Veliki Kamenjak

Kamenjak

The Kamenjak with its countless military installations offers a perfect all-mountain tour from Rijeka with a very varied trail descent.

Description

The tour starts in the port city of Rijeka, more precisely in the district of Orehovica. From there, the route rides steadily uphill on a paved road with a medium gradient, past the former airport and the Grobnik motorcycle race track. This section rides away from the coast and deep into the vast hinterland. The road leads up to the striking and rocky Kamenjak, a region that was fortified by the Italian army during the Second World War and today offers excellent infrastructure for mountain bikers.

At the height of the pass, you leave the asphalt road and follow a mulattiera trail that rides almost to the summit. There are a few bumps in between, but these do not significantly affect the route. At Veliki Kamenjak, the large Kamenjak, you reach an altitude of almost 800 m above sea level. From here, you have a fantastic view of the mountains, the Risnjak National Park to the north and the Mediterranean Sea and the island of Krk to the south.

The descent begins at the top on a mulattiera trail with difficulty levels S1 and S2 and leads back to the asphalt road. You roll down this road and then take the trail shortcuts that ride directly to the Grobnik motorcycle route and the disused airport. This section is the most technically demanding part of the tour, with difficulty levels between S2 and S3. The karst formations and steps require active riding skills to avoid falling.

Finally, you cross the disused runway, rejoin the ascent route and follow it towards Reketinac/Hrastenice. The last downhill begins in this small village and leads over a concrete staircase, which is particularly interesting to ride. This ends in the area of a disused quarry and the route leads into a classic trail. Here too, the difficulties are classified between S2 and S3, with the karst formations and loose gravel requiring particular caution.

The tour ends with a crossing of a highway via a staircase, where the bike is pushed through, and rides back to the starting point. Due to the extreme heat and high temperatures in the summer months of July and August, the tour is less recommended during this time, as the conditions can significantly limit the enjoyment of the ride.

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