The Waterfall on the Baba River
Above the village of Kolešino, at about 610 m on the Belasica, the Baba river falls over a stone cliff in several parallel streams before gathering itself back into a river. The drop is usually given as somewhere between 16 and 19 m depending on the source, which is honest enough: it reads as a broad, stepped curtain rather than a single plunge.
It is the closest of the region's well-known waterfalls to the retreat, roughly 4 km from Gabrovo, which makes it the obvious first real waterfall of a stay.
What you actually see
The water fans out over the rock face, splits into streams and rejoins below, so the fall changes shape with the season. After spring rain it is loud and wide; in a cold winter the streams can freeze into ice curtains; in high summer it thins but rarely disappears.
A wooden viewing bridge stands in front of the fall, which is where every photograph gets taken. Maple woods surround the site and give it a different colour to the beech higher up.
Facilities and picnics
There are benches and a picnic area with a covered gazebo and grilling spots, so families settle in for longer than they planned. A restaurant and an improved access road have been discussed locally but should not be assumed.
The site is open year-round and is one of Novo Selo municipality's principal attractions. In June the village hosts a gathering honouring the writer Vidoe Podgorec, known locally as 'Meeting Under the Maple Trees'.
Building a water day
Kolešino combines naturally with the Gabrovo falls above our own village, and with Smolare further east for the tall one. Add the springs at Mokrino and you have a full Belasica water day without driving more than a few dozen kilometres.
Morning is the best light for the fall itself, and the picnic gazebo earns its keep at lunchtime in summer.
Why visit
- A broad, multi-stream fall of roughly 16-19 m
- Wooden viewing bridge facing the water
- Picnic gazebo with grilling spots beside the site
- Roughly 4 km from the retreat
- Open all year, including frozen winter visits
Good to know
Getting there
About 4 km by road from Gabrovo into Novo Selo Municipality, above the village of Kolešino. Driving is the practical option; walkers can link it with the Gabrovo falls.
When to go
Year-round. April-June has the strongest flow; a hard winter can freeze the streams; summer afternoons are busiest with picnics.
Local tip
Bring picnic supplies from the hacienda and use the covered gazebo. The fall is best photographed from the wooden bridge in the morning.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is Kolešino Waterfall?
Is there parking and somewhere to eat?
Can we walk there from Hacienda Louisandro?
More to explore
Stay at the hacienda
Ask us for a picnic basket and make Kolešino your first Belasica waterfall. Smolare can wait for the next morning.