Paklenica National Park – guide to hiking in Croatia

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Paklenica National Park in Croatia is a dramatic world of deep canyons, high cliffs and hiking trails through the Velebit Mountains. We have hiked through Velika Paklenica ourselves and experienced how the landscape changes from the warm valley to lush mountain nature. Here we collect our experiences and best tips for those who want to visit Paklenica National Park.

Paklenica National Park in Croatia

Paklenica National Park is located in the Velebit Mountains in northern Dalmatia, just a few kilometers from the Adriatic Sea and near the coastal resort of Starigrad-Paklenica. The national park was established in 1949 and encompasses a dramatic mountain landscape with deep canyons, forests, caves and some of Velebit's highest peaks.

The two major canyons are called Velika Paklenica and Mala Paklenica, where Velika Paklenica is the most accessible and the part that most visitors experience. Here the hiking trail goes between high cliffs and further up through the mountains. The national park has a total of about 150 kilometers of marked hiking trails, from relatively easy tours to demanding mountain hikes.

Paklenica is also Croatia's most important climbing area, with hundreds of climbing routes on the cliff faces. Parts of the national park's beech forests are also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List of Europe's original and ancient beech forests.

Hiking in Paklenica – our experience in Velika Paklenica

The day before we had been to Zadar and ended the evening with one of the most beautiful sunsets we had experienced on our travels. The next morning a completely different side of Croatia awaited us. We left the Adriatic Sea behind us and drove towards the mighty Velebit Mountains and Paklenica National Park.

We started the hike in Velika Paklenica at 8am, but the sun was shining from a clear blue sky and it was hot from the start. The temperature would rise to around 25 degrees during the day and we soon realised that there would be many water breaks on the way up.

The trail leads between the high cliff walls of the canyon and then continues upwards through the landscape. In several places we saw climbers high above us on the almost vertical mountain sides, while we ourselves stayed much closer to the ground.

And it goes uphill. And uphill.

At the same time, the nature changes the further you go in. Next to the trail you can hear the water from Velika Paklenica and gradually the landscape becomes greener. We also got a strange feeling of hiking through an area where people have lived and worked long before the national park and today's hiking trails existed.

After several stops for water, we continued higher until the terrain began to flatten out and the landscape opened up. It was hot and our legs had been working hard, but the contrast between the Adriatic coast and the dramatic mountain world just a few kilometers away is a big part of the Paklenica experience.

The park's official information also confirms how dramatic the first part is: Velika Paklenica is only a few tens of meters wide in places, while the canyon reaches up to about 400 meters deep.

Hiking trails in Paklenica – which one to choose?

Paklenica has a large network of marked hiking trails, from shorter trips through Velika Paklenica to demanding mountain hikes to the highest peaks of Velebit. However, for a first visit, you don't have to venture far into the mountains to have a fantastic experience.

• For a first visit: Choose Velika Paklenica and hike through the canyon. You decide how far you want to continue before turning back, making this a great option even if you only want to spend a few hours in the national park.
• For a longer hike: Continue through Velika Paklenica towards, for example, Lugarnica and further towards the mountain hut. Here you gradually leave the most dramatic part of the canyon and enter further into the greener mountain landscape of Velebit.
• For experienced hikers: Paklenica offers significantly longer and more demanding trails to, among others, Vaganski vrh and Sveto brdo, two of Velebit's highest peaks. This is real mountain hiking where good equipment, checking the weather forecast and planning are important.
• Mala Paklenica is something completely different from the well-visited Velika Paklenica. The trail through the smaller canyon is significantly more demanding and the national park recommends it only for experienced hikers. 
• Our tip: If you are visiting Paklenica for the first time, we would choose Velika Paklenica. You don't have to have the ambition to reach a mountain peak – the hike through the canyon itself is a big part of the nature experience.

Climbing in Paklenica – on vertical rock walls

Paklenica is one of Croatia's most important climbing areas, and it's immediately noticeable when hiking through Velika Paklenica. On the high cliff walls we saw climbers slowly working their way up while we continued along the hiking trail down in the canyon.

