Vladaia-Kladnitsa

OweIna: 27.8 km | Climb: 680 km | Descent: 680 m | Level of technical difficulty: medium (R1, R2, T2, T3, X)
Level of physical exertion: Medium
Duration: 2-5 hours (depending on pace and breaks)
Water: 1-2 l, there are 1-2 fountains on the road
Food: for half a day. Food can be found in Kladnitsa.
Outreach
- asphalt - 6.2 km
- dirt roads - 6.6 km
- trails - 15.0 km

This route is not only suitable for spring and autumn as it is located on the western side of Vitosha, but it is also one of the best routes near Sofia in general. There are several reasons why it is so nice. Perhaps to start with, the total length of the trails on this route is more than the asphalt and dirt roads combined. Can it get any better than that? The western slopes of Vitosha are suitable for riding almost all year round - the soils dry out quickly and the sun raises temperatures even in the colder months. It's a different story even when it's only 10-15 km further from Sofia. The tourist flow is minimal in these places, so even on weekends it's quite peaceful to ride, and on weekdays it's a miracle if you meet someone. The trails and the route in general are very varied - there's a bit of everything on the climbs and descents, and even a bit of carry (50-100m) for variety. At the same time, the descents are both technical and not too difficult, so they will appeal to a very wide range of people. Beginners will certainly find it difficult in places, but if they're not too skittish and grumpy, they'll enjoy the ride very much. The route is not exactly short, so it can easily fill (with breaks and unwinding) 5-6 hours if ridden at a slow pace. At the same time, experienced and trained riders can turn it around in two hours, so I say again - any Sofia MTB enthusiast, and also visitors to the capital, is worth trying this ride.