Ćunina glava

Ćunina Glava (Rijeka)

The area around Obruč near Rijeka offers countless opportunities for downhill mountain bikers. The Kretenweg trail from the summit of Ćunina glava southwards is an absolute highlight.

Description

This challenging mountain bike tour starts in the hidden village of Orehovica, not far from Rijeka. From there, the route rides steadily uphill on asphalt through the hinterland, past Grobnik and the former airstrip, to Dražice. The climb up to here is steady, but not yet particularly challenging.

In Dražice, the terrain changes: a gravel road, the Direttissima on the southern slope, leads directly up to the Planinarski dom Hahlić restaurant. This uphill is wild and challenging, comparable to the wild nature of Croatia. For e-bikers, this section is rideable throughout, but good riding technique is also required here. For all other cyclists, this section means that the bike has to be pushed again and again, especially in the upper section. Shortly before the hut, you have to push again before tackling the last few meters to the summit.

On reaching the top, you have a spectacular view of the Mediterranean Sea and the Kvarner Bay of Rijeka. The islands of Krk and Cres can also be seen from this breathtaking perspective.

The descent from the summit is just as challenging as the ascent and rides down on a ridge ride with difficulty levels S2 to S3. At the beginning, you cross a short section secured by ropes, which is easy to manage. Afterwards, the descent is steep and varied, with flow passages and crisp key sections on hairpin bends as well as the classic karst terrain challenging the skills of every biker.

The route leads back to Dražice and crosses the Grobnik hinterland before tackling the last trail at Reketinac. A former feeder road, which has been converted into a staircase and transformed into a pure trail by a quarry, offers pure trail enjoyment. Finally, the tour ends at the starting point in Orehovica, after the bike has been carried over artificial structures at the highway crossing.

Especially in the summer months, when temperatures are high, you should carry plenty of water with you, as there are no natural sources of drinking water available outside the managed alpine hut.

To view the detailed tour description, the topo map, the altitude profile and to download the GPX track, you need a user account on Ride-mtb.com with a subscription. Log in now or become a subscriber.