Exploring Croatia’s National Parks

One of the most impressive qualities about Croatia is their preservation of the most beautiful public spaces for posterity through their system of national parks and parks of nature. The distinction between national parks and parks of nature is the legal limitations on land use. A good analogy would be the difference between a national park and a national forest in the United States.

Mike looking over the Adriatic Sea from Biokovo Mountain, Croatia

Paklenice National Park

Climbers find routes on both sides of the narrow canyon.

Paklenice National Park is above all a climbers’ paradise near the Dalmatian archipelago island of Pag.  Solid karst rock walls rise 1,000 feet and higher in some areas to form a narrow, deep canyon.  Most routes are numbered and protection anchors are drilled permanently into the rock for clipping in carabiners for climbing ropes.  Small plaques on each pitch label the difficulty rating with a numerical designation.  Some pitches are no more than ten feet away from the next adjacent pitch, and during the Spring and Fall, climbing ropes lay about like spaghetti as climbers take turns climbing various routes.  Colorful names for the routes are given to each pitch, an honor reserved for whoever was credited with the first ascent.

Rock walls tower over the deep canyon.

The national park covers 95 km² (23,000 acres) and the terrain which straddles the coastal mountain ridges is an ideal setting for backpackers.  A ranger informs me that camping is only allowed in designated sites where shelters have been built.  Their purpose is primarily to protect surrounding areas undisturbed in their natural state.

A backpacker could hike the high country from one end of the park to the other in a few days.  This would make for an invigorating and rewarding outing and instill the desire to return to one day further explore the park’s hidden treasures.

Biokovo Park of Nature

The Dalmatia Coast from a mile high

Biokovo Park is named after the peak that towers over the riviera town of Makarska.  The road to the summit winds up and up, switchback after switchback for 23 kilometers (14 miles).  Our drive climbs 1,700 meters (over 5,500 feet elevation) from the sea to a viewpoint marked by a radio relay tower.  The temperature drops 6°C (11°F) from our seashore point of origin, and a brisk wind reminds me I should have brought a jacket.  Although weather can change rapidly and extreme weather is possible any day of the year, we arrive at the summit on the perfect day. Looking east I can see Bosnia.  To the west I am able to see over the Dalmatian archipelago to the Adriatic Sea and beyond to catch a glimpse of the coast of Italy.

Bosnia in the distance from Biokovo Mountain’s summit

I should warn any prospective visitors who aspire to reach the summit of Biokovo Mountain. The road is adequately maintained.  However, it is a single lane over much of the route, and you will encounter oncoming cars.  Be prepared to find the closest wide spot in which you are able to squeeze past one another.  It may seem challenging, but the view is worth it.  Many tourists rent scooters for the drive, and that is a great solution on a typically warm sunny day.  During our trip I visited seven national parks.

The beauty and diversity of the natural parks of Croatia are stunning.  I look forward to sharing more in my next story.

Note:  Author, Mike Lince, and his wife Florence are The 6 Monthers, so called because they have chosen to live in a different country every six months.  They are currently living in Scotland, and they are touring Croatia as journalists to share information about that country through the month of September in conjunction with Touristar TV.  Mike will share a new story about Croatia every Tuesday for the remainder of September.