Koritnik
2,393 m
Kosovo, Albania
Also known as Коритник, Κόριτνικ, +2Also known as
Коритник · Κόριτνικ · Maja e Pikëllimës · Mali i Koritnikut
- Elevation
- 2,393 m
- Prominence
- 1,397 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Jun–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: T2 (Hikr.org report (October 2011), seen via search excerpt)
The usual route from the Albanian side: from the village of Zapod (1,198 m) above Kukës, a path crosses meadows, climbs through tall pine forest from about 1,470 m and emerges at about 2,000 m onto open pastures that lead to the broad summit on the Albania–Kosovo border. About 11 km and 1,200 m return, 7–8 hours.
About 100% of this line is approximate (no mapped trail; drawn from the terrain). Check it against a map before relying on it.
Why? 4 check notes
- 100% approximate geometry
- low confidence 0.4
- Zapod → Maja e Pikëllimës: dem (detour, 3.8 km)
- unresolved waypoints: Pine forest, Treeline pastures
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 3.8 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,166 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,393 m
- Time Up
- 4h 22m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 48m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Zapod lies about 20 km from Kukës: follow the road towards Shishtavec and at km 13 turn off for Zapod; the last 7 km are unpaved, and an off-road vehicle or a local van is strongly recommended. The trail starts in the village centre and heads towards meadows about 1.5 km away. After about 2.5 km, at around 1,470 m, the path enters a pine forest with trees up to 20 m tall and climbs through it for almost 2 km. At the upper edge of the forest, around 2,000 m, alpine meadows and pastures take over and lead without technical difficulty up the broad, even limestone slopes to Maja e Pikëllimës, the highest point of the Koritnik ridge, on the border with Kosovo. The views take in Kukës, Gjallica, Korab, Pashtrik and the Sharr Mountains. Descend the same way. There are no huts, and the upper slopes are open and exposed to weather. An alternative approach from Rapçë on the Kosovo side follows a dirt track for about 6.7 km, then climbs north to the ridge at about 8.3 km and follows it about 2 km to the summit (about 10 km and 1,400 m one way, around 7.5 hours per Wikipedia).
Start
Zapod1,223 m
- No regular public transport to Zapod; rare, unscheduled minibuses serve villages around Kukës. Hire a 4×4 or local van in Kukës.
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zapod → Maja e Pikëllimës | 3.8 | 1,166 | 0 | 4h 22m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Zapod1,223 m
- Summit: Maja e Pikëllimës2,393 m
Key Passages
- Pine forest from about 1,470 m
- Open summit pastures above 2,000 m
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 40%Overview
Maja e Pikëllimës ('Sorrow Peak', 2,393 m) is the highest point of the Koritnik ridge on the Albania–Kosovo border above Kukës, a broad limestone mountain with 1,400 m of prominence. A 7–8 hour return hike from the village of Zapod leads through pine forest and high pastures to the top.
Koritnik is a limestone ridge straddling the border between Albania (Kukës municipality) and Kosovo (Dragash municipality), south-east of Kukës. Its highest summit, Maja e Pikëllimës, stands on the border and is the dominant peak of the Kukës area, with around 1,400 m of prominence. The terrain is wide and fairly uniform with no major cliffs on the normal routes, so it is a walk rather than a climb, although a 2011 report mentions a steep rock face on the Albanian side.
The usual ascent starts from Zapod, a village at 1,198 m reached by a rough road from Kukës. The path climbs through pine forest to the treeline at about 2,000 m and then across open pastures to the summit, from where you see Kukës, Gjallica, Korab, Pashtrik and the Sharr range. From Kosovo, a longer route starts at Rapçë.
The Albanian side lies in Korab-Koritnik Nature Park (established 2011, 555 km²), home to brown bears, wolves, Balkan lynx and chamois. Facilities are minimal: there are no huts, public transport is very limited, and the last kilometres to the trailhead need a 4×4.
Climbing Notes
A long but non-technical hike: fitness for about 1,200 m of ascent and 7–8 hours return from Zapod, boots, water and food for the day, and a GPS track for the open pastures in cloud. Arrange a 4×4 or local van from Kukës for the unpaved road to Zapod. The summit is on the border: carry a passport and do not descend into Kosovo unless you have entered it legally.
The Albania–Kosovo border region around Kukës was mined in 1999. Albania announced in 2009 that all known mined areas had been cleared, but warned of residual unexploded ordnance; stay on established paths and do not touch unknown objects. In winter the mountain is a remote snow ascent with no shelter.
Season
Best Jun–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Good
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Possible
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Deep snow; remote, no facilities
- Feb
- Deep snow
- Mar
- Snow; experienced winter parties only
- Apr
- Snow above about 1,850 m
- May
- Snow patches high up; unpaved road may be muddy
- Jul
- Thunderstorms possible
- Sep
- Often settled
- Oct
- Shorter days; first snow possible
- Nov
- Early winter
- Dec
- Winter
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Korab-Koritnik Nature Park (Albania, IUCN category IV): national protected-area rules apply
- Border summit: do not cross into Kosovo except at official crossings; carry a passport
- Legacy of 1999 mines along the Albania–Kosovo border: Albania declared all known mined areas cleared in 2009 but warned of residual unexploded ordnance; stay on established paths
- Getting There
Kukës (Albania); Dragash and Prizren (Kosovo)
Pristina (PRN); Tirana (TIA)
- Car: from Kukës take the road towards Shishtavec, turn off at km 13 for Zapod; the last 7 km are unpaved (4×4 or local van recommended)
- Public transport: rare, unscheduled minibuses between Kukës and nearby villages
Hazards
- Weather
- Remoteness