Montenegro is certainly one of the most picturesque nations on the planet, but it’s not one which attracts the average traveler.
But if you’re looking for excellent scenery as well as the chance to explore Mother Nature and engage in some wonderful outdoor activities you may want to add this small European country on your “places to visit†list.
For those who are interested in outdoor adventures such as camping and hiking, one of the most popular locations to visit in Montenegro is Durmitor National Park. It’s not going to be mistaken as one of the world’s largest parks as it’s 131 square miles in total size, but it’s been an excellent spot for local residents and visitors alike since it was established back in 1952.
The park is home to three spectacular canyons as well as the huge Durmitor Massif. You’ll also find the rushing Tara River here along with the deepest gorge in all of Europe with a depth of 4,265 feet. This gorge offers a 42-mile-long stretch for kayakers and rafters as they pass through Tara Canyon.
There are also rivers flowing underneath Durmitor National Park as waterways which come from Black Lake flow beneath the Durmitor Massif and over to the Komarnica River’s upper canyon valley. In fact you’ll find quite a lot of water here. Black Lake is the largest in the park and there are about a dozen other crystal-clear lakes to enjoy.
Along with plenty of clear water, you’ll find a lot of trees. There are thick pine and deciduous forests in the park as well as black pine. Most of these trees have been standing for over 400 years and some of them reach as high as 160 feet into the sky.
A lot of the high pastures in the park are used to graze cattle and sheep during the summer months. The animals are owned by the people who live inside of the park’s borders as well as those who reside in the nearby community of Zabljak.
There are some high plateaus in the park as it’s located in the majestic Dinaric Alps. You can reach these by traveling along one of the numerous hiking trails. You can camp out overnight here as there is a bivouac, a refuge, and a hut to choose from.
The altitudes generally range from about 1,475 feet to just higher than 8,200 feet. There are 50 peaks in the Mount Durmitor Massif which are higher than 6,560 feet.
There are many types of endemic plants in the park and you can even find wild strawberries and blueberries on some of the lower slopes between the months of June and October. The wildlife is also quite varied. There are more than 160 different species of birds on hand as well as animals such as lizards, frogs, newts, boars, chamois, brown bears, and wolves.
The park is quite remote since it’s about 10 hours by road from Belgrade and just over three hours from Podgorica. Zabljak is a village nearby that sits in the mountains and is also on the borderline of Durmitor National Park.
It’s the biggest ski resort in Montenegro and in the summer time it’s an ideal place for Biking, hiking, swimming, fishing, and boating etc. The crowds are generally the smallest during the spring and fall. One of the busiest times to visit is in mid-July when the annual Mountain Flowers Day takes place.
