not really about a central location haha. The guesthouse is nice, clean and in general has a cozy atmosphere. Average price is 100 leva (€50) for 2 people in a private room.
3. Devin’s Coliving in Devin. If you’re a digital nomad you might love the idea of staying in a little town in the Rhodope for a bit. Devin’s Coliving & Coworking would be a great place for you. The coliving is about €20-25 per person for a private room. I love the concept of colivings and living together with other people who work remote. It’s definitely a different vibe than hostels where you spend time with travellers. Another thing that I love about this place is that it is dog friendly as well!

5. How difficult is the hike?

I think you can classify the Devil’s Eco Trail as an easy to medium hike. There is not that much elevation and the distance is not much. However, there are some stairs involved and there are some slippery part where you have to be careful. But in general a person with an average level of fitness would be capable to do this hike.

6. Can you combine this hike with anything else? (attractions, other hikes?)

In the area of Yagodina there are multiple places to visit, so you can easily combine things during a 2-day weekend trip. Another lovely hike is the hike to the Eagle’s Eye in Yagodina; Orlovo Oko. Especially during sunset this is a great place to go. There is no entrance fee; this hike is free to do and is easily to do by yourself (no guide needed).

South of Yagodina you can also find the Yagodinska Cave, one of the biggest cave systems in Bulgaria. The caves are open all year round to visit during a tour and the entrance fee for adults is 12 leva (€6).

Also the Trigrad Gorge (where you can find the Devil’s Throat Cave) are not that far away from this Eco Trail. Maybe a 20 minute drive from parking lot B.

Also Read: Hike To Eagle’s Eye In Yagodina (Orlovo Oko)

I hope this article helps you to organize a trip to the Devil’s Eco Trail, because it’s definitely a recommendation when you’re in the Rhodope mountains! If you have any questions, please let me know via a comment below or via an email to jessica@explorebulgarianow.com.

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