Europen Mountains,
Montenegro
Lovćen National Park
Štirovnik, 1749m
Jezerski Vrh, 1657m,
Babljak, 1604m
| County/Municipality: | - | ||
| Maps: | - | ||
| Primary factor: |
Štirovnik: 914m Jezerski Vrh: 296m Babljak: 189m | ||
| Hiked: | July 2012 | ||
| See also: |
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| See also : | Other European mountains on westcoastpeaks.com |
Lovćen high peaks
(Click for larger image)
Introduction
Lovćen (Ловћен) is one of Montenegro's 5 national parks, founded in 1952. As a mountain region, it is relatively small (62,20 kmē) compared to the larger mountain regions Durmitor and Prokletije.
Štirovnik is the highest peak, but Jezerski Vrh is the main attraction - holding the mausoleum of Petar Petrovic II Njegoš. Babljak is the 3rd highest summit, but is quite anonymous in comparison to the two other peaks.
All peaks are quite accessible; you can almost drive to the top of Jezerski Vrh, Štirovnik and Babljak are both reached within the hour along marked trails. Various literature on the internet will states that Štirovnik is military area and not accessible. This does not seem to be the case any longer. At least when it comes to the accessible part. The beginning of the mountain path is painted in red on the main road through the national park...
Štirovnik
(Click for larger image)
Per July 2012, there was an entry fee (a few Euros) at the mausoleum on Jezerski Vrh. You will have to judge if the experience matches the expense. In any case, from a mountain view perspective, there is not a big antenna on top and the views are quite good...
Jezerski Vrh
(Click for larger image)
If you want to visit a Lovćen high top with a minimal human footprint, Babljak is your best bet. There is a -partly- marked route to the top, and the path is hardly visible. From the top, you have a great view towards the other high peaks in the national park.
Babljak
(Click for larger image)
There is a road that goes through the National Park, so - depending on your starting point - you have the option to visit the park through a round trip drive. A rental car is clearly the easiest way to get around in Montenegro...
Knock on wood - a signpost!
(Click for larger image)
Primary factor:
The primary factors (ref.
the header section) has been taken from the document "The mountains of
Montenegro. Volume 2: Summits under 2000 metres", compiled by Andy
Tomkins.
On Jezerski Vrh
(Click for larger image)
Google map
Google's interactive map. You can zoom, pan and click on the markers.
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Trail descriptions
| This disclaimer is regarding all of the literature and instructional guides posted on the westcoastpeaks.com website. These instructions are guidelines only, and should not be used in lieu of common sense or judgment when attempting any of the actions involved or instructed. Westcoastpeaks nor myself will not be liable nor will it indemnify any form of compensation to anyone who has injured, harmed or even killed themselves or others while following any of the instructions written within the website. It should be noted by any persons willing to undertake any of the instructions provided that mountains offer varying levels of risk, regardless of size or incline. Risks to be considered are as follows but not limited to: wild animals, weather, the terrain, bad judgment, inappropriate or insufficient equipment, improper training or experience and of course, bad luck... |
These route descriptions are valid per July 2012
Access for all tops:
(all distances are approx. distances)
The starting point for this route description is the Tivat airport.
- Drive in the direction of Budva
- At the first major fork (shortly after you've left the airport), turn left in the direction of Kotor (N42.39184 E18.73785). This exit is signposted.
- Just before Kotor, turn right in the direction of Lovćen (N42.41197 E18.76363). This fork is not signposted. Use your instincts...
- Follow the scenic and curvy road up to Konoba. This is -allegedly- one of the finest drives on this planet...
- At Konoba, turn right (N42.42564 E18.80031) and follow the road through Lovćen National Park (signposted)
- Note where the mountain road to Štirovnik (with the antenna) begins (N42.39678 E18.79980)
The routes:
The routes, as seen in Google Earth
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Route 1: Jezerski Vrh
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Access:
See "Access for all tops" above.
From the point where the mountain road to Štirovnik begins, continue 3km to a junction (N42.40090 E18.82737). Turn left here and follow the road 3km to up to Jezerski Vrh parking area. The road to the the right will take you to Cetinje.
The route:
Follow a walkway up through a tunnel (or on the outside of it) up for 0,3km to the Petar Petrovic II Njegoš mausoleum. There is an entry fee (a few Euros). You have also a good viewpoint on the north side of the mausoleum.
The stairs to Jezerski Vrh
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Route 2: Štirovnik
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Access:
See "Access for all tops" above.
From the point where the mountain road to Štirovnik begins, continue 1,9km to the pass (N42.39447 E18.82076) between Štirovnik and Babljak. Park alongside the road where you see red paint.
The route:
Follow the marked route north up to the southeast ridge, and then follow it to the summit (N42.39917 E18.81823) and the installation on top. There is no path, but the general direction is marked with red paint on rocks. Although a bit rocky, the route is overall easy.
The route to Štirovnik
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Route 3: Babljak
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Access:
See "Access for all tops" above.
From the point where the mountain road to Štirovnik begins, continue 1,9km to the pass (N42.39447 E18.82076) between Štirovnik and Babljak. Park alongside the road where you see red paint.
The route:
Follow a marked route into the forest. It disappears almost right away, but just find your way up to the ridge, then you will be right on track again. The summit (N42.38843 E18.82012) is marked by a medium-sized cairn.
There is also a marked route to another top (N42.38334 E18.81547) - 0,7km to the southwest. This top might look higher when seen from Babljak, but it's at least 40 meters lower - approx. 1560m.
The route to Babljak
(Click for larger image)
Pictures and Trip reports:
- Lovćen peaks, July 8 2012
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