Mali i Dejës
2,244 m
Albania
- Elevation
- 2,244 m
- Prominence
- 1,401 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: T3 (Estimate for the steeper direct line from the shepherds' hut)
An unmarked mountain walk on the gentle western side of the Dejë massif, starting from the old tower village of Macukull (about 1,050 m) above Burrel: pastures and an old paved path to a shepherds' hut at about 1,500 m, then either through beech forest to the ridge or straight up the open slope to the summit (2,244 m). About 1,200 m of ascent; a 4WD track can shorten the start.
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
- Macukull → Mali i Dejës: dem (snap_failed, 5.9 km)
- unresolved waypoints: Shepherds' hut, West ridge
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 5.9 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,266 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,244 m
- Time Up
- 5h 02m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 3h 23m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Macukull is reached by road from Burrel (a 2012 report describes it as asphalted) or from the Rrëshen side via Shqefën, from where a gravel road continues and locals offer minibus or 4WD lifts. Fill up with water at the spring just before Macukull: it is the last on the route, and there is no surface water on the karst above. From the village, walk east through the houses to open meadows, where traces of old buildings and an old paved path are visible, then over hillocks to a clearer path that leads to a shepherds' hut at about 1,500 m. Local shepherds describe two ways on from here: a path into the beech forest that fades out before reaching the ridge, which is then followed to the summit; or a shorter, steeper and more tiring line straight up the open slope. The upper mountain is a flattened karst ridge; the east side drops steeply towards Lurë. Alternatively, drive a 4WD track from Macukull up the mountain (about 400 m of height gain) and make a loop of about 13 km and 1,000 m of ascent, about 5 hours in total. Return the same way. Snow lingers on the upper slopes into late spring, and summer afternoons often bring thunderstorms, which turned back one party at about 1,600 m in June 2020.
Start
Macukull1,014 m
- No regular public transport to Macukull; buses run to Burrel from Tirana, then arrange a 4WD transfer. Locals in Shqefën offer minibus lifts to Macukull.
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Macukull → Mali i Dejës | 5.9 | 1,266 | 36 | 5h 02m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Macukull1,014 m
Spring just before the village is the last water; elevation approximate
- Summit: Mali i Dejës2,244 m
Key Passages
- Finding the path from the meadows above Macukull to the shepherds' hut
- Fading path through the beech forest to the ridge
- Open upper slopes, exposed to lightning in thunderstorms
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 40%Overview
A broad limestone massif (2,244 m) between Burrel and the Lura lakes in central-northern Albania, the high point of the Mat region and of the Lurë-Dejë Mountain National Park. Its gentle western side gives a long, unmarked mountain walk from the tower village of Macukull.
Mali i Dejës (also Deja or Mount Dejë) dominates the country between Burrel, Peshkopi, Pukë and Rrëshen and is visible from as far as Dajti and Korab. It is a massif of Cretaceous limestone resting on ultrabasic rock, bounded by the Burrel basin to the west, the Runja summit to the east and the Zall Gjoçaj valley to the north. Karst has shaped its summit ridge into a largely flat crest; the western slope descends gradually to the Macukull karst plateau, while the east side falls steeply towards Lurë and its glacial lakes. There are no streams on the mountain.
Since 2018 the mountain has been part of the Lurë-Dejë Mountain National Park, which also covers the Lura lakes and the former Zall-Gjoçaj park. Oak gives way to beech forest higher up, then to open pasture used by shepherds in summer. Brown bear, wolf and lynx live in the park.
The usual approach is from Macukull, an old village of fortified towers on the west side. It is a straightforward but long and unmarked walk: about 1,200 m of ascent from the village, or about 1,000 m on a 13 km loop if you drive a 4WD track higher first. Very few people climb it, and there is no tourist infrastructure on this side of the mountain.
Climbing Notes
Technically easy (T2) but committing because of remoteness and the lack of waymarks: carry a GPS track or offline map and all the water you need from the spring before Macukull. Allow 5 hours for the 4WD-assisted loop and a full day from the village. There is no formal accommodation in Macukull; stay in Burrel and start very early, or ask locally about camping.
Snow lies on the upper slopes until late spring. In summer, thunderstorms build quickly over the open summit ridge; start early and turn back if storms develop. A 4WD vehicle, or a local driver, makes the access much easier. The east side above the Lura lakes is steep and is not a normal route.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Possible
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Snow; remote access roads
- Feb
- Snow
- Mar
- Snow
- Apr
- Snow on the upper slopes
- May
- Snow lingers on the upper mountain until late in the month
- Jun
- Good conditions; afternoon thunderstorms
- Jul
- Driest month; start early to avoid storms
- Aug
- Driest period; hot at lower altitude
- Sep
- Stable weather, cooler
- Oct
- Shorter days, rain becomes more frequent
- Nov
- Wettest season; first snow
- Dec
- Wet and snowy
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- No huts or formal accommodation near the route. Stay in Burrel; guesthouses also exist in Fushë-Lurë on the east side of the park.
- Rules
- Lies within Lurë-Dejë Mountain National Park (IUCN II, managed by the National Agency of Protected Areas); stay on paths and do not light fires
- Getting There
Burrel
Tirana International Airport (TIA)
- By car: from Tirana to Burrel, then local roads to Macukull (under 30 km); a 4WD is useful for the last section and for the track above the village
- From the A1 motorway (Rrëshen exit): local roads to Shqefën, then a gravel road to Macukull; locals offer minibus or 4WD lifts from Shqefën
Hazards
- Weather
- Remoteness