Paklenica is one of Croatia's most dramatic national parks - a wild canyon cutting deep into the Velebit mountain range, where limestone walls rise more than 700 metres high. It is the country's second-oldest national park, established in 1949, and its ancient beech forests have earned a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

The landscape here is full of contrasts - the raw, rocky canyons of Velika and Mala Paklenica sit alongside rich beech and black pine forests covering about 55% of the park's area. Spring and autumn bring pleasant, cool conditions perfect for hiking, summer heats up the rock walls considerably, and winter can dust the higher reaches of Velebit with snow. The atmosphere is rugged yet stunning - a true paradise for climbers, who flock from spring to autumn to Anića kuk, Croatia's tallest cliff face.

How to get there

• Park entrance from the town of Starigrad — trail through the Velika Paklenica canyon, moderate difficulty
• Alternative route through the Mala Paklenica canyon — quieter and less crowded

Practical information

• Entry to the park requires a paid ticket
• The park contains caves, including Manita peć above the Velika Paklenica canyon
• The park protects the endemic plant Arenaria orbicularis and numerous rare species

The park's name comes from paklina, the resin once extracted from its black pine forests - a fitting nod to the wild history of this remarkable place.