Connecting Perls – Western Balkans, Serbia, North Macedonia

The Stanec waterfall is located on the river Kozja, in the northern part of Osogovo mountains, near the village of Stanci, and it is about 8 km away from Kriva Palanka. 

The waterfall is located at an altitude of 1,160 m.a.s.l. Its height does not exceed 11 meters. At the foot of this watercourse, with the swirling movement of the water, a natural pool was created.

The waterfall is relatively easy to access and leads to a path that passes through a dense beech forest. The Kozja River Valley itself is narrow and in some places almost vertical resembling a small canyon.

Along the river, there are several other small waterfalls that give this location a special beauty. To the east, the valley steeply rises towards the Kalin Kamen ridge at about 1,800 m.a.s.l. and goes further towards Carev Vrv (2,085 m.a.s.l.), all of which can be an interesting hiking route.

Nearby the Stanec waterfall, there are also the localities of the Duračka river, an ethno restaurant and a fish pond. The important things to see in the Stanec village are an old mill and a rolling mill.