A glimpse into the Paklenica National Park

There’s no better view than one you’ve really earned by completing a difficult climb. 

If you haven’t experienced this thrill, then Paklenica is the perfect place to start your climbing life. Alana Beachclub offers a rock climbing wall to get you in the swing before you head out with the team to Paklenica National Park. Plus, the varied landscape and excellent facilities mean mid-level and advanced climbers can challenge themselves here as well.

Limestone karst is the ultimate climbing landscape, and it’s one you can enjoy safely in Paklenica, where well-worn routes have been enjoyed by climbers for generations. We’ll sort out your park passes and get you to the base of your climb, from where a huge variety of routes can be explored, from short, sharp climbs to a marathon 1,200-foot ascent. 

Klanci is the name of the most popular climbing area, and you can simply stroll up to the cliffs and get started here with very little equipment. Your climbing instructor will see you have a safe experience: rain is rare in the main holiday seasons; wind or even high temperatures are more likely to be a bother, so pack plenty of sun cream. 

Striking out on some of the 150km of hiking trails is the best way to get to know this place. It’s a mountain environment, so you need to be sensible, though regular sign-posted springs mean you shouldn’t go thirsty. 

You can climb up to mountain summits, trek to Manita peć, or eat at the Lugarnica Forest House and explore some of the area’s human history at the Marasovići folklore museum. If you’re a lover of field trips then look out for 11 educational trails that will add context to your day’s walking.

You can cycle in Paklenica, but only on 8km of marked paths, as it’s not safe to go off-road here. This is a beautiful route though, with village stops rather than heart-racing drops. 

The Cro Challenge Paklenica is every May is a great showcase of the Park’s adventure chops as competitors kayak, cycle, climb, abseil and run around Paklenica.  

Ask the Neilson team at Alana Beachclub about our guided rides in the area

This is the south-western edge of the Velebit mountains, Croatia’s largest. The light limestone glints in the sun, but it is the striking effects of water erosion that make the area such an attraction for climbers. From the bottom of either of the Park’s two major features, the Velika Paklenica and Mala Paklenica gorges, look up and you’ll see how the rivers have carved a natural playground. 

The cliffs of Velika Paklenica soar as high as 700m from a base that is just 50 metres wide at its narrowest point. You can stroll through most of the 14 kilometres of the canyon, but the highlight is undoubtedly around Anića luka, with its soft waterfall and clear pool.  

The river that formed the Mala Paklenica gorge is all but gone now, but it cut an impressive groove on its way to the sea. Up to 650 metres deep with a 10 metre narrow point, the gorge winds 12 kilometres through the mountains. 

You’ll find lots of variety if you explore more deeply in the park. The central area’s high valleys add rolling slopes, verdant greenery and distinctive black pine forests to the mix. Peak-seekers should keep going and top the Velebit ridge, ticking off a 1,757-metre altitude before standing back and taking in the view. 

The park’s caves are as well known as its cliffs, and, in the 1,320-metre Slovačka jama, Paklenica is home to the deepest, steepest pothole in the world. Awe-inspiring geological formations can be safely enjoyed only in the Manita peć cave - not a place to visit if you have a bat phobia. 

It’s wise to take guided walks or stick to paths as you do head to the heights because Velebit – like the rest of the park – is also home to some deep depths. 

As you explore Paklenica keep your eyes open and plant your feet carefully around the gorgeous wildlife. 

Butterflies and fire salamanders are brief flashes of colour on the ground, while golden and short-toed eagles, peregrines, and goshawks curve in the sky. As the sun goes down, keep your eyes and ears peeled for the seven owl species as well, including the giant eagle owl, while the rat-tat-tat of woodpeckers is a continuous soundtrack.  

Trekking away from the more crowded spots, keep quiet for a minute or two and keep your eyes peeled for wild boar, wolves, many types of deer, and even bears. 

You’re far from the first visitor to Paklenica, and adding some historical and cultural spice to your trip is a great way to let your muscles cool down. Starigrad’s ancient church of St Peter is a window on the earliest Croat settlers in this area. 

Almost no-one lives in the park now, but you can walk through abandoned villages that showcase local architectural styles, and pay a moment’s respect at the roadside mirilas that were raised to honour the dead. 

Paklenica’s landscapes are timeless though, and best surveyed from the top of a cliff, or along a wooded walking trail between trees and the running water that formed the park. 

Enjoyed this glimpse into the Paklenica National Park? Join us at our Alana Beachclub this summer and we’ll show you the rest!