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    A gentle hike to Sveto Brdo (1751 m): rising above the Adriatic and its endless horizons

    By Zdravko R. · October 17, 2022

    Setinto thePaklenica National Park, on the southern Velebit mountain range, Sveto Brdo (1,751 m) is nothing less than a “Saint Hill.” And not without reason. First, it offers one of the most magnificent views in Croatia, stretching all the way to the Zadar archipelago. Second, to truly hike this peak is to embrace the full sense of respect for the mountain: its bushes, wilderness, wildlife, and mountain shelters.

    Croatia may not be known as a destination with high peaks. But in another way, the thing known is the peaks offering expansive views in a combination of the Adriatic Sea and mountains area. Many beautiful blooms located in mountain ranges above the coast from south Dalmatia to Istria would enable us to enjoy the unforgettable horizons.

    And there are a few around 1500 meters or higher too, which is not low altitude to be reached, requiring overcoming the various barriers like in every other mountain. Sveto Brdo (1751 m) is a peak located on the southeastern part of the hill. It belongs to the Southern Velebit’s heights, where the highest peak of Velebit is located – Vaganski Vrh (1757 m).

    Another Trek Goat adventure takes us into the heart of Croatian nature. On this journey, we explored one of the most rewarding hikes in Paklenica National Park, above Starigrad, revealing the very best that this stunning park has to offer.

    Why You should hike Sveto Brdo

    Besides being known to have a particular name, Sveto Brdo,meaning a “Saint Hill” in translation from local Croatian, this peak is nothing but exceptional. Though its elevation (1751) is only six meters lower than the highest one, Vaganski Vrh Peak (1757), it makes it a second peak of the Velebit mountain range, which many local hikers consider. A general in Croatia would say “Sveto Brdo” would be a winner while choosing the hiking spot on the south Velebit, despite the fact that it is not the highest.

    Many hiking and alpinism enthusiasts have probably often discussed the difference between Mount Everest and K2. This “feel” difference might be similar to that comparison. Well, not just the “same” 😊, but what I’m trying to say is that the highest peak doesn’t always mean the most fulfilling in hiking terms. For example, in Slovenia, Triglav is without a doubt the king, but many hikers (myself included) would say that Jalovec evokes a special feeling. Similarly, Sveto Brdo does that for many hikers in Croatia, even though, personally, I didn’t notice such a dramatic difference in impact as between the peaks I mentioned in Slovenia.

    But the fact is this Velebit giant pyramidjutting out from the rest of the landscape, will make a tremendous feeling to every hiker which climb it!I want to say both of the peaks have their own strange, and you won’t fail to choose Vaganaski Vrh, but the thing is, Sveto Brdo would have a little bit wider view.

    Sveto Brdo is the most striking peak of Velebit and the last high cliff in a series of mountains above Paklenica National Park. It is the second-highest Velebit peak, as we mentioned, it is only 6 meters lower than Vaganski Vrh. At the very top stands a large metal cross and a plaque. There is a stamp and a mark.

    This article shows how to hike Sveto Brdo (1751), the southern Velebit Peak, Croatia. Yes, Trek Goat liked to trek this peak, so let’s see how to do it.

    Hiking directions

    There are several routes to explore in Paklenica National Park. The park is so vast that you could hike here for days. In this article, we focus on some of the most popular routes and the trail we followed over two days.

    1. Paklenica NP Entrance → Sveto Brdo Peak

    2. Paklenica NP Entrance → Sveto Brdo (via alternative route)

    3. Start from Mala Paklenica (Entrance 2)

    4. Bunovac → Sveto Brdo

    5. Modrič (0 m) → Sveto Brdo (1,751 m)

    Most common starting points: Paklenica NP Entrance or Mala Paklenica

    Our South Velebit Adventure: Mala Paklenica – Paklenica Mountain Lodge – Sveto Brdo Peak (2 Days)

    Our Paklenica tour began in coastal Starigrad, the first meeting point. From there, we drove toward Mala Paklenica and hiked through its canyon, passing Anića Kuk, to reach the mountain lodge on day one. The next day, we continued from the lodge to Sveto Brdo Peak.

