Northern Velebit NP

Northern Velebit

National Park

AN ACTIVITY HOLIDAY DESTINATION WHERE YOU CAN EXPERIENCE THE TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE IN HARMONY WITH NATURE

Northern Velebit National Park is an ideal place to visit for those who prefer to go on an activity holiday and relax in pristine nature and a little bit of primordial wilderness. Hiking, walking, photographing or cycling—we leave the choice to you.

30 HIKING TRAILS

Some of the best-known locations in the park are Zavižan, the Velebit Botanical Gardens, the Premužić Trail, Štirovača, Alan, Lubenovac, and Štirovača. The park is also home to the Hajdučki and Rožanski kukovi Strict Nature Reserve, and two botanical reserves—Visibaba (Snowdrop), the habitat of the endemic Croatian sibiraea, and Zavižan-Balinovac-Velika kosa which is where the Velebit Botanical Gardens is located. There are around 30 hiking trails in the park. Zavižan is one of the most popular locations in the national park where the terrain constantly changes from grassy plains to thick green forests and huge limestone boulders. Next to the oldest high-altitude weather station in Croatia is a mountain lodge. With a total length of 57 km, Premužićeva staza (the Premužić Trail) leads you to the very top of Mount Velebit. There are no extremely steep sections on the trail and it is suitable for visitors unaccustomed to hiking.

WHERE NATURE LIVES

Beech forests of the Northern Velebit National Parks, which lie within the Hajdučki and Rožanski kukovi Strict Reserve, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017 together with beech forests of the Paklenica National Park. Chasms are also a landmark of the park. So far, more than 600 speleological sites have been discovered and explored and 95% of them are chasms. Due to a large number of chasms, the area of the Hajdučki and Rožanski kukovi Strict Reserve is one of the most interesting speleological sites in the world. However, the pits are not open to visitors. Kuća Velebita (Velebit House), the Northern Velebit National Park’s Visitor and Information Centre, whose slogan is “Where nature lives”, provides details on things to see and do at the park. It is situated in the village of Krasno, one of the largest high-altitude settlements in Croatia. As an established, modern and attractive centre, it gives information about the natural and cultural values of the park throughout the year. Staying in the renovated Pastirski stanovi (Shepherds’ Huts) in Alan, visitors will learn about the traditional way of living and working on Mount Velebit and learn how that way of life was in complete harmony with nature and founded on the principles of sustainability.