Multipitch Atlas

Paklenica

Croatia

Croatia's big-wall national park: a sea-level gorge in the southern Velebit above Starigrad-Paklenica, 45 minutes from Zadar airport. The limestone is superbly sculpted with water grooves. Many classics have Paklenica-style spaced bolts, so check each route's gear notes. Best March–June and September–November; the park charges an entry fee.

Routes
6
Grade span
6a+to7a
Longest route: Alive
220 m

Where and when

Location and climate

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Veliki Ćuk, Velika Paklenica canyon · 262 m

Monthly climate averages for Paklenica, 1991-2020
MeasureJanFebMar (usual season)Apr (usual season)May (usual season)Jun (usual season)Jul (usual season)Aug (usual season)Sep (usual season)Oct (usual season)Nov (usual season)Dec
Mean daily high °C781216212528282318138
Mean daily low °C003712161818141062
Rain days 1 mm or more11101112118669111312
Sunshine hours a day6.17.69.310.612.113.013.412.710.58.56.45.6

● marks the usual climbing season. Averages for 1991-2020 at about 262 m. Area climate from Open-Meteo reanalysis (about 10 km grid): the wall and valley can differ. Data: Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0.

6 routes

Routes in Paklenica

Climber on pitch 3 of Karamara Sweet Temptations, Veliki Ćuk, above the Paklenica canyon floor

Croatia · Paklenica

Karamara Sweet Temptations

A five-minute approach from the gorge café. There is a polished boulder-problem start, then wandering grooves and an airy traverse on the 6a+ third pitch.

6a+4 pitches110 m

Read the cautions

Climber on Water Song, Veliki Ćuk, with the Paklenica gorge behind

Croatia · Paklenica

Water Song

Classic Paklenica water-groove climbing on beautifully sculpted rock. The crux is a rising crack traverse on P5, with delicate slab moves above.

6a+6 pitches160 m

Read the cautions

Climber on the fluted limestone wall of Dreaming the Lost Friends, Kuk od Skradelin

Croatia · Paklenica

Dreaming the Lost Friends

A short, high-quality modern line: a clean straight first pitch, then a steep crack crux and magnificent water grooves.

6a+5 pitches100 m

Read the cautions

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Croatia · Paklenica

Big Wall Speed Climbing (Tinin raz)

The line used for Paklenica's annual Big Wall Speed Climbing competition: steep, direct and on very rough rock that has stayed unpolished. A sustained 45 m 6c+ pitch on small holds is the crux, followed by sharp runnels, a big corner and three overhangs to finish. Fifteen minutes from the car.

6c+6 pitches200 m

The north face of Anića kuk, Paklenica; Michelini 4 is on the upper part of this face

Croatia · Paklenica

Michelini 4

A short, hard line high on the shady north face of Anića kuk: a steep 6a+, a 7a corner on razor-sharp small edges, a slightly overhanging 6c+ corner and a long finish up water runnels. The rock is sharp and superb from the first metre. Good as a half-day or combined with a neighbour.

7a4 pitches130 m

The north face of Anića kuk, Paklenica, where Alive climbs

Croatia · Paklenica

Alive

Seven sustained pitches of 6a to 6c on the shady north face of Anića kuk, then an easy scramble out. A poor first pitch gives way to a steep ramp, a slightly overhanging 6c wall, an off-width and a fine finishing slab. The rock improves with every pitch.

6c8 pitches220 m

Local words

At the crag and in town

Croatian

uže
rope
komplet
quickdraw
spit
bolt
dužina
pitch
smjer
route
Drži!
Take!
Popusti!
Slack!
Kamen!
Rock!

Croatia

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