They say that the view of the sunrise in the summer dawn from the island of Ugljan to the mythical mountain Velebit is one of the most beautiful in Dalmatia.
The value and beauty of the Velebit nature has long been recognized. As part of the UNESCO program Man and Biosphere, Mount Velebit was included into the network of world reserves of the biosphere (1978). Three years later the whole Velebit becomes a park of nature. There are even two national parks within it – in the south is Paklenica National Park, and in the north is North Velebit National Park.
Due to its unique natural base, magnificent forests, the area of Velika and Mala Paklenica was declared a national park in 1949. The main reason for declaring this area a national park was to protect the most preserved and largest forest complex in Dalmatia.
Paklenica National Park covers an area of 95 km², on the slopes of southern Velebit, with its highest peaks – Vaganski vrh (1757m) and Sveto brdo (1753m). It covers the area of Velika and Mala Paklenica and their recognizable canyons vertically incised into the southern slopes of Velebit.
Hiking is the only way to really get to know Paklenica. There are 150-200 km of trails and paths in the Park from the canyon of Velika Paklenica to the cave of “Manita peć”, forest lodge “Lugarnice” and mountain hut, to the highest peaks of Velebit.
Paklenica National Park is the most important Croatian climbing center, well known beyond the borders of Croatia. Paklenica Riviera is an ideal place for a combination of climbing and water sports. Today there are about 500 equipped and arranged directions of different weights and lengths on the Paklenica climbing site, so any climber can find something to enjoy.