Troglav
1,913 m
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Also known as Veliki Troglav, ТроглавAlso known as
Veliki Troglav · Троглав
- Elevation
- 1,913 m
- Prominence
- 1,086 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Sep–Oct
- Routes
- 1
AdvisoryReported 24 Dec 2024
PD Cincar Livno announced the completion of the open Runolista kuća bivouac (sleeps 4–5) on the Mery path below the summit. It is always unlocked and doubles as a mountain rescue reporting point; the official opening date was to be announced by the club.
planinarenje.ba
Routes
1Sources differ: 1b (HPD Prenj 1933 Mostar) · Moderately difficult (Srednje teška), from the forestry-road turnaround (planinarenje.hr) · Very hard (Jako teška), full climb from Rosići via the Mery path (planinarenje.hr)
The usual climb from the Livno side: a steep, waymarked path of about 1,160–1,240 m from the hamlet of Rosići above Livanjsko polje, through beech forest to a junction at about 1,400 m, then out of the trees to a saddle below Srednji Troglav and along the grassy ridge to the summit. About 4 hours up.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 8.7 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,445 m
- −277 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 1,913 m
- Time Up
- 6h 28m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 4h 54m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Livno take the regional road towards Bosansko Grahovo and turn off for Sajkovići just before Donji Kazanci, then follow a fairly good gravel road to the hamlet of Rosići (about 750 m), where cars can be left on a large meadow. A cave in Rosići holds a spring, the only water mentioned on the route; it is about 20 m deep and needs a light to reach the concrete catchment. A forestry road continues for about 7.5 km to a turnaround near Poparića lokva (about 1,220 m), past the ruins of former forestry workers' housing, but it is closed by a locked barrier; the key is held by the forestry company ŠGD HB šume Kupres, and a barrier found open in the morning may be locked on return. The path, re-waymarked by hikers from Livno, climbs straight up the forested slope at gradients often over 25 %. At a junction at about 1,400 m the classic path goes left; it climbs more steeply out of the forest to the saddle between Srednji and Mali Troglav, where the whole massif and Livanjsko polje come into view, then crosses the slope of Mali Troglav and follows the ridge round the head of Sajkovačko ždrilo to the summit. There is no scrambling on this line. The right branch at the junction is the steeper Mery path: scree, gullies and rocky ground under high cliffs where hands are occasionally needed and small stones fall, with the open Runolista kuća bivouac (built by PD Cincar in 2024) where it leaves the forest. Many parties go up the classic path and come down Mery, or the reverse. planinarenje.hr gives 4 h 17 min for the full climb from Rosići via Mery (7.5 km, 1,240 m of ascent) and 1 h 51 min from the turnaround via the classic path; a 2024 report gives about 7 hours for the whole loop. Descend the same way or by the Mery path.
Start
Rosići745 m
- Buses reach Livno; no public transport to Sajkovići or Rosići was found
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rosići → Troglav | 8.7 | 1,445 | 277 | 6h 28m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Rosići745 m
Parking on a meadow; spring in a cave in the hamlet
- Feature: Mery junction1,270 m
Classic path left, Mery path right
- Feature: Mali Troglav1,648 m
Path crosses its slope
- Summit: Troglav1,913 m
Key Passages
- Sustained forest climb at over 25 % gradient
- Saddle between Srednji and Mali Troglav
- Ridge round Sajkovačko ždrilo
Equipment
0/7 packedDownloads
Route confidence 65%Overview
The highest point of the Dinara range (1,913 m), a bare limestone summit in Bosnia and Herzegovina a kilometre or so inside the border with Croatia. A steep, waymarked forest climb of about 1,200 m from Livanjsko polje leads to a grassy ridge with views from Lake Peruća to Kamešnica.