    Starting point: Mala Paklenica (Entrance 2)

    Be sure to purchase your ticket at the official Paklenica National Park entrance before starting the hike. Since the starting point and ending point of the route are different, it’s best to coordinate with the park staff about moving or repacking your vehicle. If possible, have one of the more experienced hikers in your group handle this. Ideally, park your car at the official park entrance, which also serves as the route’s endpoint.

    Tip to know: Entrance 2 is open from late April to late October and is recommended only to experienced hikers.

    Mala Paklenica Canyon

    This extraordinary canyon is known for its “wilderness” and untouched nature. The streams Mala and Velika Paklenica are the only permanent watercourses on the southern slopes of Velebit. Mala Paklenica is “more modest” in scale than Velika Paklenica, and the tributary that flows through it is much weaker. The stream of Mala Paklenica is 12.5 km long and springs below “Vlaški Grad” from several sources. As a rule, Mala Paklenica has water in the riverbed upstream from the branch of the path to Njiva Lekina, while it dries up in the lower part. The left tributary of Mala Paklenica, Orljača, is also a tributary that dries up in summer. In the rainy part of the year, the trail is impassable when the water flows through the canyon.

    Eight kilometres downstream from the source, Mala Paklenica forms a 2 km long canyon marked by steep slopes up to 300 m high. The canyon is only 10 m wide in places. To preserve the authenticity of the petrophilous ornithofauna in Mala Paklenica, climbing activities used to be strictly prohibited.

    Access to the starting point (Starigrad/Mala Paklenica):

    While driving the Jadranska Magistrala road from the Zadar direction to Karlobag or vice versa, head to Starigrad first. Once you reach the coastal place, head to National Park Paklenica, which can be reached in less than 10 minutes of movement.

    We were hiking the canyon of Mala Paklenica, direction to the mountain hut on the first day. The second day ends with Sveto Brdo Peak.

    1.Mala Paklenica – Mountain Lodge Paklenica ascent

    Our hike starts at Mala Paklenica (entrance 2). After resembling the equipment, we used the time to prepare for a stroll while waiting for our team colleague to repark the vehicle at an official entrance and buy the tickets. After he did it, we headed to the canyon of Mala Paklenica (description above).

    There is a marked pathway leading from Mala Paklenica to the mountain lodge. The hiking path would bring us to Kapljarica Cave first. We stop by for a short rest after it continues over the rocky terrain passing next to Anića Kuk crossings (the most known climbing peak in Croatia). Later, it will take us to the heart of the mountain. We mention a lot of protected flora while hiking this part of the trail. Due to high rocks, some of the features could be dangerous, so that’s why it is recommended to keep the marked way.

    Kapljarica cave. The small cave above Mala Paklenica is an excellent spot to get some rest, particularly during the warm days. It will also offer a shadow shelter for those who want to avoid the sun. This small cave will also uncover some of the regular Velebit Mountain habitat species – the bats.

    Anića Kuk. With its diversity of rocky terrain and the canyons, National Park Paklenica isn’t just favourable for mountaineers. It also gathers many climbers who used to come to it to test their knowledge of climbing. There is nowhere on Velebit a single vertical rock, as it is an accentuated and prominent rock of “Anića Kuk”. Whether you climb its foot along the edge of the stream or observe it from somewhere else in Anića port, this rock dominates the whole area.

    From the very top of “Anić Kuk”at 712 m above sea level, there is a beautiful view of the Velebit Channel and the exit of the “Velika Paklenica” stream from its canyon part. At the same time, to the north, you can see the Buljma Pass, Babin Vrh, Vaganski Vrh and Sveto Brdo. Simultaneously, a little closer is Komić, Krivi Kuk, Vlaški grad, Borovnik and Zoljin Kuk. For over 70 years, Anića Kuk has attracted many climbers with over 100 organised routes.

