Maglić
2,389 m
Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Also known as Маглич планина, Bosanski Maglić, +5Also known as
Маглич планина · Bosanski Maglić · Μαγκλίτς · Monte Maglić · Veliki Maglić · Маглич · Маглић
- Elevation
- 2,389 m
- Prominence
- 51 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2The easiest way up: from the Prijevor plateau (1,668 m) across the unmarked border into Montenegro, down to the heart-shaped Trnovačko lake (1,517 m), then up forest, the Šarena Lastva scree and grassy slopes to the summit ridge. Long (about 10 km and 1,200 m of ascent one way) but without the cables of the direct route; often used as the descent.
About 1% of this line is approximate (no mapped trail; drawn from the terrain). Check it against a map before relying on it.
Why? 2 check notes
- ascent 1202 m is 1.6× the net gain 748 m: the line probably detours down and back up (not a traverse)
- unresolved waypoints: Suva jezerina, Šarena Lastva, Carev do
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 11.1 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,202 m
- −457 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 2,389 m
- Time Up
- 6h 18m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 5h 19m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the car park at Prijevor follow the broad track south. After about 2 km it crosses into Montenegro without any sign other than a board on a tree. Waymarks lead off the track and down into the dry lake basin (Suva jezerina); cross the meadow and climb through forest to Trnovačko jezero (1,517 m), about 1½–2 hours from Prijevor. The lake lies in Piva Nature Park; a ranger collects a small fee in summer, and there is a basic mountain hut and a camping area. From the lake follow the path round the western and southern shore, then east into woodland, climbing between crags onto grassy slopes heading roughly north-east. Cross the steep scree slope of Šarena Lastva, with views back down to the lake, and pass between two rock pillars onto the high plateau above the sunken hollow of Carev do. Follow the ridge north over minor tops, past Veliki Maglić (2,388–2,389 m, the true and Montenegrin summit, a few minutes off the path), to the Bosnian summit. The final rocky pyramid needs hands in places. From the lake allow about 3½ hours (5.8 km, 870 m of ascent). Descend the same way, or, if competent on steep exposed ground, by the direct route down the north-west face to Prijevor. The scree of Šarena Lastva is loose and unpleasant in descent. Start early: the climb from the lake to the saddle is in shade only in the morning. Carry ID, as the route crosses the Bosnia–Montenegro border away from any official crossing.
Start
Prijevor1,642 m
- Buses run from Sarajevo to Foča; there is no regular bus to Tjentište or Prijevor. Local jeep or van transfers from Tjentište to Prijevor can be arranged (about 160 KM per vehicle return in recent reports).
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prijevor → Maglić | 11.1 | 1,202 | 457 | 6h 18m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Prijevor1,642 m
End of the dirt road from Tjentište; national park huts (katuni) and camping
- Hut: Planinarski dom Trnovačko jezero1,534 m
Basic mountain hut and camping area on the shore of Trnovačko jezero (Piva Nature Park)
- Shoulder: Veliki Maglić2,353 m
Montenegrin summit, marginally higher than the Bosnian one; a short detour from the path
- Summit: Maglić2,389 m
Key Passages
- Unmarked border crossing south of Prijevor
- Šarena Lastva scree slope
- Gap between two rock pillars onto the summit plateau
- Short rocky summit pyramid
Equipment
0/7 packedDownloads
Route confidence 75%Overview
The highest point of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2,386 m), a limestone pyramid on the Montenegrin border above Sutjeska National Park and the Perućica primeval forest. Reached either by a steep, cabled scramble straight up its north-west face or by a longer hike past Trnovačko lake.
Maglić rises at the southern edge of Sutjeska National Park, about 20 km south-west of Foča, where Bosnia and Herzegovina meets Montenegro. Its north-western flank is a 700 m limestone wall above the Prijevor plateau; the other sides fall steeply to the Sutjeska, Piva and Drina valleys. Forest reaches about 1,600 m, with the Perućica reserve, one of the last primeval forests in Europe, on its lower slopes; above are high pastures, scree and grassy ridges.
The massif has two tops. The Bosnian summit (2,386 m) is the national high point and the one most people visit. The Montenegrin summit, Veliki Maglić, a few hundred metres to the south-east, is about 2 m higher and easily added. On the Montenegrin side lies Trnovačko jezero, a heart-shaped glacial lake at 1,517 m in Piva Nature Park, and one of the most visited spots in the area.
