Sveto Brdo from the Sea

Ascent from Modrič

The hike to Sveto Brdo starts on the coast in the village of Modrič, just a few kilometres from the well-known Paklenica canyon. In Modrič, there is a bus stop and a small free parking area right by the road, where you can park conveniently.

The marked trail first climbs above the village and winds along a well-maintained path through limestone rocks and scrub. After about 200 metres of ascent, you cross a gravel road and pass through the abandoned hamlet of Stanići, where you can still see crumbling stone houses and grassy terraced slopes.

Church of Sveti Ivan

This is followed by a steeper climb through sparse woodland, gaining roughly 400 vertical metres. The trail brings you to an open mountain plateau with pastures, where you join a gravel track used by off-road vehicles. After about 1.5 km, you turn left off it and continue over gently rolling terrain to the ruins of the Church of Sveti Ivan – a photogenic spot with beautiful views.

Nearby there is a muddy watering hole, which may serve as an emergency water source if absolutely necessary (and after filtering).

Vlaški Grad Shelter

From the Church of Sveti Ivan, the marked route continues uphill to the saddle below the rocky summit of Vlaški Grad (1,383 m), where you’ll find a modern mountain shelter of the same name at 1,280 m.

Just a few dozen metres below the shelter, the Donji izvor spring flows from a pipe and is usually a reliable place to refill water. The views from here stretch across the steep slopes of Velebit, into the Paklenica canyons, and back toward the sea coast.

Ascent to Sveto Brdo

Beyond Vlaški Grad comes the final climb – first to a saddle at about 1,500 m, then the remaining 250 vertical metres to the summit of Sveto Brdo.

Sveto Brdo (1,751 m) offers one of the most breathtaking panoramas in all of Velebit – over the Adriatic Sea and islands, across the Croatian interior, and along the main Velebit ridge. In the distance, you can also make out Vaganski vrh (1,757 m), the highest point of the range. With good visibility, you may even spot the summit of Dinara (1,831 m) to the east – the highest mountain in Croatia.

Return by the same route.

Useful info