Velebit  is no different in that sense. It has many local legends associated with it. Its deep gorges and rugged slopes are portrayed as the abode of spirits in tales and poems. Stretching along the coast from the Vratnik mountain saddle to the canyon of the Zrmanja river in the south in an imposing way, Velebit acted as a bulwark against an exploration of the interior of Croatia. Owing to the splendor of its natural environment and the large role it played in the pastoral and nomadic life of the region, the storied mountain has become one of the most potent symbols of modern Croatia, which captures some of the qualities of its people.

Don’t Be Menaced By Routine While Mountain Biking on Velebit

Possibly the best  way to appreciate the expansive mountain scenery is from atop a mountainbike. Even as you are speeding downhill, the secluded valleys, small mountain villages and the stooping trees are hard to miss. The distant panoramas of neighboring peaks and the Velebit Channel islands tend to crawl along no matter how fast you peddal. The feeling you get while gliding on your hardtail and spraying scree on all sides on a Velebit afternoon has no substitute. The cycling fashion trends are a downside, but everyone who is there to see you will be similarly attired and in no position to judge.

For two years running, Velebit has hosted an annual mountain bike marathon. The event took a slew of mountain bikers across a long stretch of recently plotted cycling paths. Similar events feature three categories of difficulty – ultra, challenger and recreational based on a gradation of the slope. Using the lovely town of Starigrad as a starting point, the route of the marathon took the participants all the way to the Zrmanja river via Libinje, Bukve, Tulove grede and Mali Alan. The endurance athletes braving the 80 km trek often single out the mountain biking Velebit stage as their favorite stomping ground.

As the track starts to climb, the view expands and the scenery gets better and better. Despite some patches of forest along the track, the view is unobstructed and the route weaves around tunnels and narrow ravines. Regular supply stops make carrying loads of baggage unnecessary. By the time you hit the technical part of the route, with upward and downward slopes, the large cluster of bikes disperses and you are alone with the mountain. The cinematic terrain tempts you to whip out the cameras or the easel. The piece of equipment that bears the greatest load is still the mountain bike. Some downhill sections of the marathons are strenuous, lined with rough stones, and put great strain on the suspension and consequently, the rider.

Mountain Biking Routes on Velebit

To kick us off on a short tour of the cycling routes of Velebit, an easy one. The bike path from Starigrad to Reljani is a short  course great for people who wish to get acquainted with the local history. It is a short trip through charming villages and millenia of rustic culture. Information panels will fill you in on the most interesting local customs and lead to the Paklenica National Park reception area to round off an educational experience. Should you veer towards the coast, you can reach some lovely natural beaches, as well as the forlorn Večka tower and a tenth century church dedicated to Saint Peter.

The Veliki Kamenjar route starts at a crossroads in Maslenica. A gravel road takes cyclists through a quarry. All the while there are mountaintops in view and low foliage fluttering in the gasps of wind. Coming up to the village of Zelenikovac herds of sheep graze on the gentle slopes in the summer months. As you leave the walls of unmortared stone behind you a few kilometers later, you follow the highway until you reach an underpass. The main road leads to the observation point of Pariževačka glavica. It is a tranquil spot with a great view of the canyon the river Zrmanja has burrowed in the landscape. The quaint villages of Šarlići and Jasenice offer some lovely photo-ops and a chance to admire some examples of medieval sacral architecture and artisanship. As the road loops back to Maslenica, there are some idyllic olive groves along the way whose cultivation stretches back for centuries.

The last route we are looking at in this piece runs from Golubić to Muškovci and is a testament to the ingenious ways of nature. The fairly long asphalt route of 28 kilometers writhes across broken terrain alongside the Zrmanja river. The area is criss-crossed with canyons, springs, bridges and waterfalls. Zrmanja’s tributaries such as Krupa feed a natural garden, and the river’s liveliest portion delights swimmers with its purity. Taken together, these havens for those of us in search of some distance from stress and labor represent a soupçon of the finest mountain biking Velebit has to offer.

