Crni Vrh

About Routes

Crni Vrh group is encircled with marked paths which come from several direction but only highest peak Crni Vrh (1110m) is reached by marked or path in general. This short branch which leads to the summit of Crni Vrh can be approached from 6 directions! All of them finally melt into 2 main access paths, one coming from NW (Paklenica hut direction), the other from SE (Veliko Mocilo direction).

~ From Paklenica hut 3 access direction are possible. 1st leads via Malo Mocilo, 2nd via Klimenta ridge but joins 1st before summit. 3rd leads through upper Velika Paklenica valley partially using Velika Paklenica route towards Sveto Brdo (Paklenica hut – Ivine Vodice section) and branches at half way point towards Veliko Mocilo where joins Ivine Vodice & Jurline variations.

~ From Velika Paklenica canyon 2 variations are possible. Both are joint till Jurline hamlet where 1st branches towards Malo Mocilo and joins there 1st Paklenica hut. 2nd leads from Jurline hamlet towards Crni Vrh via Veliko Mocilo where is joined by 3rd Paklenica hut & Ivine Vodice variations.

~ From Ivine Vodice access is also possible but this will not be described. For section between Veliko Mocilo and Ivine Vodice refuge see Mala Paklenica route & Velika Paklenica route towards Sveto Brdo. From Veliko Mocilo till summit see Velika Paklenica – Jurline – Veliko Mocilo – Crni Vrh section below.

Velika Paklenica – Jurline hamlet – Veliko Mocilo – Crni Vrh: 3h

This route branches from main Starigrad Paklenica – Paklenica hut route some 35-40mins from the parking in Velika Paklenica. If you are starting from there add that time to stated 3h. Description till junction see on Vidakov Kuk routes page or on the link above.

At the junction on the main path through Velika Paklenica sign points right towards Mala Paklenica. Soon you’ll reach creek crossing which is done over the larger rocks which were thrown in it. This can be little tricky when water is high. It is good to have walking poles to keep balance. Sometimes the only way it to take off your shoes and walk through water.

Ascent begins immediately on the other side. In 60 major 180° turns and numerous smaller ones path zigzags up 350m high side of the valley, aiming for the pass between Krivi Kuk cliff on the left and huge Jurasova Glava (754m) on the right. Till the pass (600m) you need between 50mins-1h. Just left of the path is nice rocky observation deck with beautiful view down into the valley and cliffs on the opposite side. On the pass is junction where is left towards Skiljici hamlet & Malo Mocilo while you continue straight.

After 10mins you get to Jurline hamlet and pass left by well preserved house with a well. In summer sometimes horses are held here. Just behind the house is junction where left path leads again towards Skiljici hamlet & Malo Mocilo.

Continue straight across the meadows. Soon path becomes rocky and gradual ascent begins and in 5-10mins you reach long complex of meadows which are on the small plateau below the rocky slopes of wide Borovnik (1056m). Here path takes right (SE) direction and leads over the meadows or through pine groves 20mins till Lekine Njive (meadow) junction, 1.30h from Paklenica valley or 2.10h from parking. Here from left approaches Mala Paklenica route. Turn left towards Velika Mocila & Ivine Vodice as sign points.

Here opens beautiful view into Mala Paklenica valley (canyon is lower and cannot be seen). On the other side of the valley is mighty Jerkovac (1250m) and sharp Vlaski Grad (1375m) behind it. Further back is Sveto Brdo (1757m). Path ascends some 10mins to the rocky panoramic shoulder. Behind it is another 20mins through beautiful pine groves till junction at the edge of Veliko Mocilo. Sign points right towards Ivine Vodice. From that direction will come those that are heading towards Crni Vrh from Ivine Vodice or Vlaski Grad refuges. Turn left towards Veliko Mocilo.

It takes some 10mins of going at the edge of meadows and through pine groves till the water source on the other side of Veliko Mocilo. In times when people were using Veliko Mocilo as summer pasture it was large complex of meadows. Since then pine is spreading gradually and meadows are retreating. Just behind the source is junction where right path leads over Greblje pass and descents in upper Velika Paklenica valley. This way 3rd Paklenica hut variation approaches (sign says ‘Planinarski Dom’ which means mountain hut).

Our path towards Crni Vrh begins to ascend, at first gradually through pine forest but soon gets steeper. After 25-30mins you’ll reach shoulder below Crni Vrh where terrain flattens. It is few more minutes till the junction below the peak. Straight leads path which later branches in 1st and 2nd Paklenica hut variations and Malo Mocilo variation of this route.

Left begins steep ascent, which first leads to the pass below summit then last very steep summit ascent through pines till you get out on clear summit head, 10mins from the junction below.

Velika Paklenica – Skiljici hamlet – Malo Mocilo – Crni Vrh: 2.50h

Till the junction on the pass (600m) at the edge of Velika Paklenica valley see the route above. Turn left here towards Skiljici hamlet. It takes 10mins to get there over rocky plateau. In Skiljici there is a junction in front of the house where right branch leads towards Jurline hamlet & Veliko Mocilo.

