Veliko Rujno

Veliko Rujno

Croatia, europe

Length

13.3 km

Elevation

892 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, picture this: You're in Starigrad, a cute little harbor town in northern Dalmatia. Get ready for an adventure because you're about to head up to Veliko Rujno, a ridiculously scenic plateau sitting pretty at almost 3,000 feet!

The road is about 8 miles long and twists its way up with eight seriously sharp hairpin turns. The first half is paved, taking you 4 miles to a parking lot. But don't stop there! The real fun begins as the asphalt turns to gravel and you rumble through another 4 miles inside the stunning Paklenica National Park.

Now, a little heads-up: this road is not for the faint of heart! It's super steep, narrow, and has some serious drop-offs. But the views? Totally worth it. You'll be gazing out at the sparkling Adriatic Sea and catching glimpses of the charming Sveta Bogorodica church along the way. The final stretch gets a little wild with bigger, sharper rocks on the road. Starting at sea level, you'll climb almost 3,000 feet in just over 8 miles, making for an average incline of around 6.7%. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!

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Road Details

Country
Croatia
Continent
europe
Length
13.3 km
Max Elevation
892 m
Difficulty
hard

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