Solunska Glava
2,540 m
North Macedonia
Also known as Якубица, Soluňská Glava, +6Also known as
Якубица · Soluňská Glava · Jakupica · Γιακούπιτσα · Yakoupitsa · იაკუბიცა · Солунска Глава · Якупица
- Elevation
- 2,540 m
- Prominence
- 1,674 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jun–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1The southern normal route and the most scenic approach: from the trout farm at Nežilovo in the Babuna valley through beech forest to the Čepleš hut (about 1,410–1,445 m), then up past the two Babina Dupka hollows below the great east face to the ridge and the fenced military installation on the summit. About 12.5 km and 1,850 m of ascent; usually two days.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 11.1 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,877 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,540 m
- Time Up
- 7h 41m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 5h 13m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Drive from Veles to Bogomila (about 43 km) and on 7 km of asphalt to Nežilovo in the upper Babuna valley; the trail starts at the trout farm and fish restaurant (park a little away from it at weekends). A direct marked path of about 5 km (about 2½ hours, 700 m of ascent) climbs beside the stream and through beech forest to the Čepleš hut, run by the Solunska Glava mountaineering club of Veles; a longer 11 km dirt road via the Babuna springs is the alternative, and high-clearance vehicles can drive up. Logging roads can lead you astray, so carry a GPS track. From the hut (about 4 hours, 7.5 km, 1,180 m of ascent) the path climbs through ferns and dense beech forest, where it splits into summer and winter variants because of avalanche danger at Babina Dupka. Refill water at the spring where the forest ends; the steep climb starts there, past Dolna Babina Dupka (about 1,680 m) and Gorna Babina Dupka (about 2,100 m) below the 1,000 m east face, to the ridge, which is followed to the summit. The top is occupied by a fenced government/military installation with a tower and weather station; the path runs narrowly beside the fence, and the last section is steep rock that becomes slippery when wet or snowy. Older reports say the very highest point cannot be entered, though staff have been known to stamp hikers' books. Allow about 8 hours for the round trip from the hut; start early and aim to be on top by midday.
Start
Nežilovo682 m
- Train on the Skopje–Bitola line to Bogomila, then 7 km on foot or by taxi to Nežilovo
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nežilovo → Čepleš | 4.2 | 738 | 8 | 3h |
| 2 | Čepleš → Solunska Glava | 6.9 | 1,134 | 13 | 4h 40m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Nežilovo682 m
Trail starts at the fish restaurant; paved road from Bogomila
- Hut: Čepleš1,412 m
Elevation quoted as 1,410–1,445 m
- Summit: Solunska Glava2,540 m
Fenced military/government installation on the top
Key Passages
- Steep climb from the forest edge past Babina Dupka
- Narrow path beside the summit fence and final steep rock section
Equipment
0/7 packedDownloads
Route confidence 65%Overview
Solunska Glava (2,540 m), the ultra-prominent high point of the Jakupica (Mokra) range in central North Macedonia. A long but non-technical climb from the Babuna valley through beech forest and past a 1,000 m limestone east face to a summit occupied by a fenced military installation.
The Jakupica range, also called Mokra, fills the country between Skopje, Veles and the Prilep plain in central North Macedonia. Its highest point, Solunska Glava ('head of Thessaloniki', from which the city is said to be visible on the clearest days), rises where three ridges meet: Karadžica to the north-west, Dautica to the south and the Jakupica crest to the south-east. With a prominence of about 1,670 m it is one of Europe's ultra-prominent peaks.
The mountain has two characters. To the west, north and south, slopes of sparse grass and rock rise steeply above a high grassy plateau. To the east, a vast amphitheatre climbs almost 2,000 m above the Babuna valley, its upper part a near-vertical white limestone face about 1,000 m high, above dense beech, spruce and fir forests where the Babuna river rises. Golden eagles, alpine choughs and wallcreepers nest in the range, part of which is an Important Bird Area; national-park status has long been proposed but not enacted.
The summit itself is fenced off by a military installation with a tower and weather station, so hikers reach the area just below the highest point. The southern approach from Nežilovo via the Čepleš hut is the most varied and passes directly below the east face; the northern approach from Aldinci near Skopje is a long climb up open slopes.
Climbing Notes
A demanding but non-technical hike (estimated T3): about 1,850 m of ascent from Nežilovo, with a steep final climb and a narrow path along the summit fence. Most parties take two days, sleeping at the Čepleš hut (about 2½ hours from Nežilovo) and doing the summit and back (about 8 hours) next day; fast, fit hikers do it in one long day by driving the rough road to the hut. Contact the club a few days in advance to stay at the hut, and bring your own food.
Carry a GPS track (logging roads and path splits in the forest) and enough water from the spring at the forest edge. The path divides into summer and winter variants because of avalanche danger at Babina Dupka; snow lies on the upper mountain from late autumn into spring, and the final rock is slippery in rain or snow. Start early to be on the summit by midday. The northern approach from Aldinci (about 2 hours to the Karadžica hut and 5 more to the summit) suits those based in Skopje.
History
No record of a first ascent was found; the range has long been grazed by shepherds. The military installation on the summit is reached by a 4x4 road from the north. The Čepleš hut on the southern approach is run by the Solunska Glava mountaineering club of Veles.
Season
Best Jun–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Possible
- May: Possible
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Snow; avalanche danger at Babina Dupka
- Feb
- Snow; avalanche danger
- Mar
- Winter conditions
- Apr
- Snow on the upper mountain; use the winter path variant
- May
- Late snow on the ridge
- Jun
- Good conditions; long days
- Jul
- Best season; hot in the valley, start early
- Aug
- Best season; afternoon storms possible
- Sep
- Stable weather
- Oct
- Autumn beech colours; first snow possible
- Nov
- Early winter; slippery rock
- Dec
- Winter
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Čepleš hut (PSK Solunska Glava, Veles): contact the club a couple of days before arrival; opening is mainly at weekends and in summer according to older sources, and the hut has been found fully booked.
- Fees
- Overnight fee at the Čepleš hut (amount not confirmed)
- Rules
- The summit is a fenced military/government installation; keep to the path along the fence and follow any instructions from personnel
- Getting There
Veles
Skopje International Airport (SKP)
- By car: Skopje – Veles (49 km) – Bogomila (43 km) – Nežilovo (7 km, paved); rough dirt road on to the Čepleš hut, not suitable for low cars
- By train: Skopje–Bitola line to Bogomila, then 7 km to Nežilovo
- Northern approach: Skopje – Dračevo – Kolicani – Aldinci (about 35 km paved)
Hazards
- Avalanche
- Weather
- Remoteness
Huts & Shelters
1- 1,410 m
ČeplešHutBooking required
60 beds · Mainly weekends and summer; confirm with the club