Established in 2009, Prokletije National Park is the youngest and wildest of Montenegro’s five national parks. Patiently awaiting discovery, it remains the country’s least visited frontier, a sanctuary of silky alpine meadows and jagged grey summits reaching over 2,500 meters. This is a landscape where golden eagles share the thermal winds with wolves and brown bears, yet it remains remarkably accessible from the capital, Podgorica.
Beyond this craggy, untouched horizon, the Accursed Mountains (Montenegrin: Prokletije) hold a legacy as one of Europe’s most mysterious ranges, once deemed “damned” for their sheer remoteness. From the crimson autumns and heavy winter snows to summer hikes up to emerald glacial lakes and karst ridges, Prokletije offers a raw intensity found nowhere else in the Balkans. This guide covers the essential logistics for the park’s Montenegro-side highlights, from the dramatic Grebaje Valley to the “hidden” waters of Hrid Lake.
Best For
Hardcore hikers, solitude seekers, and photographers hunting for Europe’s last “untamed” peaks.
The Vibe
Raw and jagged; a vertical limestone fortress where ancient traditions outlast modern tourism.
Transport
A 1.5-hour drive from Podgorica via the new Cijevna Canyon road to the base towns of Gusinje or Plav.
Must-Try
The Volušnica Hike: A relatively short climb for the most dramatic “Cat’s Kiss” view in the Balkans.
Resident Tip: This is a border zone. If you plan to hike near the Albanian or Kosovar ridges, always carry your passport and check if you need a cross-border permit.
Prokletije Planning Cheat Sheet
Basecamp Strategy
For the most dramatic sunrises, stay in the Grebaje Valley at Katun Maja Karanfil. If you are attempting the Zla Kolata summit, Vusanje Village is the more strategic starting point.
View Basecamp Rates →The “No-Go” Roads
The road to Babino Polje and the Lake Hrid trailhead remains unpaved. Standard rental sedans often sustain underbody damage here: look for flexible 4×4 or high-clearance options.
Search Flexible Car Rentals →Entrance & Permits
Entry is 3 EUR daily. If you plan to visit multiple parks, the 13.50 EUR Annual Pass is valid for all five national parks in 2026 and can be purchased online to skip the entry booths.
Buy Official Park Pass →Hidden Waterfall Tip
The Grlja Waterfall often dries to a trickle by late August. However, the canyon below contains five permanent pools and smaller falls that are accessible via guided canyoning tours only.
— Alpine Safety Tip
Grebaje & Ropojana Valleys
The Prokletije National Park encompasses two picturesque valleys, a place of untouched natural beauty awaiting your discovery. The emerald green meadows full of yellow and purple wildflowers but only a few inhabitants living in traditional log and stone cabins, are dotted across the eminently pastoral landscape.
The Ropojana Valley
The Ropojana Valley has garnered little fame sitting right at the Peaks of the Balkans Trail, a 192-kilometer-long transnational hiking route connecting Montenegro, Kosovo, and Albania. Thanks to the valley’s abundance of drinkable water, with karst wells incessantly pushing ice-cold water to the surface, hikers look forward to refilling their bottles here.
The Grebaje Valley
Uniting the counties of Plav and Gusinje, and sitting between some of Montenegro’s most powerful mountain ranges like the mystical Karanfili Group, both valleys make up beautiful rural amphitheaters. From walking in the lush beech forests and hiking up the Dolomites-like peaks to exploring the area’s rich and diverse culture and traditions, they offer plenty of activities for the whole family.
Iconic Summits & Ridgelines
The best time to hike in the Accursed Mountains is from the end of June until the end of September.
Volušnica & Talijanka Ridge
The Volusnica-Talijanka-Popadija day hike outshines all others for its effortlessness and magnificent views. It is a fantastic circular hike of four to five hours through beech forests and over scenic ridgelines. The single best composition of the Karanfili can be captured from the Talijanka Peak (2,057 meters), where the emerald green Popadija Ridge contrasts perfectly against the pale grey limestone peaks.
