Bilušića buk is the first of seven waterfalls along the Krka River. This place is beautifully wedged in a canyon at 214 meters above sea level about 9 km from Knin. The appearance of the waterfall and the stream has changed on four occasions when dynamite was used to prevent flooding of the fertile fields of Knin (1834, 1895, 1953 and 1954).
Bilušića waterfall requires that you are in reasonably good shape and on your feet as the trails can be quite steep. The trail from the parking to the waterfall is about 400 meters. From Skradin it takes around 45 minutes by car.
This excursion is perfect to combine with the archaeological site Burnum and the waterfalls of Manojlovac and Brljan as they are all located within 10 km from each other.
Pack yourself a nice lunch bag, lots of water and good shoes and you will have a great half-day experience.
The most powerful waterfall of Krka National Park is Manojlovac slap, its cascades are over 60 meter high. From the parking place you can go the 750-meter trail down to the waterfall and/or the 450-meter trail to the viewpoint. If you are adventurous, follow the trail thru the old ruins and discover hidden gems. Please respect that you are not allowed to swim in these falls!
Manojlovac waterfall requires that you are in reasonably good shape and on your feet as the trails can be quite steep. From Skradin it takes around 45 minutes by car.
This excursion is perfect to combine with the archaeological site Burnum, Bilušića buk and Brljan waterfall as they are all located within 10 km from each other.
Pack yourself a nice lunch bag, lots of water and good shoes and you will have a great half-day experience.
Still to be explored byColovic, please visit Brljan :: Javna ustanova „Nacionalni park Krka“ (np-krka.hr) for more information.
(Pic from NP Krka website)
Still to be explored byColovic.
Rošnjak is thesmallest of NP Krka's waterfalls. Due to its simplicity and inaccessibility (no organized hiking trails) it is called by the locals as the "altar". It is about 40 meters wide, only 8.4 meters high and it is squeezed between almost 200 meters high cliffs. During the summer months, the water level is usually low, so spring is the best time of the year to view this pristine place.
(Pic from NP Krka website)
Closed to the public.
Miljacka slap is located next to the Miljacka hydroelectric plant on the western shore of Krka River.
Its 24-meter-high waterfall is a joy to watch but unfortunately, the only way to see it is from the hydroelectric plant, which in turn is closed to the public. So, why are we writing about this then?
Well, about a hundred meters downstream from the waterfall, on the right bank of the river is the cave Miljacka II which is home to many endemics and protected underground animals. Among the species that stands out the most from the crowd is the olm. The cave also houses one of Europe's largest colonies of over 4000 individuals of the long-fingered bat. Even though we don’t get the opportunity to see them or Miljacka Slap, we are happy to have them as our neighbours.
(Pic from NP Krka website)
Whether you choose to get here by boat from Skradinski buk or by one of the roads, you will be captivated by the mighty scenery that frames Roški slap.
Interspersed between high, barren, inland ice-shaped limestone cliffs, we find this oasis of green vegetation and countless streams that all culminate in Roški slap.
Although the waterfalls are beautiful in themselves, they, in some way play the supporting role in this majestic environment.
You are certainly reminded of how small you are while walking along the path that takes you around the streams below the steep cliffs. If you want a bit of a challenge, you can climb the wooden stairs along one side of the cliff all the way to the top to be mesmerized by the amazing views. On your way up don’t forget to visit the cave in which it is found that people lived in for around 8000 (!) years ago.
We also recommend you a visit to one of the old mills that today function as restaurants. Have some refreshments or enjoy a delicious lunch including locally produced groceries.
Roški slap is the National Park's second most visited place. For us this is easily understood.
There are a couple of different routes by car which takes from 30 – 50 minutes.
You can also take an organized boat trip from the top of Skradinski buk via the island of Visovac (this trip cost extra).
Located just under 5 km from the town of Skradin, you can easily reach this beautiful place either by boat ride of 20 minutes or use the hiking trail by bike (20 min) or on foot (50 min). If you use the entrance from Lozovac, you can walk the trail (875 m) down to the waterfall or take one of the NP Krka’s shuttle buses.
Skradinski buk is the seventh and last waterfall along the Krka River. It spreads over 17 levels with a fall height of just over 45 meters and seen from below, it’s a real eyecatcher with its cascades that flows into a beautiful small lake framed by the surrounding nature. But it is only when you have walked around the whole area with all the streams, rapids, small lakes interspersed into the lush greenery that you get a good overview of this place.
Along the entire park, there are informative signs where the curious can soak up a lot of new knowledge about everything from the local bird life to Nikola Tesla's "heritage" in the form of the hydropower plant that still operates today. If we add all the small museums, cafes, ice cream stands and restaurants, we can easily spend a whole day in Skradinski Buk. Read more here -> https://www.np-krka.hr/stranice/skradinski-buk/78/en.html
You can not take the car all the way to Skradinski buk. Park in Lozovac entrance or at the city parking in Skradin.
Go Explore - the fortress of Kamičak.
On NP-Krka's website, you can read that it was originally the Croatian-Hungarian king Ludovik Ivan Nelipić who held the right of inheritance to the fort, which according to found documents goes back to the year 1345.
The fort subsequently lost its importance during the Turkish occupation of the area and was abandoned.
We started our hike from Roški slap and followed the trail for 3,5 kilometres to the fort. The trail is various between gravel, stone and wood, quite steep at some points but manageable.
Kamičak is located on the left bank of River Krka between Roški slap and Lake Visovac.
Read more here -> https://www.npkrka.hr/en_US/kulturna-bastina/srednjovjekovne-utvrde/kamicak/
October is perfect the perfect time of year for hiking and explore Croatia and Skradin surroundings by foot or by bike. Yesterday we followed one of the NP Krka's trails to see the medieval fortress of Trošenj. The trail is 6.80 km one way and starts from the reception area for the Krka monastery. During the hike you will see beautiful landscape, views and various species from the animal kingdom.