The national park has around 600 equipped climbing routes of varying difficulty and length. The most famous cliff is Anića's cock, where the mighty rock wall rises above the canyon and the climbing trails can be up to about 350 meters long. 

However, you don't have to be a climber to appreciate this. For us, the climbers almost became part of the nature experience – it's fascinating to stand down in the canyon, look up at the vertical walls and discover little people high up there.

We were satisfied with the hiking trail. It went uphill enough.

Underground secrets of Paklenica – the bunker inside the mountain

In the middle of Velika Paklenica lies an attraction that is easy to miss if you just look at the surrounding mountains. Hidden behind the cliff walls is a system of underground tunnels built by the Yugoslav army between 1950 and 1953.

Built during the political crisis between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, the bunker was a long-kept secret. The facility covers around 1,500 square meters and began to be used as a warehouse by the Croatian army during the war in the 1990s. 

When we visited Paklenica, parts of the facility were still being developed. Today, the bunker has been transformed into the visitor center. Underground Secrets of Paklenica, where the old tunnels are combined with modern and interactive exhibitions about the Velebit Mountains, the nature of the national park, the people who lived here and Paklenica's long tradition of mountaineering. 

It's a rather strange contrast: one moment you're hiking through a sunny canyon between enormous rock walls and the next you can step straight into an old military tunnel system inside the mountain.

Good to know: The visitor center costs extra on top of the regular national park entrance fee. In 2026, the surcharge is 5 euros for adults and 2.50 euros for children aged 7–18. Regular opening hours are April–October, 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 

Manita Peć – The cave high above Paklenica

Paklenica is not only canyons and high mountains. The national park is home to over a hundred famous caves and other underground formations, but Manita peć is the only cave open for guided visits.

The cave is located at an altitude of 570 meters and can be reached on foot from Velika Paklenica. Expect to hike for about 1.5 hours from the main parking lot to the cave entrance – and since it is an uphill climb, Manita peć is an excursion that needs to be planned into the day.

Once inside, large cave halls with stalactites, stalagmites and other limestone formations await you. The visit is accompanied by a guide and takes about 30 minutes. The temperature inside the cave is around 9 degrees all year round, so please bring an extra layer of clothing even if it is scorching hot down in the canyon. 

Good to know: Manita peć has limited opening hours. During July–September, the cave is normally open daily from 10 am to 1 pm, while during spring and autumn it is only open on certain weekdays. Tickets are purchased at the cave and paid in cash. Always check the current opening hours before starting the hike.

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Mirila – the tombs of souls above the Adriatic Sea

One of the most special places we experienced at Paklenica was Mirila, the ancient memorial stones located on the heights above Starigrad-Paklenica. Here, with the mountains behind and a vast view of the Adriatic Sea, you encounter an ancient burial tradition unique to the area.

In the past, people lived in small villages and settlements up in the Velebit Mountains. When someone died, the body was carried along the mountain paths down to the cemetery by the coast. On the way, the procession made only one stop. The deceased was laid down on the ground and the place was marked with two stones – one at the head and one at the feet. The distance between the stones corresponded to the length of the body and was called mirilo.

The body was then buried in the cemetery, but according to the old belief, it was at Mirilo that the soul of the deceased remained. That is why the places have sometimes been given the beautiful name ”The Graves of Souls”.

We found Mirila to be something very special. There is no big church here and no grand tombs, just the simple stones in the barren landscape. As we stood there looking out over the blue Adriatic Sea, the place felt both peaceful and very old.

It's the kind of place that might not look remarkable on a list of attractions – but that stays in the memory long afterwards.

Accommodation and campsites at Paklenica

Starigrad-Paklenica is the natural base for a visit to the national park. Here you stay close to the entrance to Velika Paklenica while having the Adriatic Sea, restaurants and other services within easy reach. There are hotels, apartments and several campsites along the coast.

