Nadkrstac
2,112 m
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Elevation
- 2,112 m
- Prominence
- 1,145 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Jun–Sep
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2Sources differ: Easy (lagana) (planinarenje.hr)
The shortest way up Vranica's highest summit: from the Radovina hut (1,483 m) above Uskoplje, a partly waymarked path climbs below Devetaci to the gravel road that runs along the mountain, then over grassy humps to the top. About 650 m of ascent and 2 hours up; a direct, less well-marked descent takes about an hour.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 5.8 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +639 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,112 m
- Time Up
- 2h 52m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 06m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
The Radovina hut, run by the Raduša ski centre (UP Raduša), is reached from the village of Ždrimci near Uskoplje (Gornji Vakuf) by about an hour's drive on a maintained gravel road, passable by an ordinary car for most of the year; in winter or after heavy rain, check the road with UP Raduša first. From the hut the marked path follows a dirt road past about ten weekend cottages and crosses the Crndol stream on a small bridge. After 10–15 minutes the path branches left and climbs more steeply to the area below Devetaci (2,004 m), where it meets the rough track that runs the length of Vranica, about 45 minutes from the turn-off. Follow the ridge north-east over a few small humps; the summit, with a plaque and a Bosnian flag, is about an hour further. A direct descent leads from the summit down to the track and straight back to the hut in about an hour; it is less well waymarked, but the terrain is gentle. planinarenje.hr gives 3 h 54 min for the round trip (6.7 km, 668 m of ascent). The walk can be extended east to Krstac (2,069 m), with its view of Prokoško jezero, and on via Sarajevska vrata to Ločika (2,107 m).
Start
PD Radovina1,480 m
- None to the hut; buses reach Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PD Radovina → Nadkrstac | 5.8 | 639 | 12 | 2h 52m |
Waypoints
- Hut: PD Radovina1,480 m
- Feature: Devetaci2,000 m
Path joins the track along the mountain below this top
- Summit: Nadkrstac2,112 m
Key Passages
- Steeper climb below Devetaci
- Grassy ridge to the summit
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 65%Overview
The highest point of Vranica (2,112 m), the broad, grassy range in central Bosnia between Uskoplje and Fojnica. An easy ridge walk from the Radovina hut or from the glacial lake of Prokoško jezero, with wide views and little technical difficulty.
Vranica is the highest range in central Bosnia, a massif of about 100 km² between Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje to the west and Fojnica to the east. Unlike the bare karst of Herzegovina, it has plenty of surface water and pasture; beech forest gives way above about 1,400 m to dwarf mountain pine, then to open grass and stony ridges. Nadkrstac sits on the main ridge with Rosinj to the west and Krstac, Ločika and Treskavica to the east, all above 2,000 m and linked by well-trodden ridge paths.
Just east of the summit lies Prokoško jezero, a glacial lake at about 1,640 m ringed by wooden shepherds' huts and, increasingly, weekend cottages. It was declared a natural monument in 2005, once known for an endemic form of the alpine newt. Vranica also has endemic plants, alpine rose and plenty of bilberries and cranberries, and is home to roe deer, wolves and golden eagles.
The central ridge was largely spared in the 1992–1995 war and the mine risk there is described as minimal. The mountain is a straightforward walk in summer and a popular ski-touring area in winter. The main difficulties are strong wind on the ridge, sun exposure, faint waymarking and unsigned junctions.
Climbing Notes
From the Radovina hut the summit is about 2 hours up and 1 hour down by the direct descent, with about 650 m of ascent. From Prokoško jezero, a loop over Krstac, Nadkrstac, Ločika and Treskavica is about 15 km and 6–7 hours. Both are suitable for fit beginners in summer.
Carry water: there is none on the ridge. Waymarks are faint in places, several junctions are unsigned and signposts do not name the peaks, so take a GPS track, especially in fog. Expect strong wind on the ridge and strong sun in summer. In winter the mountain is snow-covered; ski tourers and winter hikers need appropriate equipment and avalanche awareness on steeper slopes.
PD Radovina sleeps up to 50 and opens only by prior arrangement with UP Raduša. At Prokoško jezero local shepherds rent simple wooden huts (no electricity or phone signal) and sell homemade food.
Season
Best Jun–Sep- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- 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: Possible
- Jan
- Snow; ski touring and winter hiking only
- Feb
- Snow; ski touring
- Mar
- Snow; ski touring
- Apr
- Snow on the ridge; access roads may be poor
- May
- Snow patches; wet roads
- Jun
- Good conditions; flowers
- Jul
- Good conditions; strong sun; busy at the lake at weekends
- Aug
- Good conditions; berries
- Sep
- Good conditions; berries, autumn colours
- Oct
- Cooler; first snow possible
- Nov
- Early winter; roads may be difficult
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- PD Radovina (UP Raduša): only by prior arrangement, see upradusa.com. PD Rosinj on the west side of the ridge is staffed from mid-April to October. Wooden huts at Prokoško jezero are rented informally by locals.
- Fees
- Prokoško jezero natural monument: entry fee per car and per person, plus parking (10 KM per car, 2 KM per adult and 5 KM parking in 2021)
- Rules
- Prokoško jezero is a protected natural monument: do not damage vegetation, pick berries by hand only and take litter away
- Getting There
Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje (west); Fojnica (east)
Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ)
- Radovina hut: from Ždrimci near Uskoplje, about an hour on a maintained gravel road, usually passable by ordinary car
- Prokoško jezero: from Fojnica 6 km of asphalt and 16 km of gravel road, passable with care by ordinary car; local jeep transfers available
- Buses reach Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje and Fojnica; no public transport to the trailheads
Hazards
- Weather
Huts & Shelters
1- 1,483 m