A visit to Risnjak National Park is incomplete without experiencing the Leska Educational Trail—one of the first facilities of its kind in Croatia.
Before it opened on June 4, 1993, Croatia’s national parks had no educational trails. Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Željko Štahan, Risnjak National Park became the first to feature such an attraction. Easily accessible from Crni Lug, the trail begins just a few minutes’ walk west of the Park Administration building. It was designed and constructed to allow visitors to explore it independently.
As previously mentioned, the Leska Educational Trail was completed and opened to the public on June 4—coinciding with World Environment Day—in an effort to foster a positive relationship between people and nature; since then, it has undergone three renovations.
Leska is a 4,200-meter circular trail with minimal elevation changes; its well-maintained paths make it accessible to visitors of all ages and fitness levels—only sports footwear is recommended. The trail can be visited year-round: it is vibrant in spring as nature awakens, while its shade offers a refreshing escape in summer. The scents and colors of autumn hold their own unique charm, and the trail remains safe and passable for most of the winter.
The entire trail is lined with information boards—23 in total—highlighting the significant flora and fauna of Risnjak National Park as well as the region’s cultural heritage; all information is also provided in English. Right at the start of the trail, you can learn about the forests—which are a fundamental conservation feature of Risnjak National Park. They cover 92% of the park’s area, with 16 distinct forest communities thriving across the elevation range from the Kupa River valley up to the peaks of Risnjak and Snježnik. Here, you can discover the characteristics of sinkholes and their unique vegetation, learn about the formation of mountain meadows and the lives of bears, wolves, and lynx, see what a traditional rural homestead looked like (featuring the region’s typical architecture), and much more. You can explore the trail on your own or book a guided tour to learn even more from the park’s nature rangers and guides.
Take a walk along the Leska Trail… on your own, with a professional guide… or virtually via this link: https://www.virtualno360.hr/virtualna-setnja-pregled/np-risnjak
