Sinjar

Sinjar is the local name for Croatia's highest summit, the peak of Mount Dinara (1,831 m), rising above the town of Grad Vrlika in the Dalmatian hinterland. The name is used mainly by residents of the neighboring Kijevo area, while people from nearby Knin simply call it Dinara. For hikers, it's one of the most demanding — and most rewarding — targets in the whole country.

What's actually at the top?

The summit isn't a single point but two rocky humps of nearly equal height, roughly fifty meters apart. One carries a geodetic pillar marking the official highest point in Croatia, the other a five-meter metal cross visible from a distance on clear days. The terrain up there is rocky, open, and heavily exposed to wind, so a windproof layer is worth packing even in summer.

How do you get to the top?

The most common approach starts from Glavaš, where the ruins of a 15th-century defensive fortress still stand — built as part of a chain of strongholds meant to shield the old Croatian Kingdom from Ottoman incursions. The climb typically takes four to five hours one way and calls for solid fitness and proper trekking boots, since the upper stretches are rocky and offer little shade. Grad Vrlika, sitting at the foot of the massif, works well as a base for the trip — it's the natural jumping-off point for reaching the trailhead villages on the road toward Kijevo.

What views does the summit offer?

The panorama from the top is among the widest in Croatia. On a clear day it stretches over Lake Peruča, the Svilaja and Promina mountain ranges, and the Troglav ridge on the other side of the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Dinara massif itself, which gave its name to the entire Dinaric range, runs right along the state border, making this one of the few summits in the region where a single view takes in two countries.

What else is worth combining with the climb?

At the foot of Dinara, in a quiet spot about twenty kilometers from Knin, lie the springs of the Cetina River — protected as a hydrological natural monument and one of Croatia's lesser-known but strikingly scenic natural attractions. Many hikers pair their descent with a stop there, taking advantage of the picnic spots nearby. Grad Vrlika itself, set on the Cetina between the Dinara and Svilaja massifs and granted town status in 1997, makes a convenient place to stay before or after a day in the mountains.

Frequently asked questions

Is Sinjar the same place as Dinara? Yes. Sinjar (more often spelled Sinjal) is the local name for the highest peak of Mount Dinara, used mainly by people from the Kijevo area.

How long does the hike to the summit take? The climb from Glavaš usually takes four to five hours one way, depending on fitness level and weather conditions.

Is the trail difficult? Yes — it's long, rocky, and mostly exposed to wind and sun, so decent physical preparation and proper gear are recommended.

What's worth seeing on the way up or down? Popular stops include the 15th-century Glavaš fortress and the springs of the Cetina River, both located near the approach route in a quiet, scenic setting.