    However, we didn’t climb since we passed the crossings via a marked hiking pathway to bring us to the pastures with the donkeys. This climb after the field goes through open rocky terrainon the ridge, but is pleasant to walk on. From here is seen, Anića Kuk. The pathway we head to is the mountain shelter Paklenica.

    There are two more crossings to follow up to the hut. One could also go directly to Sveto Brdo via Jurline after the crossroads to Anića Kuk. But due to hiking time, it should be counted as the mostly night descent in that case or sleep up to Ivine Vodice shelter.

    Paklenica mountain hut

    A charming “Paklenica Mountain Hut” is a building with two wings located at the beginning of Velika Paklenica, the gorge. There is a dining room and a kitchen on the brick ground floor, while on the wooden floor, there are bedrooms with a total of 50 beds. In front of the home is a spacious terrace for relaxation, next to which the stream Paklenica murmurs. The house located at the bottom of the valley is right on the composition of Paklenica and Brezimenjača.

    There are about 2 hours of walking time from Velika Paklenica (entrance 1) to the parking lot. At the same time, Mala Paklenica (entry 2, like in our case) would take between five and six hours of walking.

    Paklenica Mountain Lodge – Ivine Vodice Mountain shelter

    Before crossing the bridge in front of the PD, a signpost points to Ivine Vodice and Sveto Brdo’s right. Here, it would help if you turned right. A wide hiking trail leads to this point, and there is still a slightly worse and narrower, but also made hiking trail, which leads to Martin’s Mirila. The lodge’s path to this point leads through a tall beech forest and follows the river Velika Paklenica along its left bank. It is comfortable to walk on and not strenuous.

    At the crossroads near Martin’s Mirila, turn left towards Ivine Vodice mountain shelter. From this point, a steeper ascent to Ivine Vodice begins. The trail leads through a mixed high forest. At the mountain shelter of Ivine Vodice is possible to supply spring water from a captured spring that never dries out. The cover itself is quite tidy and allows sleeping for about ten hikers. There is also thecrockery available in the shelter.

    Ivine Vodice Mountain shelter

    Thispicturesque mountain shelter is a house with a brick ground floor, one room and a wooden roof space. Next to the house is a cistern with drinking water. With its position halfway between Paklenica and Sveto Brdo Peak, the hut with having the water supply is a suitable place for a break or overnight whilehiking to the highest peaks of Velebit. For the night should bring a pad and a sleeping bag.

    2.Ivine Vodice – Vlaški Grad – Sveto Brdo Peak ascent

    In the continuation, the trail leads through the canyon of Mala Paklenica, goes up and down three times, loses a lot at the altitude difference reached, and reaches the Vlaški Gradmountain shelter. This mountaineering shelter is quite devastated. It is possible to camp in a meadow at the foot of the Vlaški Grad peak. To get a stamp from this peak, mountaineers hiking some of the Croatian Mountaineering Bypasses (Via Dinarica/Via Adriatica) would need approximately 40 minutes from the mountaineering shelter.

    The trail continues sharply uphill from the shelter along the scree. It opens a rocky outcrop to the pass, where it intersects with the ridge road Vaganski Vrh – Sveto Brdo. Here it turns right, continues along a grassy plateau for 700 m, then very sharply uphill first along the scree, then along the lawn, and finally along the rocky outcrop to the top.

    The pathway passes wide-open wilderness, where sunshine and wolves are playing their picturesque game in the grasslands. There are a few hiking directions, while the most used is from Velika Paklenica over the lodge up to the peak. The hike seems convenient and fun, but the only way to hit the top is a hardcore way when we find ourselves at the base of the Sveto Brdo. The climb is at some parts steep and slow, taking out all the aerobic energy particles. However, the setting is so out-of-this-world that it certainly does whatever it takes, and the peak is valued every step.

