RANDONNEES DU BIOGRADSKA GORA

Info: map published in 2002 by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), in collaboration with the International Association of Friends of Nature (on sale in the small store of the national park near the lake), covers the whole of the Bjelasica massif and part of the Komovi massif.

The Biogradska lake tour : pleasant 3.5 km walk. Benches, picnic tables and wooden footbridges in the wetlands where the Biogradska River and its tributaries flow into the lake.

Šiško Lake (1,705 m above sea level) : This relatively easy hike begins at Biogradska Lake. From the lake, take the dirt road behind the wooden cabins. This road zigzags through the forest before reaching the first katun (shepherd's house), Dolovi's, set in the middle of high pastures. Once you reach this katun, continue along the dirt path that climbs a small hill to the right and crosses vast meadows (the path is sometimes overgrown and therefore a little more difficult to discern). The trail then descends slightly and becomes wider again. Continue along this path for a few kilometers and then turn left to the large Šiško Lake. There may be flocks of sheep and therefore sheepdogs (the latter, although impressive, are harmless. They are however excellent guardians and will probably oblige you to make some small detours). Return by the same way. Count about 6 hours of walking (round trip).

The virgin forest: this hike, long and difficult, allows to cross varied landscapes. It starts at the Biogradska lake, along the dirt road that starts behind the wooden chalets. It follows the same path as the hike described above until it reaches Lake Šiško. Instead of turning left towards the lake, continue straight ahead until you reach the foot of Zekova Glava (topped by a radio relay). When you reach the hairpin bend in the road leading up to the relay, the trail gets lost and the navigation becomes more difficult. Basically, you have to follow slightly below the ridge line and then at the height of the katun Goles that you can see on the left, you have to go down in a talweg that, if you have taken the right one, will bring you just upstream of the lake. There is no more marked trail for this last part and it is advised to go there only if you are very experienced and equipped with a compass or if you are accompanied by a local guide. The descent towards the lake, which we do not see, is made in a very uneven ground without real traces (dense vegetation, innumerable tree trunks obliging to incessant acrobatics). But overall, choose your talweg and go down. In the best case, you will find the lake, if not, the river, which you should go down to the lake if you are upstream of it... Count on a full day (10 hours of walking).

Strmenica peak : long hike from Mojkovac to the Strmenica peak (2 122 m), the second highest peak of the Bjelasica massif. Count 10 hours of walking. Some very steep passages and snow generally present on the summit and its slopes until June. This hike is outside the national park, but it offers beautiful views of the park and the Biogradska lake.