The Ultimate Road Trip to Petrohan Pass in the Balkan Mountains

Petrohan Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.407m (4,616ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Montana and Sofia provinces, in Bulgaria.

Petrohan Pass

Is Petrohan Pass in Bulgaria paved?

Set high in the Balkan Mountains (Stara Planina), the road to the summit is totally paved. It’s called Route 81. It’s the shortest route between Sofia and north-western Bulgaria (and from there Romania). Access to the pass is typically open all year round, but winter weather may cause restrictions and closures.

How long is Petrohan Pass in the Balkan Mountains?

Tucked away in the northwestern part of the country, the pass is 41.2 km (25.60 miles) long running north-south from Barzia to Buchin Prohod.

The future of Petrohan Pass

Plans are underway to improve the Petrohan roadway with a tunnel. Chinese investors are interested in building the tunnel and widening the highway. This idea has been considered for years. The main objective is to make travel to North-Western Bulgaria and Romania more efficient. This project would shorten the Lom-Sofia road by 70 km.

 

 

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