13. km - Vrata - Bijele stijene - Ljuska - Ratkovo sklonište - 13. km (10/2021)
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 6.47 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,404 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Very difficult
- Elevation loss
- 1,404 ft
- Max elevation
- 4,484 ft
- TrailRank
- 55
- Min elevation
- 3,468 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- 5 hours one minute
- Time
- 8 hours 44 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1874
- Uploaded
- October 20, 2021
- Recorded
- October 2021
near Jasenak, Karlovačka (Hrvatska)
Viewed 902 times, downloaded 13 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Physical difficulty: 2.5/5
Note #1: This is one of the most technically difficult hiking trails in Croatia, probably the most difficult you can undertake that's not considered alpine climbing. It can be done without any safety harnesses, but you need to be very careful.
Note #2: Going in the rainier months could have the whole trail, including the rocks, wet and slippery. This adds to the difficulty.
Note #3: The trail connecting Bijele stijene (eng. White Rocks) to Samarske stijene (eng. Samarian Rocks) is called Vihoraški put (eng. Vohoraški path). It's short in distance, but long to navigate because the terrain is hard - either plain rocks or rocky woods. Lots of climbing involved, many ups and downs You'll be advancing slowly, prepare for that. Plan to spend at least 2-3 hrs at this part, possibly more.
Note #4: The recorded moving time is not correct. We were pausing about 1hrs max in total. The rest of the time we were on the move, but probably advancing was so slow on Vihoraški put that the app didn't always detect it as moving.
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The trail starts at the 13. km waypoint/parking, and follows the gravel road to the next waypoint Vrata (eng. Doors). From Vrata you will enter into deeper woods, and ascend towards the foot of Bijele stijene. Scale to the summit, then backtrack and continue on Vihoraški put. Once you get off this path, you can continue to Ratkovo sklonište (eng. Ratko's Shelter), to Samarske stijene, a few other locations, or return back to 13. km.
Waypoints
Car park
3,708 ft
13. km - Parking
The parking at "13. km". Other parking place good for starting the trail is ”Vrata". This trail starts at the 13. km parking spot. To get here, you will need to drive through a gravel road for about 11km from Mrkopalj/Tuk; from the other side this spot is accessible from Ogulin/Jasenak. The road is in fairly ok condition, but there are many holes and bumps to avoid, so you won't be going above 15-30km/h at any time (unless you're in a off-road vehicle).
Intersection
3,546 ft
Intersection #2 - Vrata
Vrata (eng. Doors); Go right, of the gravel road and into the woods
Cave
Intersection
4,263 ft
Intersection #4
Take a left here to go to Bijele stijene; you will come back here later and continue right towards Ljuska.
Intersection
4,353 ft
Intersection #5
Take a left; squeeze through the rocks of you're really nimble and tiny, otherwise go over them
Summit
4,485 ft
Bijele stijene (1335m)
The summit of Bijele stijene (eng. White Rocks); wonderful views of the surrounding peaks.
Intersection
4,352 ft
Intersection #9
The marking is on your general left, on the rocks; you may not see it at first because it's partly hidden by vegetation.
Intersection
4,305 ft
Ljuska
Ljuska (eng. Shell). The center between Bijele and Samarske stijene; this part is the most dangerous and difficult of the entire hike. Requires very careful footing and gripping as you go over there rocks. Immediately after this, there is a branching in the path: Teži (eng. Harder) and Lakši (Eng. Easier).
Intersection
3,966 ft
Intersection #11
At this point, you're out of the deeper woods. You can go left to return straight to 13. km (parking lot), or continue left and up towards Ratkovo skonište (a 10min walk). Near Ratkovo sklonište, there are other numerous crossings which can take you in different directions.
Mountain hut
4,037 ft
Ratkovo sklonište
Eng. Ratko's Shelter. A humble mountain shelter in the rocks. The shelter is unattended, and is to be used at your own risk. It's equipped with a few tables, sleeping area, with a cast-iron wood-fueled stove, and a few leftover supplies from hikers. You're expected to replenish any wood that you spend, as a courtesy.
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