Once you reach the fortress you will be met by outstanding scenery.
The fortress is believed to have been built sometime in the 14th century to control and defend the strategically important bridge that crossed the river.
The fort belonged to one of the twelve noble tribes in Croatia during this period, the Šubić family who, according to history, ruled the entire right bank of the Krka River. In 1522, the Turkish army occupied the fort until the Venetian army deposed the Turks in 1686 and large parts of the fort were destroyed.
Looking to the opposite side of the river you can see Nečven, one of the other fortresses located in the National Park.
The trail is most part gravel road and very levelled. It is marked to some extent but I would highly recommend that you download the trail in advance and follow it by GPS because it is very easy to take a wrong turn in some locations. For our group of four it took us about 3 hours back and forth. Pack a lunch bag, water and enjoy at the picnic table by the fort.
Sources: https://www.npkrka.hr/.../pjesacka-staza-trosenj-pistavac/
https://www.np-krka.hr/stranice/trosenj-(cucevo)/104/en.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%A0ubi%C4%87_family
Still to be explored byColovic
Opposite the Trošenj ruin, on a rocky ledge high above the left bank of the river Krka, you will find what remains of the Nečven fort. The fort was probably built sometime during the 14th century.
Over the years, the fort was owned by two Croatian families, Nelipić until 1421 and then Martinušić until the beginning of the 16th century.
The fort was subsequently captured by the Turks who used it as an administrative centre for the Ottoman Empire. The fort was burned down around 1688 after the Venetians took over.
Sources: https://www.np-krka.hr/stranice/necven/103/en.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ne%C4%8Dven
Pic from NP Krka website.
The fortress is located around 40 minutes from Skradin by car and then additionally you have to walk 15 minutes thru thistle covered fields to reach the fortress. We were fortunate enough to find a local who showed us to the right path which we believe is the well-preserved medieval road, because there were no official trails that we could find.
Anyway, as for many of the other excursion we have done, it was definitely worth the effort. The terrain was fairly levelled, it was a rocky road but not at all as steep and demanding as for many other trails. As long as you can walk you can do it. Bring water, and a lunch pack if you like and GoExplore.
Like many other historical buildings, this one is also surrounded by mythical legends. If you like fairy tales, you can read about Prince Bogoj who built the castle for his son and future wife, and as it should be in legends, there are also dragons involved😊 .
Bogočin whose remains rise above the high cliffs that surround the Krka River is located just over three kilometres south of Nečven. This fort was also conquered by the Turks during the 16th century, who held it until the 1680s.
It is not known exactly when Bogočin was built but one believes it was around 13th or 14th century by the Croatian noble family Nelipić, and then taken over by the Martinušić family. This seems reasonable considering that these families also ruled over Nečven a little to the north.
On NP Krka's website you can read that a single, excellently preserved medieval road leads to Bogočin, and the fortress could only be reached via a drawbridge.
Sources: https://www.npkrka.hr/en_US/kulturna-bastina/srednjovjekovne-utvrde/bogocin-vilin-grad/
https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogo%C4%8Din_v%C3%A1ra
Go Explore - the fortress of Ključica.
It was not a long way to walk from where we parked to the fortress but it was not one of the easiest trails we’ve done. The path was quite narrow and steep and the gravel stone was not very supportive at all times, so you need to be attentive on where you put your feet.
For us it was well worth the visit though!
The fortress was built in the 13th century by the noble Nelipić family, who also ruled over other forts in the area. The fortress's strategic location above the Čikola River was a recurring cause of conflicts between rivalling families in the region.
After the Turks were expelled in the mid-17th century, the fortress has remained uninhabited.
More pics available on our FB page “byColovic”
Sources: https://npkrka.hr/stranice/kljucica/100/en.html
In Burnum, archaeologists have unearthed a Roman legionary camp and amphitheatre with room for thousands of spectators. Given the beautiful location, the Romans must have had good taste. Close by there is also the Roman command building, or what’s left of it., Burnum principium, (the M sign).
This excursion is perfect to combine with the waterfalls of Manojlovac, Bilušića buk and Brljan as they are all located within 10 km from each other.
Burnum Amphitheatre and Burnum principium is situated on relatively flat ground and easy to access.
Burnum is located near Kistanje and it takes around 45 minutes by car to get here.
You can read more on NP Krka website, https://www.np-krka.hr/
This is an orthodox monastery and it was first known to be mentioned in the 15th century. When we were there in April 2022 one of NP Krka guides was kind enough to show us around the monastery, including the old catacombs and beautifully decorated church. There is also a trail you can take in the surroundings.
Please check opening hours before hand.
The monastery is located near Kistanje and from Skradin it takes around 35 minutes by car to get here depending on route.
You can read more at NP Krka website: https://np-krka.hr/stranice/manastir-krka/19.html
The round lake Torak is located about 17 km from Skradin. It takes ca 20 minutes by car. This picture is taken from the viewpoint which is also a good place to park your car here. There are also picnic tables but there are no coffee or food stands here so you need to bring your own picnic or refreshments. But you get to enjoy it looking out over this beautiful landscape. Then if you want to get down to the lake you have to take a rather steep trail which is not adapted for the disabled. I believe it took us around 20-30 minutes down and a little more than that back up again😊 .
If you feel to continue you can walk the trail a bit further and you will be able to see the best-preserved fortress in the national park Krka, the Ključica Fortress. But only from a distance. For us it took a good three hours from the viewpoint down to the lake, walk the trail to see the fortress and then back again. We are not fit, but fairly fit people. Anyway, we believed the surroundings to be mesmerizing.
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