Are we allowed to pick herbs in the park?

Can visitors pick herbs in the park?

Picking herbs in Triglav National Park is allowed only under specific rules. The most important rule is that herb picking is allowed only in the third protection zone of the park and only for personal use.

In the first and second protection zones, picking plants, herbs and mushrooms is not allowed. These areas are more strictly protected because their main purpose is the preservation of natural processes, habitats, plants, animals and sensitive alpine ecosystems.

How many herbs can one person pick?

For personal use, one person may pick up to 1 kg of herbs per day, but only where picking is allowed. This does not mean that visitors should always collect the maximum amount. In a national park, moderation and respect are more important than filling a bag.

If you plan to pick herbs, mushrooms or plants for commercial purposes, you need prior consent from the Triglav National Park managing authority.

Know what you are picking

Never pick herbs, flowers, berries or mushrooms if you do not know exactly what they are. Some plants can be protected, rare, poisonous, irritating, endangered or important for wildlife and the natural balance.

Do not pick plants just because they look beautiful or smell good. Alpine plants often grow slowly and can be easily damaged. Some species need many years to recover from repeated picking or trampling.

Respect protected plants and alpine flowers

Many visitors come to the Julian Alps because of the beautiful alpine flowers and mountain meadows. Please admire flowers where they grow. Take photos instead of picking them.

Flowers are most beautiful in their natural habitat. In protected mountain areas, even small actions repeated by many visitors can cause long-term damage to fragile vegetation.

How to pick responsibly where it is allowed

If you are in the third protection zone, if picking is allowed, and if you know the plant well, pick only a small amount for personal use. Do not pull plants out with roots, do not damage the surrounding vegetation, and do not trample sensitive ground.

Pick only what you really need. Leave enough plants for wildlife, natural regeneration, pollinators and other visitors who want to enjoy the same landscape.

Mushrooms and forest fruits

Similar care applies to mushrooms and forest fruits. In Triglav National Park, picking is restricted and allowed only in the third protection zone. For mushrooms, the usual personal daily limit is up to 2 kg per person.

Mushrooms should be collected carefully and roughly cleaned at the place where they grow. Use a basket rather than a plastic bag, avoid damaging the forest floor, and leave very small, old, damaged or unknown mushrooms where they are.

Do not disturb wildlife while collecting

Forests, meadows and mountain slopes are habitats for wild animals. When collecting herbs, mushrooms or berries, move quietly and respectfully. Do not shout, play loud music, chase animals, damage nests, or enter areas where wildlife needs peace.

Visitors should remember that their presence in the forest can disturb animals, especially in sensitive periods such as winter, spring, nesting season or times when animals are raising their young.

Local people and respect for nature

People who live and work in and around Triglav National Park have lived with nature for generations. From local people, farmers, shepherds and hut staff, we kindly ask visitors to respect nature not only as a holiday background, but as a living environment.

At Erjavčeva koča mountain hut, we live with this mountain environment throughout the year. Nature is not something we visit only for a few hours; it is part of daily life, water, food, work, weather, safety and responsibility.

When in doubt, leave it in nature

If you are not sure whether picking is allowed, whether you are in the third protection zone, or whether a plant is safe and legal to pick, leave it in nature.

The most respectful way to enjoy herbs, flowers, mushrooms and forest fruits in Triglav National Park is often to observe them, photograph them, learn about them and let them continue growing where they belong.