Korana Canyon — Below Plitvice

Everything downstream of Plitvice's Sastavci waterfall is technically the Korana river, and its first two kilometres — a deep limestone canyon of vertical white walls and cobalt pools — are arguably the most underrated part of the national park. A short but stunning trail follows the west rim from the entrance 1 viewpoint downwards, then descends via metal stairs to river level where the walking bridge crosses the emerald flow. From here the canyon runs unchanged for another 100 km all the way to Karlovac. The best vantage is from the Vidikovac Plitvice viewpoint atop the cliff opposite Veliki Slap, where you can trace the whole cascade of the lower lakes emptying into the canyon in a single perfect frame. The canyon walls host a colony of griffon vultures (locally referred to as gligavci) and if you sit quietly at the viewpoint for twenty minutes you're almost guaranteed to see one wheeling overhead. Downstream a few kilometres, the small hamlet of Rakovica has a lovely swimming spot with a tiny travertine beach where locals cool off in July.