Mala Kapela Ridge & Tunnel

The Mala Kapela range forms the eastern watershed of Gorski Kotar and is best known today for the spectacular 5.8-km Mala Kapela road tunnel on the A1 motorway between Zagreb and Split — Croatia's longest road tunnel, opened in 2005 and a marvel of engineering that finally connected the Adriatic coast to the interior with an all-weather link. But the mountain range itself is a magnificent wilderness of primeval beech and fir forest, dolines and karst plateaux; the highest peak, Seliški Vrh (1,280 m), is reached on a lovely 3-hour hike from the tiny village of Jasenak. A well-signed mountain trail crosses the range from Jasenak to the Plitvice Lakes side, making it a challenging but achievable full-day traverse for confident hikers. The area is one of Europe's densest bear habitats — an estimated 100+ bears roam the range — and camera-trap footage shows regular lynx activity too. Most visitors experience Mala Kapela only through the darkness of the tunnel, but the small viewpoint above Jasenak (a 10-minute walk from the village) gives you a chance to appreciate the great wilderness that lies above your head as you drive through.