National Park Paklenica covers the most attractive parts of Southern Velebit, located at Starigrad, not far from Zadar. It is concentrated in a mere 96 km2. Its most striking features are two forbidding gorges, Velika and Mala Paklenica, gouged into the mountain from the sea to beneath Velebit’s highest peaks. The park abounds in bizarre karstic forms, caves and other natural features, and the wide range of climatic conditions has benefited the wide diversity of flora and fauna.

Despite its wilderness nature, Paklenica is easily accessible due to the proximity of the Adriatic Tourist Road and the highway. The vistas of Velebit rising above the resort of Starigrad-Paklenica, which are at once intimidating and alluring, beckon to those tourists seeking light hearted adventure.
Through the wild ruggedness of Velika Paklenica, where highland women once carried salt on their backs from the coast, and brought wheat from the fertile hinterland Lika, today runs a comfortably negotiable hiking trail.
In part the trail runs at the foot of sheer crags where, a long time ago, small tunnels were carved through the living rock. Once out of the canyon, it climbs a gentle course across meadows through the wooded slopes of Velebit. Which makes it an excellent walk for people of all ages, and enables children and all to learn great deal about the nature hereabouts from the numerous information and interpretation boards. And when thirst strikes, the traveler can freely drink of the water generously provided by the many, pure mountain springs.

Among the multitude of caves the most beautiful is Manita cave, while among the world of fauna the most attractive are various types of butterfly and birds of prey.

The central attraction of Paklenica is 400 meters high Anica kuk. Because of its height, sheer sides, beauty and the possibility for cimbing throughout the year due to the vicinity of the warm sea, Anica kuk has become one of the best known Alpinist sites in Europe. Hikers and mountaineers in Paklenica are able to rest in any of several abandoned traditional Sheppard’s huts, which is particularly welcome before a final assault on Velebit summit.