We traveled by camper and stayed at two different campsites in Starigrad. First we checked in at Camping Plantaza, a small and personal campsite right by the sea. Here we could park our camper near the water and swim in the Adriatic Sea after the day's excursions.

Later we moved to Camping Pisak, which is also by the sea but on the other side of Starigrad. For us, both campsites worked well as a base for Paklenica and it's hard to complain about the combination: hiking in the Velebit mountains during the day and a swim in the Adriatic Sea when you get back.

Our tip: If you live in Starigrad, you don't have to choose between mountains and sea. The national park is right behind the town and the Adriatic Sea in front – and that contrast is a big part of Paklenica's charm.

Our best advice for Paklenica

• Start the hike early. During the summer, Velika Paklenica can get hot quickly. We started at 8am and it was already hot, so on really hot summer days we would like to start even earlier. Check the park's current opening hours before your visit if you are planning an early morning start.
• Bring plenty of water. There is a lot of uphill walking and the sun can be strong, especially during the summer. We took several water breaks along the way and would not have done the hike without plenty of water.
• Wear good shoes. Even if you choose one of the easier hikes, the trail goes over rocky and uneven terrain. Wear a good pair of hiking boots or sturdy shoes.
• Choose a hike according to your own fitness level. You don't have to reach a mountain peak to experience Paklenica. The hike through Velika Paklenica itself offers high cliffs, streams and dramatic nature – and you can decide for yourself when it's time to turn back.
• Check the weather before you set off. The weather in the Velebit Mountains can change and for longer hikes it is extra important to check the forecast and choose a tour according to the conditions.
• Plan Manita peć in advance. If you want to visit the cave, you need to take into account both the hike there and the limited opening hours. Do not start walking towards the cave without first checking that it is open.
• Take the time to look up. Paklenica is not just a hiking trail to be completed. Stop occasionally, look up at the cliff walls and look for the climbers high above you. Only then will you truly understand the dimensions of the canyon.

FAQ – frequently asked questions about Paklenica

How much time do you need in Paklenica?

For a first visit, we would set aside at least half a day, so that you have time to hike through Velika Paklenica without stress. If you want to continue further up the mountains or combine the hike with Manita peć, a full day is a better option. For those who want to do longer mountain hikes, there are trails that are enough for several days.

When is the best time to visit Paklenica?

Spring and autumn are good times for hiking with more pleasant temperatures, but Paklenica can be visited all year round via the entrance to Velika Paklenica. During the summer we recommend starting the hike as early as possible to avoid the strongest heat. We started at 8am in June and it was already hot.

Can you visit Paklenica with children?

Yes. For families with children it is Velika Paklenica the best choice and the national park also recommends Entrance 1 for families with children. The distance you hike can be adjusted according to the age and strength of the children. Mala Paklenica, on the other hand, is significantly more demanding and is only recommended for experienced hikers. 

Do you have to be an experienced hiker to visit Paklenica?

No. You don't have to climb the highest peaks of Velebit to experience Paklenica. For a first visit, you can hike in through Velika Paklenica and decide for yourself how far you want to continue before turning around. However, the longer mountain trails and Mala Paklenica require more experience and better preparation. 

How much does it cost to visit Paklenica?

The entrance fee varies depending on the season and type of ticket. There are both single-day and multi-day tickets, while Manita peć and the Underground Secrets of Paklenica visitor center have separate fees. Children up to 6 years old enter for free, and tickets purchased online through Parks of Croatia currently have a 5 percent discount. 

If you come to Velika Paklenica by car or camper, you will also pay a separate vehicle fee to enter the national park. Tickets and vehicle tickets can be purchased at the reception at Entrance 1.

Things to see and do around Paklenica National Park

We really liked this area - super nice with both mountains and sea, and not too crowded with tourists either. If you want to see more in the neighbourhood, here are some suggestions:

• The beautiful island of Pag
• The historic city of Zadar
• Kungastaden Nin
• Holiday resorts Pakoštane and Biograd
• Krka National Park
• Plitvice Lakes National Park

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