Bijele and Samarske Stijene

The Bijele and Samarske Stijene are a labyrinth of limestone towers, clefts, pits and passages spread over the ridge of the Velika Kapela in Gorski Kotar, so broken that moving through them without the marked routes is genuinely dangerous. Those routes were cut and marked over decades by mountaineering volunteers, using chains and pegs in the harder passages, and they are still maintained the same way. The area was declared a strict nature reserve in 1985, the highest protection category in Croatia, which means staying on marked paths is a legal requirement rather than advice. Lynx and bear live here.

What you'll find

• A labyrinth of limestone towers - clefts, pits and passages across a ridge.
• Hand-cut marked routes - with chains and pegs in hard sections.
• A strict reserve since 1985 - the highest protection level in Croatia.
• Bear and lynx country - the wildlife the reserve protects.

When to go

June to September; snow and fog make it dangerous otherwise. A full day.

What to expect

Leaving the marked routes here is how people get lost and hurt, and it is prohibited. Fog comes down fast and hides the markers. There is no water, no signal in places and no quick rescue. This is for experienced walkers.

Nearby

Bjelolasica is north; Jasenak is the nearest village.