Bjelasica is a mountain range in the north-central part of Montenegro. It is surrounded by five cities: Kolašin, Mojkovac, Bijelo Polje, Berane, and Andrijevica. Bjelasica is part of Biogradska Gora National Park and is considered to be a paradise for hikers and mountain lovers in general. Its relief is characterized by the great jaggedness and numerous forms due to volcanic origins, with smooth round shapes, differing from most of Montenegro's other mountains with many crevasses and crevices.
Bjelasica is known as the greenest mountain in Montenegro. It is very passable even to the highest peaks from which one can enjoy scenic panoramic views over six lakes, each of them truly attractive and worth seeing. The largest peaks are: Crna glava (Black Head) 2.139m, Zekova glava 2.117m and Troglava 2.072m. The most significant lake is Lake Biograd, but the other five: Ursulovacko, Pesica, Sisko, Malo Sisko and Malo Ursulovacko are splendid as well. Besides with the lakes, Bjelasica abounds with numerous water springs and with a wide dense forests.
From the highest peaks of Bjelasica numerous other mountain peaks are visible, among which Maja Jezerce peak (Prokletije) 2694 m, Kom Kucki peak (Komovi) 2487 m, Bobotov Kuk peak (Durmitor) 2523 m and many others. Bjelasica is full of hiking trails and each of them leads to the highest peaks and lakes. Trails are medium-hard with an average length of 12 km. The largest is 35 km long and it takes around 8 hours to finish it. There is a 120 km long mountain transversal 'CT-1' going through Bjelasica. This hike takes six days in total or three days if you decide to hike only the part of Bjelasica and NP Biogradska gora.
When hiking in this area, not only that you get to know the relief and get to be enchanted by the beautiful landscapes and the nature, but you have the opportunity to stop off the katun (mountain cluster of wooden huts) and get acquainted with the former way of life in this region. As soon as the snow melts and hotter days come, the 'house owners' of the katun huts appear, spending time in their ancestral homes until the next winter approaches. Their hospitality and insistence to honor passersby with rakija, cheese, broth or home-made juice made of blueberries or raspberries picked up in the vicinity is something that both Montenegrin and foreign visitors enjoy.
There are also a bit more modern katuns, made as Bjelasica became increasingly popular as a summer destination and they pretty much resemble to the old authentic huts. One of them is Eco summer pasture Vranjak situated at 1800 meters altitude next to the very border with the National Park. Here you can book a hut and enjoy national cuisine but also participate in village activities such as collecting and splitting woods, milking cows, learn to make layered cheese and kajmak (rich cheese) and get to know Montenegrin cuisine much closer.
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The author
Katarina Kalicanin
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