Our path takes left direction and gradually ascends over rocky plateau, between oaks and hornbeams. In some 15mins you’ll reach rocky shoulder which descends from Borovnik (1020m) towards edge of Velika Paklenica on the left. Here opens beautiful view towards the valley, sea through the canyon and sharp Veliki Golic (1265m) on the other side of the valley.

In next 15mins path traverses slopes above the Velika Paklenica valley heading for small valley between Orlov Kuk (862m) on the left and Borovnik on the right. Through it ascends additional 15mins till the Malo Mocilo meadows and junction, almost or 2h from the valley and 2.40 from parking in Paklenica.

First left branch leads to Velika Paklenica valley via Donja Draga and joins main route in the valley some 20mins before Paklenica hut. Second left branch leads directly to Paklenica hut. From that direction comes 1st Paklenica hut route and for further going towards Crni Vrh, which is towards right, see description of that route below.

Paklenica hut – Malo Mocilo – Crni Vrh: 2h

From Paklenica hut go back over double bridge and then left uphill shortly till the junction where straight main path continues towards upper Velika Paklenica, Ivine Vodice refuge & Sveto Brdo (1751m). Turn right in Crni Vrh direction. Path ascends some 5mins in several sharp bends till the junction where it branches left towards Crni Vrh via Klimenta while right is Crni Vrh via Malo Mocilo.

Behind the junction is short flat section, then path ascends quite steeply left of rocky fence above which turns right and traverses slope before final few turns till the panoramic rocky shoulder, 10-15mins from junction. From here beautiful view opens down the steep slope into Paklenica valley and peaks around. Above Suha Draga, side valley of Velika Paklenica, is huge Veliki Golic (1265m). Behind are Viserujna (1632m), Rapavac (1617m) and Crljeni Kuk (1661m).

Behind this spot path turns left and enters Gornja Draga, side valley of Velika Paklenica which ascends all the way to the foot of Crni Vrh. Path traverses its left slopes, quite high above the rising bottom, and gradually ascending. After some 25mins path reaches the bottom of the rising valley, crosses over it and begins very steep ascent up the right side of the valley. After 15mins you reach the edge of the valley behind which is Malo Mocilo meadows and junction. Straight branch leads towards Skiljici and Jurline hamlets and Velika Paklenica canyon so from this direction approaches Velika Paklenica route via Malo Mocilo. Right branch descends to Velika Paklenica valley via Donja Draga. Our is left branch which leads towards Crni Vrh.

Path continues to ascend through tunnel cut through dense pines, later through mixed beech/pine forest, above right side of the valley. After 20mins path reaches the bottom of the rising valley again and makes a 180° left turn taking opposite direction and gradually ascending up the other side of the valley. 15mins later there is another 180° right turn where path leaves Gornja Draga valley and enters parallel one, which is shallow. Through it ascent continues and in 5mins you reach junction, 40mins from Malo Mocilo. Here from left approaches Klimenta variation.

Joint path continues gradually to ascent through shallow rising valley under nice beeches and pines. Occasionally there is view left through the trees towards upper Velika Paklenica valley and peaks above it. After 15mins comes the junction below Crni Vrh where straight is towards Veliko Mocilo. All Crni Vrh routes join at this point.

Right begins steep ascent, which first leads to the pass below summit then last very steep summit ascent through beautiful pines till you get out on clear summit head, 10-15mins from the junction below.

Paklenica hut – Klimenta – Crni Vrh: 1.50h

From Paklenica hut go back over double bridge and then left uphill shortly till the junction where straight main path continues towards upper Velika Paklenica, Ivine Vodice refuge & Sveto Brdo (1751m). Turn right in Crni Vrh direction. Path ascends some 5mins in several sharp bends till the junction where it branches left towards Crni Vrh via Klimenta while right is Crni Vrh via Malo Mocilo.

Path continues to ascent quite steeply up the steep side of Crni Vrh group, which closes upper Velika Paklenica valley from the south. It winds through beeches and pines some 15mins where it begins to traverse the slope, ascending more gently. In next 30mins path takes you far towards SE avoiding Kuk od Rujica (961) cliffs which are above in the Klimenta ridge. Once behind it path turns right and begins to ascent steeply towards the ridge which you reach after some 15-20mins over nice grassy pass.

Few minutes behind the pass is a junction where from right approaches Paklenica hut – Malo Mocilo variation.

Joint path continues gradually to ascent through shallow rising valley under nice beeches and pines. Occasionally there is view left through the trees towards upper Velika Paklenica valley and peaks above it. After 15mins comes the junction below Crni Vrh where straight is towards Veliko Mocilo. All Crni Vrh routes join at this point.

Right begins steep ascent, which first leads to the pass below summit then last very steep summit ascent through beautiful pines till you get out on clear summit head, 10-15mins from the junction below.