A Driving Guide to the Goljam Medarnik

Goljam Medarnik is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.541m (8,336ft) above the sea level, located in the Rila Mountains of Sofia Province, in Bulgaria. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

The road to the top is extreme. Starting from Govedartsi (6206 road), the ascent is 12.3km long, but expect more than 1 hour driving. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 1.372m. The average percentage is 11,15% but in some parts the slope is over the 15%. The trail to the top is very scary. It’s a 4x4 high clearance road, unprotected by guardrails. The road is winding, in some places only wide enough for one vehicle, and in many places bordered by a drop of hundreds of meters (many hundreds of feet). The road can be closed anytime due the snow. In some websites the road is called Ferdinand Road. It’s extremely steep. The road starts from Govedartsi, a village and ski resort.
Pic: Chavo K