Mali Princ - a trail through a limestone maze

The hike starts at Prezid Pass and is well marked. After a short climb, during which you pass two watering troughs on the edge of a pasture, you reach the first junction. Turn left there and continue uphill to the Crnopac shelter (sklonište) (1,140 m).

Crnopac shelter

From the shelter, there are fine views of the surrounding limestone massifs, especially Bili kuk (1,171 m), which the Mali Princ route circles around. It is a great place for a break and a snack.

The shelter itself can accommodate about ten overnight visitors, and behind the building you will find a pump drawing collected rainwater from a tank. The quality of the water depends on how long it has been sitting in the tank, so it is best not to drink it without filtering it first.

The Mali Princ loop

From the shelter, descend back to the junction, turn right, and within a few minutes you will reach the point where the Mali Princ loop trail begins. The route is very well marked and takes you through a rock maze filled with original passages, gateways, and towers. Along the way you can expect:

• narrow rock clefts
• rock gates
• chasms
• lots of short climbs and descents secured with fixed ropes and iron pegs
• viewpoints over the surrounding limestone massifs and forests

The atmosphere on the loop is unique - you feel as if you are wandering through a stone kingdom. The challenge lies more in technique and agility than in distance or elevation gain.

Bili kuk

The loop wraps around the summit of Bili kuk (1,171 m), which it ascends shortly before the end. The final section is made even more interesting by crawling under a huge boulder wedged in a rock chimney and then climbing up iron pegs.

On the descent, watch the trail markings carefully - the left turn that closes the loop can be easy to miss.

Return

After completing the loop, return to the Crnopac shelter and then follow the same path back to Prezid Pass, where the hike began.

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