Kissing Cats & Sjeverni Vrh
One of the most enchanting focal points is the Suplja Vrata stone formation. From Grebaje Valley, the peaks look like two kissing cats, eternally merged. Reaching the formation at 2,090 meters allows you to look through the arched stone to the silky alpine meadows of Popadija. This is often combined with an ascent to Sjeverni Vrh (2,460 meters), a challenging trek for experienced climbers.
The Trojan Peak
The Trojan massif is often overlooked but widely considered the single best viewpoint of the Karanfili. Easily accessible from Grebaje Valley via the Trojan mountain arch (1,950 meters), the highest peak Veliki Vrh (2,194 meters) offers a panorama of the Rosni Peak and Maja Jezerce in Albania. Allow 8–9 hours for this rewarding roundtrip.
Zla Kolata: The Roof of Montenegro
Climbing Montenegro’s highest summit (2,534m) is an experience you will never forget. Starting from Vusanje in the Ropojana Valley, this ten-hour hike shares a section with the Peaks of the Balkans Trail. It bewitches with views of Valbona Valley and Maja Jezerce. It is recommended only for adventurous hikers prepared for arduous ascents and hands-on scrambling.
Waterfalls & Glacial Eyes
Grlja & Kusije Waterfalls
One of Montenegro’s largest single-drop waterfalls, Grlja is a powerful display of nature’s brute force. In late spring, the river gushes through a striking canyon, forming intense rapids and even rainbows. A beautiful, two-kilometer walk further leads to the Kusije Waterfall, a paradise of tranquility where water flows over moss-covered limestone.
Oko Skakavice (The Blue Eye)
Resembling an enigmatic blue eye with a dark pupil, Oko Skakavice is a captivating natural karst spring. Ice-cold groundwater bubbles up to the surface, forming the Skakavica River. It is a popular stop on the Peaks of the Balkans Trail, and swimming in the jade-colored pond is possible for those who can brave the temperature.
Lake Ropojana
Sitting right at the border with Albania, this seasonal lake is reached via peaceful alpine meadows bursting with vibrant wildflowers. It is a perfect choice for a leisurely family hike (one hour from Oko Skakavice). Note that Lake Ropojana is seasonal and may dry up by August.
Marvel at Ancient Rock Carvings
During the Bronze Age, Illyrian tribes settled the valleys and highlands of the Albanian Alps, leaving behind mysterious petroglyphs. Close to the summit of Mount Popadija on a meadow, you’ll find a stone slab with petroglyphs depicting anthropomorphic figures. It is not easy to find but you might consider exploring it during your Volušnica hike. Recently, a bronze-age analemmatic sundial has been discovered close to that location as well.
Book Private Volušnica Hike →There is another rock carving site – just three kilometers south of Gusinje – on a yellow vertical cliff at the foot of Mount Vezirova Brada. A short hiking trail starts in Gusinje and leads to this site, offering striking views of Zla Kolata and the village of Vusanje along the way.
Beyond the Trails: The Adventure Guide
Experience the Thrill of Paragliding
The Prokletije National Park is the perfect place for a little outdoor excitement. Paragliding flights can be organized from the start-off point on Mount Volušnica, right at the border with Albania. You don’t need to have any previous experience to ride tandem with a qualified instructor.
Contact: Montenegro Paragliding Association (info@paraglajdingsavez.me)
Explore the Depth of Grlja Canyon
Descending into the obscure depths of the Grlja Canyon is an adrenaline-fueled adventure. The 500-meter-deep dive should only be undertaken by experienced canyoneers – the water is ice-cold requiring you to wear two wetsuits at once. Only possible from the second half of August until October.
Tours offered exclusively by Slobodni Penjači Cetinje.
Backcountry Ski Touring
Without lift lines and crowds, you’ll feel like having all these mountains to yourself. The area from Babino Polje to the tri-junction around Mount Bogićevica is the most popular for free riding. Put in the effort to hike to unapproachable peaks and be rewarded with an incessant supply of powder snow.
Bird Watching
Recognized as an Emerald habitat and an Important Bird Area (IBA), the park is a breeding site for many birds of prey, including golden eagles, short-toed snake eagles, and peregrine falcons. Birds populate the Grebaje and Ropojana Valleys throughout the entire year.