    Before we reach the peak, what we see is an impressive raree-show – the crowns flock. The birds are very often inhabitants of Velebit. It’s supposed that the national park is home to about 230 species recorded at the moment, of which 102 species are of the global migratory species.

    3.Sveto Brdo Peak

    The peak marked by a pile of stones is a checkpoint with a stamp built into the rock. From the mountain, there are beautiful views of Velika and Mala Paklenica and the sea. To the northeast is a lovely view of Sveto Brdo.

    The top of the mountain. Though Sveto Brdo Peak (1751 m elevation) is not the highest Velebit one, due to its prominent location is possible to enjoy an incredible wide horizonsextending to the Dalmatia islands, Zadar Coast and other peaks of the Velebit mountain range. The view from the top of Sveto Brdo is the most beautiful in Croatia. There is also a large wooden cross at the peak. Just below the top is a box with a registration book and a stamp built into the rock.

    Fill your hiking bag with food, enough water and basic hiking equipment.

    4. Descent to Paklenica national park entrance

    The same as an ascent to the mountain lodge Paklenica. From the top of the mountain to Paklenica mountain Hut (elevation 480 m) would take about 4 hoursthe hiking time. Once you reach the mountain hut, fromthere follow the route to “Velika Paklenica” that is about 45 minutes. Make sure to park your car at this official entrance if starts hike from Mala Paklenica as we did.

    Conclusion

    Besides having twoimpressive canyonsVelika (Big) and Mala (Small) Paklenica, with rich, diverse flora and fauna, Paklenicanational park is abundant with beautiful views. However, the most attractive is Sveto Brdo Peak’s opinion, the second by altitude in the South Velebit area. Sveto Brdo is, however, required a good form and is in the most cases recommended for experienced hikers. Therefore, the pathway to the mountain lodge would be suitable for families with children. However, only those with excellent equipment would hike the peak.

    Bonus: find more hikes in Paklenica national park

    We mentioned this tour, for which a regular one would need two days (if optimal weather conditions). Yet it could also be combined with the other extraordinary hiking pathways set into Paklenica National Park. Instead of two days, the hiking lovers decided to spend an extra day at some of the locations we mentioned below. So if you also consider doing, head to them.

    Veliki Golić (1371)

    In addition to offering a fantastic view of South Velebit and the Zadar archipelago, what makes this peak particular is the hiking pathway leading through the wilderness and the rocky climb at the end.

    Manita Peć

    If ever wondered whether there has been created a place where could climb the rocks and observe the world from high up, and eventually descend into the underground world while experiencing its beautiful depths, look no further then Manita Peć.

    Set into the heart of the Paklenica National Park, this is the only cave in the Park adapted and opened to the public, offering visitors the opportunity to explore its subterranean spaces. Since the first visits to the cave began in 1937, after creating the pathway,its spacious and beautiful halls have attracted many visitors. The entrance is located 570 metres above sea level. The climbing time from the “Velika Paklenica” car park to the cave takes about an hour and a half.

    Veliko Rujno

    This plateau on the South Velebit at an elevation of 900m above sea level is between two summits: Višerujna and Bojinac. Many trails lead tothis point, which is supposed to be a glacier. The navigation is easy because the visible panels surround the plateau. The path is dry and rocky with a long hiking section from Veliki Vaganac to Veliko Rujno.

    Once one of the largest Velebit Mountain settlements, on which people lived from spring to autumn, from planting and sowing, keeping cattle, today it is renewed. Besides attracting mountaineers, nature lovers or athletes, this one of the Croatian Olympus is also a well-known spot for pilgrims and tourists worldwide to find their spiritual refreshment. While coming out of the urban rigidity, its elevations are easy to establish spiritual touches.

    Additional notes

    Let the rhythm of the mountain guide your own. Let Sveto Brdo be a pilgrimage, not a goal.