Veliki Urljaj

Veliki Urljaj is the highest peak of the Urljaj range (1,295 m), rising above the village of Bruvno in the Lika region, within the Gračac municipality. Together with its lower twin, Mali Urljaj (1,266 m), it forms a pair of neighbouring summits within the same massif, sitting right at the heart of Croatia's Dinaric mountains next to Mount Kremen and the Lička Plješivica range.

Where is Veliki Urljaj?

The Urljaj massif is bordered by two karst fields: Mazin to the north, and Bruvno to the east and south. Four closely spaced summits rise within the massif, ranging from 1,200 to 1,295 m — Veliki Urljaj is the highest of them and forms the true culmination of the whole range. Its eastern slopes connect directly to the backbone ridge of the Lička Plješivica massif, while the local Bruvno–Mazin–Donji Lapac road, running over the Mazin pass, separates it from the neighbouring Mount Kremen.

The village of Bruvno itself sits on the D1 state road (Zagreb–Split), between Udbina (21 km) and Gračac (14 km), at an elevation of roughly 750 m. The nearest hamlets below the summit are barely 1.5 km away as the crow flies, though the climb itself usually takes around an hour because of the steep terrain.

How to get there?

The most convenient starting point for the ascent is the small hamlet of Krivošije, on the western foothills of the massif, reached via the local Bruvno–Mazin–Donji Lapac road branching off the D1 in Bruvno. From there, the shortest and most natural route leads to the summit. The area isn't densely marked with hiking signage, so it's worth bringing a topographic map or a GPS tracking app, especially since part of the ascent crosses open, treeless terrain where it's easy to drift off course.

What will you see on the way up?

Unlike the lower Mali Urljaj, whose slopes are almost entirely bare, the central parts of Veliki Urljaj are covered with forest — this gives the peak a more distinctly "mountain" character within the massif. Only the lower slopes, descending toward the Bruvno and Mazin fields, are grassy and open, much like on the neighbouring summits. From the top, the view stretches over both karst basins surrounding the range, across to the Kremen massif on the other side of the Mazin pass, and along the long ridge of Lička Plješivica, to which Veliki Urljaj's eastern slopes are directly connected. It's a landscape typical of Lika — broad, flat limestone fields wedged between mountain ranges with gentle, rounded outlines.

When to visit?

Because the ascent is steep and partly forested, spring and autumn are the best seasons, offering moderate temperatures and good visibility. In summer, the open grassy sections on the lower slopes can get intensely sun-exposed, and this part of Lika is prone to wildfires during dry months — in March 2022, a fire near Bruvno burned through roughly 300 hectares. In winter, snow and icy patches on the steeper sections can make the climb harder, so it's worth checking conditions before setting out.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between Veliki Urljaj and Mali Urljaj? Veliki Urljaj is the highest summit of the whole massif (1,295 m) with forested central slopes, while the neighbouring Mali Urljaj (1,266 m) is lower and almost entirely treeless.

How long does the climb to the summit take? From the surrounding karst fields, the ascent usually takes about an hour, owing to the steep slopes of the massif.

Where's the best place to start the hike? The most convenient starting point is the hamlet of Krivošije on the western foothills, reached by a local road from Bruvno.

What else is nearby? The massif borders Mount Kremen across the Mazin pass and connects on its eastern side to the Lička Plješivica range, with the Mazin and Bruvno fields lying at its base.