This is our first visit to Učka Nature Park, so let’s start with a bit of history to orient ourselves. Mount Učka has a record of the first ascent in 1722 by the Venetian botanist Zanichelli, and over the next 150 years, numerous botanists and geologists from various countries visited Učka to pursue their interest in the mountain’s rich vegetation. Thus, Učka, which was previously of interest only to scientists, geologists, and botanists, became popular among hikers and tourists who spent their holidays in Opatija. Today, there are a large number of hiking trails waiting for you to discover and explore. We are going to do a highlight route to experience the best of the park.
We start the route at the Poklon Visitor Centre. It is an easily accessible mountain pass with free parking, and we begin the trail by first enjoying the views of the Adriatic Sea. Remember that Učka Nature Park encompasses the Učka and Čičarija mountain ranges, located in the northeast of the Istrian peninsula. We head towards Vojak, following the signs for trail 600, marked with a red circle and a white center. There are many signs, and they are very well marked. We continue on the trail with a steady ascent until we reach an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level, where we find Jama Cave, an underground cave. We keep ascending and take trail 612 to the summit of Plas at 1286 meters above sea level. We return to trail 600 and pass by cliffs where we can see the vast expanse of Istria. We continue on until we reach Vojak, the highest peak in the park and all of Istria, standing at 1401 meters above sea level. It is easily recognizable by its tower, built in 1911, which is now a symbol of the park. Vojak is a must-visit destination for its fantastic views, which span across all of Istria, the Kvarner Gulf, Gorski Kotar, and the Velebit mountains.
After a stop, we continue the route, descending along the ridge. It’s an easy descent if you’re hiking. We arrive at Sedlo Pass at 1250 meters above sea level, where you can see a spiral formation made of stones. We continue descending via trail 610, which takes us back to Poklon along the slope of the ridge, closing the loop back to our starting point.
A beautiful Učka Nature Park, one of Croatia’s 19 parks!
Video
Map
Max elevation: 1308 m
Total climbing: 854 m
Total time: 04:05:36
Download Track
