Masna Luka – Pločno
Tour description:
Masna Luka is the starting point for most hiking trails in the entire Blidinje Nature Park. From here, you can access hiking trails towards Vran and towards the most beautiful peaks of Čvrsnica. The central point for all trails is the Masna Luka Mountaineering Lodge, from where you can literally go wherever you want. The good thing is that there is an excellent asphalt road leading to the starting points, which is cleared in winter.
One of these trails leads to the highest peak of Čvrsnica and also the highest peak of the entire Blidinje Nature Park. That peak is Pločno. At 2228 meters above sea level, it vigilantly watches over all the events in the park and proudly stands high above all the natural beauty unfolding beneath it throughout the year.
The starting point for the ascent to Pločno starts from the Masna Luka Mountaineering Lodge or a little below, near the church of St. Elijah. Both trails merge into one after about 10 minutes and continue through a pine forest, which is the largest European habitat of the endemic Bosnian pine. The trail is quite steep at the beginning, so after the first hour and a half of hiking, you reach some very beautiful viewpoints. The first thing you encounter above the pine forest is Ćužića Kuk. The trail passes right next to its cliffs, which are up to 300 meters high. Ćužića kuk is the peak that separated from the main ridge of Čvrsnica and provides shade to Masna Luka. If you look back from this point, you will have the opportunity to observe the area of the Blidinje Nature Park from the lake to Kedžara, and the peaks of Vran will seem within arm’s reach. Immediately after emerging onto a flatter area behind Ćužića Kuk, you can catch sight of the ridge connecting Pločno with the other high peaks of Čvrsnica. The trail continues over smaller hills and valleys all the way to the intersection of Veliki Vilinac <-> Pločno. The intersection is above the peak of Juneći Kuk, and after that, the most demanding part of the entire trail follows. Before reaching the summit, you have to pass through a scree slope, which is very steep but offers an excellent adventure. Although it may seem impossible to ascend such a steep slope from a distance, there is a well-built hiking trail alongside the scree slope. It allows you to feel comfortable and safely stand and admire the cliffs around Pločno, which beautifully crown this highest peak of Čvrsnica. When you reach the top of the scree slope, looking down will surely evoke pride and a true mountaineering spirit in you because ascending such a steep slope is a real mountaineering feat.
Next to the highest point of Pločno, there has long been a small military base, and a dirt road has been built to the top, starting from Barzonja. In the base, there are always two soldiers who allow photography by the highest point of Čvrsnica, but you shouldn’t count on getting water from them. Therefore, it is necessary to supply yourself with a sufficient amount of water before embarking on this tour because there is no water on the trail. From Pločno, you can observe all the surrounding mountains, and on clear days, even those far away in Bosnia or towards Montenegro. You can also see the sea, and the most experienced mountaineers can even recognize Durmitor among all those mountains to the east. The entire trail is well averaged and marked but requires good physical condition from hikers who decide to undertake this endeavor.
Additional Information:
The length of the trail is about 17 km (round trip), with an altitude difference of about 1200 meters. The trail is considered a difficult hiking tour. It is well marked and averaged.
- Starting point: Masna Luka, 1200 meters above sea level
- Coordinates for the starting point: 43.632475, 17.541513
- Walking time: 9 hours
- Length of the trail: 17 km
- Altitude difference: 1200 m
- Drinking water: not available
- Difficulty of ascent: difficult
Magical landscapes of Blidinje Nature Park
Association “Visit Blidinje”
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