Paklenica National Park
It is located in the town of Gospić and offers spectacular hiking trails that lead through impressive canyons, high cliffs and forest paths. There are 150-200 km of trails and paths in the Park area, from tourist trails that lead from the Velika Paklenica canyon to the Manita Peči cave, the forest house “Lugarnica” and the mountain lodge, to mountain trails that lead to the highest peaks of Velebit – Vaganski vrh (1757m/asl ) and Sveto Brdo (1753 m/asl). The paths in the Park are marked with boards and marked with hiking signs. The popular path “Velika Paklenica” leads to the most attractive climbing rock in Croatia and offers a wonderful view of the surrounding landscape. It is one of the most attractive and it takes at least an hour and a half to visit.
Risnjak National Park
Located in Gorski Kotar, in the area of the cities of Delnice, Čabar and Bakar. Risnjak National Park includes beautiful mountain peaks and forest areas. Risnjak is certainly a hiking mecca along with Velebit and Biokovo, but for these trails you need to have hiking equipment and hiking experience, and if you have additional questions, look for answers in the National Park or hire experienced guides. When visiting Risnjak, the Leska Educational Trail – one of the first facilities of its kind in Croatia – is certainly not to be missed. The “Leska” trail leads to the peak of Risnjak and provides an opportunity to observe wild animals in their natural habitat. You can also head to the “Kamenjak” trail, which offers a wonderful view of the surrounding peaks. The highest point is 1528 m – Vrh Risnjak.
Velebit
The mountain massif of Velebit stretches for approximately 145 km, from Vratnik nad Senjo in the northwest to the Zrmanja bend in the southeast. From the coastal belt to the mainland foothills in Lika, it is on average 14 km wide, but from place to place the width varies, from a maximum of 30 km in the northern part to a minimum of 10 km in its southern part. The area is approximately 2,270 km2 with countless ridges, valleys and foothill peaks, 130 of which exceed an average altitude of 1,370 m above sea level. Those in the northern part of Velebit reach a height of almost 1,700 m (Mali Rajinac 1,699 m), in the middle part more than 1,600 m ( Šatorina 1624 m, Ograženik 1604 m, Ograženica 1614 m), and in the southern and highest part from 1700 to 1758 m (Babin vrh 1723 m, Vaganski vrh 1757 m, Segestin 1715 m, Malovan 1709 m, Sveto brdo 1751 m).
The Premužić trail is certainly one of the most famous and offers a stunning view of the Rožanski kukovi canyon as well as the islands and coast, and is located near Villa Rita II.
Biokovo
Located in the southern part of Croatia, the Biokovo mountain massif offers outstanding hiking trails with an incredible view of the Adriatic Sea. Biokovo is the largest, most beautiful, but also the harshest mountain in Dalmatia. It extends over 196 square kilometers, and the highest peak of Biokovo is Sveti Jure (1762 m). Every visit to Biokovo offers a special experience, and the biggest tourist attraction is certainly the Skywalk. From the peaks of Biokovo you can see beautiful and unforgettable landscapes and viewpoints. Due to its uniqueness and natural beauty, it was declared a Nature Park in 1981. This mountain is also home to numerous protected plant and animal species, including rare eagles.
Papuk
It is located in Slavonia and offers a variety of hiking trails that lead through untouched nature and forest areas. From the depths of the former Pannonian Sea, the peaks of Papuk rise almost a thousand meters above sea level. This geologically most diverse area of Croatia is the first and only geopark in Croatia. You cannot leave the Papuk Nature Park without visiting the Jankovac Forest Park. The harmonious natural whole consists of a valley, forested slopes, streams and artificial lakes. At the end of the valley is the 35 meter high Skakavac waterfall.
The educational trail on Jankovac, or Grof’s trail, is one of the most popular and offers the opportunity to explore forest lakes, waterfalls and spectacular viewpoints.
Učka
It stretches over the Kvarner Bay and offers hiking trails with stunning views of the sea and the surrounding islands. Učka has always been a favorite destination for many hikers, recreationalists and nature lovers, so it is not surprising that there are a large number of hiking trails in the area of Učka and Ćićarija. One of the most popular hiking trails in the Park area is the Poklon-Vojak trail that leads to the highest peak of Učka, which is also the highest peak of the Istrian peninsula, rising 1,401 meters above sea level and offering an incredible panoramic view of the Kvarner Bay. The tower on Vojak was built in 1911 because of the attractive view from this point of the summit ridge of Istria, the Kvarner Bay with islands, the mountains of Gorski Kotar, Velebit, the Alps and Italy.
Enjoy discovering the extraordinary natural beauty of Croatia, and be sure to check the difficulty of the trails and follow the safety instructions of the hiking associations before heading out on one of the trails. Appropriate footwear and clothing, as well as water and food, are a mandatory part of every hiking trip, and certainly also basic knowledge about hiking, because mountains, no matter how wonderful they are, can be an extremely dangerous adventure for those without experience.