The post Mountain Biking on Velebit Has a Lot to Offer first appeared on Argyruntum Apartments.

In order to reap the health benefits of walking, you need to engage in its more strenuous form. Once the extended walks start taking upwards of two hours and your heart rate starts to pick up, we are entering hiking territory. Hiking retains the enjoyment that walking holds while adding a sporting aspect and acting as a low intensity workout. When done in a meditative natural setting it also stimulates thinking and reflection. This virtuous trifecta is why Paklenica hiking is one of the most pleasurable ways to spend your time.

Out on the Trail in Paklenica national park

A remarkable feature of Paklenica hiking trails is the wealth of paths available for travel. You can tailor the route according to time constraints. If you can only spare a couple of hours because you have other activities planned or have to adhere to a bus schedule, that isn’t a problem. If you set aside all day for hiking, you can effortlessly structure a loop that takes six or seven hours to complete using the widely available Paklenica National Park maps or GPS. The trails range from gravel roads where you can walk comfortably and take it easy to demanding footpaths hugging the rock.

The trails have markers – arrows and white dots within red circles –  although in the case of a handful that see little traffic they might be harder to locate. Trails not charted on some Park maps require a little prep work in advance, otherwise a couple of hours could be lost getting back on track. That is a small price to pay for a glimpse of the divine nature in the Park’s canyons and pine forests. The same can be said of the lack of standard tourist accomodation on Park grounds. Ivine Vodice, Vlaški grad, Struge and other renowned mountain lodges and shelters welcome tired travellers and hikers who want to spend the night, but can’t match the comfort of a hotel. This will make the return to your rented apartment in Starigrad all the sweeter.

Experienced hikers enjoy the comradery as much as wild nature and majestic mountain slopes, so they will think to bring some friends along for company. Still, it is worth reminding anyone to keep a short checklist of items essential for a carefree hike. Hiking boots for comfort, weather-appropriate clothing, sunscreen, a waterproof coat, a flashlight, first aid kit and the Paklenica national park entry ticket. That’s a lot to remember! A map and compass can be left behind on shorter trips, along with sleeping bags. There are fresh water springs and streams scattered around the NP Paklenica: Kontinovo vrilo, Crno vrilo, Vratrovac springs; Velika Paklenica stream and some others. The water is of a high drinking quality. Still, bring along some bottled water for convenience.

The Thrills of Paklenica Hiking

The steeper trails waste no time in getting you to the lofty vantage points, with breathtaking views. The town of Starigrad and the Velebit channel stretch in the palm of your hand. Behind you the serrated mountain peaks and forests of beech and pine are bathed in morning mist. Some interesting landmarks await hikers, chief among them the cave of Manita peć and the tiny village of Tomići. A stroll down the village path bordered by walls of rough-hewn, unmortared stone is a haunting experience. An ascent from the mountaineers’ shelter of Vlaški grad leads to Sveto brdo – the second-tallest of Velebit’s peaks. Once you have stood level with the clouds at the very top, it is easy to comprehend the pious spark which prompted men to carve the Ten Commandments into a rock at the summit.

A long route favored by hiking enthusiasts starts off by going down the gullet of the Velika Paklenica canyon, to the Paklenica mountain hut. By way of the bowl-shaped Velika Močila valley hikers will reach the ominously named Crni Vrh – Black Peak – at an elevation of 1110 meters above sea level. From there the route slopes downwards through Jurline and forests of hornbeam in an arc. The starting point is reached in 6 hours following Naismith’s rule of equivalence between distance and climb (typically up to 8 hours in practice). Along the way parties are treated to abundant karst, panoramic views and close encounters with the local wildlife and plant species, of which around forty are endemic. The most frequented trail, however, leads to Borisov dom – the mountain hut synonymous with Paklenica hiking. The shorter duration and gentler incline render it a great starting point for getting to know Paklenica from Starigrad and the Park entrance.

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