Central entrance into NP Paklenica - Vaganski vrh

Access to the starting point:
After the Maslenica Bridge, turn off the motorway, which continues towards Dalmatia. Look for the sign for Starigrad Paklenica (approx. 7-8 km from the AC). In this place, look for and follow the brown signs with the inscription NP VELIKA Paklenica (not the first one, this is Mala Paklenica). A road leads to the asphalted parking lot. Entrance to Paklenica NP is charged, last time it cost 40 kuna per person, the car is probably included in this price because we didn't pay for it separately. You are at 90 m above sea level! Surprisingly high, you might say!

Path description:
The start is at the Paklenica NP parking lot, the road ahead is paved and rises in serpentines. All the time we walk under the climbing areas. This part of the route is simply called Klanci. We reach a crossroads where one path leads on towards the Paklenica Mountain Home, the other turns right onto the famous Anića kuk climbing wall. It takes just under an hour to get here.
From the crossroads, follow the trail and the signs for the Paklenica Mountain Lodge. During the way, it is possible to turn off to the Manita peć cave, 45 minutes from the trail. We continue towards the hut. It is quite possible that you will be surprised by a mazga-donkey on the way, which is led by the hut keeper down into the valley to get groceries and supplies and then loaded back up to the hut! The hut is at 480 m, but on arrival my husband and I had the feeling that this was more of a "private" affair, so we turned onwards, towards Ramić, a 5-minute walk away. It was worth it! From Ramiće onwards, there is a classic mountain trail. After ten minutes we see three signs for three possible directions. One is Lipa staza - this is direct, steep, runs in serpentines, first a bit through the forest, then on rubble/scree and is not very recommended for climbing in summer. You can choose between two other routes, the Bukova staza, which goes past the so-called Babina Lake in the upper part, and a third one, the Lipi brig, which reaches the plateau and the Buljma lookout point at 1394 m and the Bivak Struge at 1410 m. This is the one we chose. The path leads through the forest, moderately at first, and then it starts to climb steeper and steeper. There are a few diversions and shortcuts along the way, but the markings are reliable. The part of the Lipi Brig path towards Buljma, called Perina greda, has been demined. Our trail meets the trail leading here from Velika Gospa and from V. Golić and Buljma. Krajni Brig is the junction of these routes. Geographically, this part is called - Bezimenjača. A steeper ascent can be seen earlier, and from here onwards serpentines begin, which can be very annoying in the summer heat. Besides, you can't rule out a mountain biker! I must point out that there is NO water on this route, so you should take enough for a seven-hour tour - one way! The altitude difference here is the same as going from Vrat to Triglav in one day up and back! A well-prepared mountaineer a happy mountaineer! Buljma is a plateau, but it is also the first concrete point from which, if it's not too foggy, you can get your first wide-open view of the coast and the surrounding peaks. It is a very nice place to rest and have a snack. From Buljma onwards, the path leads past the Struga Bivouac, which we passed, around Marasova Gora to Marasovac, which is supposed to be the source of water, but it is almost impossible to get it because of the hot and dry summer. The trail then turns around Marasova Gora and starts climbing again. There is a climb of about 300 metres from 1400 m to 1700 m. In one and a half hours you reach the fork where the path from Lake Babi, which is about 15 minutes away from the fork, leads. From here we see our destination for the first time. It is still about an hour's walk away. From 1700 m we descend to the 1634 m angle, this is a small pass, from which we climb another hill, descend down and in a few turns finally climb to 1757. 5 m (this is the angle on the map!) - Vaganski vrh! At the top we are greeted by a cross and a beautiful view.
We descended the Lipa Staza, the steep one I described at the beginning. We descend the ridge to the south-east, following the markings and signs, which are excellent all the way. There is a short climb at first, then, just when we thought we were out of the way, a fairly fast descent, which will be a particular pleasure for those who like to race on scree. The lower part of the scree is already partly in the forest, so the sunshine will be a little softened by the shade. The path comes out at the three signposts I described at the beginning as directions to Vaganski vrh. From here we have another 10 minutes to a well-deserved refreshment at Ramići and a moderate walk of less than two hours to the parking lot. So, technically speaking, the tour is EASY, but its length makes it very strenuous, not least because you have to carry all your food and drinks with you. In general, start very early, before it starts to get dark - e. g. 4:30 to get out of the worst of the heat before the summit. We had 35 degrees in the middle of September. And we wish you many good experiences!

On the way: Anića kuk (711m), Vaganski vrh (1757m), Babin vrh (1738m), Buljma (1394m), Ramići (520m), Babino jezero (1520m)

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