Many of my regular readers will know that Miloš and I have made a few visits to Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia; it’s definitely one of our favorite places!
Our previous visits were in winter, when the park was an amazing winter wonderland, and in spring when the weather was warming up and buds were starting to form.
(CLICK HERE FOR PLITVICE WINTER WONDERLAND)
(CLICK HERE FOR PLITVICE IN SPRING)
Our most recent visit was in October 2016. (I’m just getting a chance to post about it now!)
The weather was pleasant, and the entire park was open for exploration. (Parts of the park are closed off in the low season.) As I’ve mentioned before, Plitvice is about a two and a half hour drive from Miloš’ hometown, so it’s a very manageable day trip for us. It was definitely the most crowded time of our three visits, with many tourists sharing the trails with us.
There were still a few colorful leaves on the trees, but most had already fallen. I can’t help but think that if we had gone two or three weeks earlier, we might have witnessed more of fall’s spectacular colors.
There are a number of marked trails that you can follow, and we chose to take a walk all the way up to the farthest marked point of the lake area (map left), and then take the little shuttle back to the look out area that leads back to the starting point. (Starting point at map right.)
We started out at Entrance 1, and noticed some friendly local residents right away, trying to beg for treats at the little cafe…
When you first clear the entranceway and look upon the main falls, it’s truly a sight to behold: both majestic and delicately beautiful.
We walked some of the familiar trail segments we knew from previous visits, but also were happy to explore new sections of the park. Posted below are some photos of our day’s adventures!
(Click on any of the photos to see an enlarged version.)
A few quick tips:
-Comfortable shoes are a must
-Bring water (definitely) and snacks. (A small bag or light-weight backpack is helpful.)
-Hike during the day, and clear the park after it closes
-Walk with caution, as there are no railings on most trails
-Dress accordingly for the weather – layers are recommended