Troglav is the culminating summit of the Dinara massif, higher than Croatia's Dinara (Sinjal, 1,831 m) to the north-west. The Troglav group is about 30 km long and 15 km wide, bounded by the Privija pass (1,230 m) towards Dinara and the Vaganj road pass (1,173 m) towards Kamešnica. The state border runs below the crest on the Croatian side, so Troglav and its neighbours lie in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the north-west of Livno municipality. Its name, 'three-headed', comes from the Slavic god Triglav.
The two sides of the mountain differ sharply. The north-east face drops steeply and without steps to Livanjsko polje (about 700 m), covered in beech and spruce; the south-west side rises in grassy steps from the Cetina valley and Lake Peruća to a karst labyrinth of sinkholes and ridges below the main crest. Summit views on a clear day take in Dinara, Promina, Kijevski bat, Livanjsko and Cetinsko polje, Lake Peruća and Kamešnica.
The usual climb is from the hamlet of Rosići above Sajkovići on the Livno side: a waymarked but relentlessly steep path through forest to a junction at about 1,400 m, where the classic path and the rougher Mery path split, then out onto open ridge. Longer approaches come from the Croatian side via the Pume shelter and as part of the Via Dinarica's 'Put Oluje' traverse. Strong wind on the ridge, heat on the upper slopes in summer and winter snow are the main concerns.
Climbing Notes
This is a long, steep day hike rather than a mountaineering objective: about 1,160–1,240 m of ascent from Rosići, roughly 4 hours up and 2½ hours down, or about 7 hours for the loop up the classic path and down Mery (or the reverse). The gradient is sustained, so good fitness matters more than technique; the Mery path adds scree, gullies, the occasional use of hands and small rockfall under cliffs, where a helmet is sensible.
Carry all your water: the only source mentioned is a spring in a cave at Rosići. If you plan to drive the forestry road beyond Rosići, contact the forestry company ŠGD HB šume Kupres about the locked barrier, and bear in mind it may be locked when you return. The summit ridge is often very windy. In winter the slopes carry snow and there is avalanche risk on steep ground; crampons, ice axe and winter experience are then needed.
As elsewhere in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stay on marked paths. Most people climb Troglav as a day trip from Livno.
History
The local waymarked path from Rosići was first marked in 1988; the marks later faded and were renewed by hikers from Livno led by Marino Vidović. In autumn 2024 the Livno club PD Cincar built the open Runolista kuća bivouac on the Mery path, carrying about 2,500 kg of material up by hand over five work days; it also serves as a reporting point for the Herceg-Bosnia Canton mountain rescue service.
Season
Best Sep–Oct- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Good
- June: Best
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Best (best window)
- November: Good
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Winter conditions; snow, avalanche risk and strong wind; experienced parties only
- Feb
- Winter conditions
- Mar
- Snow on the upper slopes
- Apr
- Lingering snow on the ridge and in gullies
- May
- Snow patches possible high up; spring flowers
- Jun
- Good conditions; start early
- Jul
- Hot on the open upper slopes; afternoon storms
- Aug
- Hot; carry plenty of water
- Sep
- Good conditions
- Oct
- Good conditions, cooler
- Nov
- Short days; first snow and strong wind possible
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- No booking: the Runolista kuća bivouac is always open and needs no notification. The Pume shelter on the Croatian approach is an open shelter run by PU Dinaridi, Split.
- Rules
- The forestry road above Rosići is closed by a locked barrier operated by ŠGD HB šume Kupres; walk, or arrange the key in advance
- Stay on marked paths: Bosnia and Herzegovina still has suspected mined areas from the 1992–1995 war
- Getting There
Livno (Rosići is about 35 km north-west of the town in a straight line)
Split Airport (SPU)
- Car: Livno–Bosansko Grahovo regional road, turn off for Sajkovići just before Donji Kazanci, then gravel road to Rosići
- Buses reach Livno; no public transport to the trailhead was found
Hazards
- Weather
- Rockfall
- Avalanche
- Landmines nearby
Huts & Shelters
1- 1,621 m
Runolista kućaBivouacUnstaffed
4 beds · Always open; wooden bivouac 3 × 3.5 m, sleeps 4–5