We haven’t been hiking to Bjelolasica mountain for 10 years. Why? We really don’t know. On Saturday we arranged hiking with friends (for a change 😊) but where to go if not the same local hills? Also, we needed to find something suitable for both a child and a dog. By browsing our mountain guide book, Bjelolasica (the highest mountain in Gorski kotar) emerged as an ideal location.
We planned a circular hike of approximately 20 kilometers in length, but with not too big altitude difference (about 900 m). We started from the small village Begovo Razdolje, walked along the forest road and over Vrbovska plain until the entrance to the marked path for the ascent to the summit of Kula (1534 m).
The ascent itself had no special features, except for the amazing beech forest with endless greenery of bear onions in bloom – the forest was beautiful, we really enjoyed walking here.
With the occasional grumbling of a part of our hiking group that we could drive the car to the very top (and neither a child nor a dog complained 😂), we ascended at a slow pace through a slightly steeper forest ground and reached the top ridge of the mountain.
At the ridge we enjoyed the views of mountains Klek, Velebit, Bijele and Samarske, islands of Krk and Cres, mountains Viševica, Bitoraj, Risnjak… and the play of clouds and endless forest around Mrkopalj and Ravna Gora. As it was sunny and warm, we sunbathed, ate, talked and rested for a long time, enjoying beautiful spring atmosphere.
We headed back over the ridge and Mihelčić’s hut towards the Janjčarica hut. At Janjčarica we continued on the path for Begovo Razdolje (across Matić poljana plain).
We walked again through the greenery, this time in the form of spacious meadows of Matić poljana, as well as through the landscapes that followed the forest road back to Begovo Razdolje. In doing so, we hoped that we will not get wet by the rain, given the rain clouds appeared over us fairly quickly.
This could have easily been a bike trip as well, since we walked most of the way on solid white roads. We are definitely coming back – summer is ahead of us and we will surely seek refuge from the summer heat a few more times in the forests of Gorski kotar.
Regardless of the simplicity and beauty of nature, it was almost unbelievable that we spent the whole day in complete solitude, without meeting a single hiker, cyclist or anyone who decided to spend the day on Bjelolasica.
Encouraged by this trip, we were also thinking about how we haven’t been to Bijele and Samarske stijene (protected rock formations nearby) for a really long time. Of course, along the way we were now roughly planning this trip in near future. For now, you can just enjoy the photos of the endless greenery of late spring in Gorski kotar, one of the most beautiful parts of our country.