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Via Dinarica HR-W-16 Southern Velebit (III) – route to Struge

Select · 9 reviews · Mountain tour · Dalmatia

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Via Dinarica

Badanj iznad Struga
Photo: Alan Čaplar, Via Dinarica

Laurie .
on the August 01, 2022

Lovely section. Great water source (well with bucket) and ...

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The area between Visočica and the peaks above Paklenica is not characterized by high peaks, and the key hiking destinations are oriented to the coastal side of the mountain. This is karst terrain, with an interesting series of several spacious karst valleys with virgin forests and large fields where the locals kept their livestock during the summer period until the second half of the 20th century.

moderate

Distance 17.9 km

10:00 h

1,101 m

558 m

1,411 m

744 m

In this large karst area, particularly beautiful is the wider area around the karst valley of Stap, with the mountain shelter Tatekova koliba. Right above Stap, we come across kamen Čučavac – a stone that represents a genuine miracle of static stability – and the rocky peak Debeli kuk. South of Stap, one prominent peak is Stapina. With its unique and recognizable shape, it attracts the attention of observers from far away, resembling an impressive natural skyscraper from up close. The so-called Kamena galerija (Stone Gallery) in the area is a very picturesque phenomenon, resembling a labyrinth of rocks. This is where Slavko Tomerlin, better known as Tatek – a renowned mountaineer from Zadar – prepared a demanding but very attractive loop trail for hiking through the rocks.

The section of Via Dinarica from Stap to Struge overlaps with the route of the Velebit Hiking Trail, so orientation is not difficult. From the karst valley of Stap, the route first ascends to the base of the picturesque rocky peak of Stapina. Behind it, to the left, there is a trail branch leading from the Velebit Hiking Trail to the Stone Gallery. This magnificent rocky labyrinth can be visited along an attractive but demanding hiking trail in the shape of number eight. The Velebit Hiking Trail continues southwards, to the wide plateau of Malo Rujno, and then also to the plateau of Veliko Rujno with a chapel in the middle of the plateau. From the edge of Veliko Rujno, the trail starts ascending through the forest towards the pass of Buljma and towards the plateau of Struge, where there is a mountain shelter of Zadar mountaineers. It takes 7 to 8 hours of hiking to pass the section from Stap to Struge.

Author

Alan Čaplar

Update: August 03, 2016

Difficulty

moderate

Technique

Stamina

Landscape

Risk potential

Highest point

1,411 m

Lowest point

744 m

Best time of year

Jan

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Start

Mountain hut Tatekova koliba na Stapu (867 m)

Coordinates:

44.408403, 15.318818

DMS

44°24'30.3"N 15°19'07.7"E

UTM

33T 525384 4917284

w3w

///restarts.oysters.trickle

Destination

Mountain hut Struge

Coordinates

44.408403, 15.318818

DMS

44°24'30.3"N 15°19'07.7"E

UTM

33T 525384 4917284

w3w

///restarts.oysters.trickle

Arrival by train, car, foot or bike

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Questions and answers

Question from Axel Lénárd · March 29, 2020 · Community

Hi All, I am a planning a trip with 8 person on this route and I am a little bit afraid that Stap - Struge part would be a little bit too long in one day for our group. Could you please help if there is any hut/shelter in Veliko Rujno? Many Thanks, Axel

Answered by Matthias Umpfenbach · March 29, 2020 · Community

Hi Axel, as I remember there was no hut in Veliko Rujno. All the cottages hereabout seem to be private. At the church is a cistern with water. If you have tents it’s possible to pitch it around there. We came from Struge down to Veliko Rujno. On that way there was a sign somewhere here (44.3637400,15.4587300) witch point to Ivančev dom alpin hut (detour 1h20m) (fon +385 98 937 8577) https://goo.gl/maps/ybWATLtnwTkw67B18 There is also Paklenica Hut (fon: +385 23 301 636) https://g.page/paklenica-hut?share Both huts are not on your way to struge :( From Malo Rujno (44.3724200,15.3872400) is a way to Planinarsko Sklonište Zavrata. Take a look over there: https://goo.gl/maps/pXf2Yu23KWNsxaKu5 By the way: The Cistern at Struge was filled with ugly water. You will find a cistern with good water 1km away here (44.3800776,15.4762081,101 Ličko-senjska županija) All the best for you trip We liked it Matthias with Linus

1 more reply

Rating

4.6

(9)

Laurie .

August 01, 2022 · Community

Lovely section. Great water source (well with bucket) and potential for camping at Velika Gospa. From there a pretty epic but nice climb to Struge Hut. stayed there overnight and met some lovely Croatians. Hut a little dirty and had some rodents but was fine for us - just keep your food somewhere it can't be eaten!! No water there but 29 minutes up the track is again a great well which is full with lovely fresh water - enjoy. Route well marked and although steep towards the hut is very manageable. Enjoy!

When did you do this route? July 20, 2022

Comment

Marion Du

May 21, 2022 · Community

Funny climb in Galeria. Very nice trail to Struge but difficult at the with the Bura, strongest wind I met in the moutain. We took water at the source on the way up, but there is also water 15mn after Struge hut. We loved this old wooden hut. There are several peaks to climb around.

Comment

Sven Nit

August 26, 2021 · Community

Beautiful and well marked. Struge seems to be clean again. Locals slept there, I camped because it was so full.

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+ 3

Reviews

Difficulty

moderate

Distance

17.9 km

Duration

10:00 h

Ascent

1,101 m

Descent

558 m

Highest point

1,411 m

Lowest point

744 m

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