Most ascents start at Prijevor (1,668 m), reached by a rough 20 km dirt road through the national park from Tjentište. From there the direct route takes only 2–2½ hours but involves steep, loose ground and a short exposed scramble with old cables. The longer route via Trnovačko lake avoids the cables and is often used for the descent, making a fine loop. The area is remote: no mobile signal in places, few facilities, and brown bears live in the park.
Climbing Notes
The ascent itself is short, but getting to Prijevor takes planning: the dirt road from Tjentište needs about an hour and is passable for ordinary cars only when dry and with care; after rain or in early season a 4x4 or an arranged transfer is better. Many people camp or rent a park hut at Prijevor, or stay in Tjentište or at the lake, and climb early the next morning.
The direct north-west face route suits sure-footed scramblers with a head for heights (UIAA I, exposed, loose); wear a helmet. Less experienced hikers should go via Trnovačko lake, which is a long day (about 9–10 hours return) or two days with a night at the lake. The popular loop goes up the face and down via the lake. Carry ID: the lake route crosses the unmarked border into Montenegro.
Snow lingers on the north-west face into May or June, and then the direct route needs crampons and an ice axe; in those conditions it is a serious undertaking. Fog often covers the summit plateau, so carry a map or GPS track.
History
Sutjeska National Park, the first national park in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was established in 1962, partly to commemorate the 1943 Battle of the Sutjeska fought in these valleys. Climbing descriptions of Maglić appeared in Yugoslav mountaineering journals by the 1950s. An organised ascent of Maglić takes place around Vidovdan (28 June), when park entry has been free for hikers with a valid mountaineering card.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Not advisable
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; road to Prijevor not passable
- Feb
- Winter conditions
- Mar
- Winter conditions; avalanche risk on the north-west face
- Apr
- Deep snow on the approaches
- May
- Snow on the face and possibly on the road; crampons needed
- Jun
- Old snow possible early in the month; park ascent around Vidovdan (28 June)
- Jul
- Main season; ranger and hut at the lake staffed
- Aug
- Main season; afternoon thunderstorms
- Sep
- Good conditions, fewer people; cold nights
- Oct
- Early snow possible; road may become impassable after rain
- Nov
- Winter conditions
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Permits
- Sutjeska National Park entry ticketRequired
Paid at the barrier on the road to Prijevor. The most recent price list found (June 2021) gives 10 KM per person for the park beyond the Tjentište memorial zone (5 KM for the memorial zone only, 30 KM annual); current prices may differ.
foca24.info
- Hut Booking
- Park huts at Prijevor are rented through Sutjeska National Park in Tjentište. The basic hut at Trnovačko jezero (about 15 places) should be arranged in advance with the lake ranger.
- Fees
- Sutjeska National Park entry (10 KM per person in the June 2021 price list)
- Small fee to the Piva Nature Park ranger at Trnovačko jezero in summer (EUR 1 per person in 2021; euros and KM accepted)
- Park huts (katuni) at Prijevor are rented per hut, not per person
- Rules
- The lake route crosses the Bosnia–Montenegro border away from any official crossing; carry a passport or ID card
- Sutjeska National Park rules apply; camping is tolerated at Prijevor and at Trnovačko jezero
- Perućica strict reserve: entry only on marked trails with a park guide, limited groups per day; the Maglić routes do not enter it
- Getting There
Foča (about 20 km); Tjentište for national park services
Sarajevo (SJJ), about 2½ hours by road to Tjentište
- By car: Sarajevo–Foča, then the M20 south to Tjentište; about 1 km north of the park information centre a dirt road signed 'Mrkalji' climbs about 20 km to Prijevor (about 1 hour; ordinary cars only in dry conditions)
- Buses run to Foča but not reliably to Tjentište; take a taxi or arrange a 4x4 transfer from Tjentište to Prijevor
- From Montenegro: longer approaches from Plužine via Mratinje to Trnovačko jezero (a full day on foot)
Hazards
- Rockfall
- Exposure
- Weather
- Avalanche
- Remoteness
Huts & Shelters
2- 1,517 m
Planinarski dom Trnovačko jezeroHutStaffedBooking required
15 beds · Summer only (ranger present)
- 1,696 m
Prijevor hutsHutUnstaffedBooking required
Summer