View Birdwatching Guide →Hit the Mountain Biking Trails
The Osmica Trail is an eight-shape cycling route connecting the settlements of the Plav-Gusinje Valley. It traverses the Ljuca River, passes Lake Plav and Ali Pasha Springs.
Prokletije Jeep Safaris →Landscape on Horseback
Saddle up on the back of slow and steady mountain horses. The family-run Dedushi Guest House in Vusanje offers half-day and day rides, providing a gentle introduction to Montenegrin horseback riding on traditional wooden saddles.
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links to tours. If you book through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Ali Pasha Springs
Located just outside Gusinje at the foot of Mount Vezirova Brada, Ali Pasha Springs is a place where nature and history collide. Named after the 19th-century governor Ali Pasha of Gusinje, these springs represent one of the largest karst water sources in the Balkans, with over 25 individual springs gushing directly from the limestone rock.
Traditionally a gathering place for the local community – especially during the vibrant 2nd of August festival – the site offers a serene atmosphere of gurgling water and historic stone architecture. It serves as the perfect starting point for your exploration of the Ropojana Valley.
Read the Full GuideWalk Around Lake Hrid
Lake Hrid is an alpine lake at the foot of the north face of the Bogićevica mountain range, a towering massif with two peaks higher than 2,500 meters, which creates a photographic backdrop of the lake. It sits at an altitude of 1,968 meters and is hidden in dense, picturesque pine and spruce forests.
Thanks to its remote location in the mountainous border area and inaccessibility, Lake Hrid has remained pretty much a secret amid untouched, pristine nature. The route to the lake is difficult and only suitable for offroad vehicles and experienced drivers, while the last section can only be traversed on foot.
There is a forested hiking trail from Bajrovića Katun, from where it takes two hours to reach the lake. The path delivers surprising treats: wild blueberries and raspberries grow wild and free along the trail, ready to be foraged straight off the bush.
Babino Polje Trail
There is another out-and-back trail starting at the alpine hut in Babino Polje; taking 12.5 kilometers to complete. This route is favored by those seeking a longer, more immersive forest trek.
Hridski Krš Summit
From the lake, you can hike up Hridski Krš (2,358 meters) via a beautiful trail that offers sensational lake views and a panorama of the surrounding peaks.
Shoreline & Swimming
You can walk around the whole lake within half an hour on a moderately difficult path. A trip might also involve a glacial plunge in water that is as clean as wild swimming water will ever get.
Getting to Prokletije
The journey to the North has been transformed. Whether you prefer a smooth, modern tunnel or a scenic mountain pass through Albania, here is how to reach Gusinje and Plav in 2026.
The Klisura Tunnel Route
Using the Princess Xenia Highway and the new Klisura Tunnel, the drive from Podgorica now takes only ~2 hours. This is the best choice for a comfortable, border-free trip.
- Highway Section: Podgorica to Kolašin (Mateševo).
- The Shortcut: From Kolašin, head toward the Bjelasica ski centers to enter the Klisura Tunnel.
- Arrival: Exit near Lubnice and continue through Berane and Andrijevica to Plav/Gusinje.
The SH20 “Cijevna” Route
The SH20 through Albania is shorter in distance (75km) but much more demanding. It is a stunning, high-elevation road full of tight serpentines and steep drops.
- Borders: Requires crossing at Grabom and re-entering at Grnčar (Gusinje).
- Drive Time: Approx. 1.5 – 2 hours, depending on border queues and your comfort with mountain hairpins.
- Best For: Drivers who want the most scenic panoramic views in the Balkans.
Where to Stay
From traditional alpine huts to modern vacation homes, these are the best-rated basecamps for exploring the Prokletije wilderness in 2026.
Grebaje Valley
The most dramatic landscape in the park. Staying here places you directly at the trailhead for the Karanfili Peaks.
Vusanje Village
The valley of waterfalls and springs. Perfect for those looking for full vacation homes and mountain hospitality.
Secluded Retreats
Total immersion in nature. These cabins are ideal for travelers seeking silence and proximity to the pine forests.
