Učka Nature Park: Poklon, the hike to Vojak and a day trip from Bale

Updated October 13, 2026.

Visit the Poklon centre or hike to Vojak in Učka Nature Park. From Istria’s highest summit, you can look across the peninsula and towards Kvarner Bay.

Starting at Poklon

For a first trip from Bale, head for Poklon Pass on the old road over Učka. The tunnel takes traffic through to the Kvarner side, while the visitor centre is reached by the mountain road. Poklon has parking, trail information and a mountain lodge. The pass, at 922 metres, links Učka and Ćićarija. Established in 1999, the nature park covers Učka and part of Ćićarija.

The Poklon Visitor Centre opened in 2021 in a converted poultry house. Its multimedia museum explores how the mountain formed, its wildlife and the lives of the people who lived here. Children can listen to forest sounds and explore interactive displays. You can visit the museum without hiking to the summit. The centre also has a souvenir shop, a café and educational spaces.

Vojak and the hiking routes

At 1,401 metres, Vojak is the highest summit on the Istrian peninsula. Mountaineers built its stone lookout tower in 1911. On a clear day, you can see the Kvarner islands and inland Istria, with views extending to Velebit and the Alps.

A marked trail climbs from Poklon through beech woodland. The circular route returning along the Plas educational trail takes around four hours and is moderately demanding. This is an estimate for the whole route, with the actual time depending on fitness, breaks and ground conditions. Plas crosses the summit area, where information panels explain the forest habitats and karst landscape.

Veli Planik, the highest peak in Ćićarija at 1,272 metres, is a separate hiking destination. Routes approach it from Poklon and from Brgudac via Korita.

Equipment and mountain weather

Conditions at altitude can differ from those on the nearby coast. Higher parts of Učka receive more precipitation, including winter snow, while wind and fog can change conditions during your walk. For a hike, bring:

• sturdy footwear, a warm layer and protection from rain and wind
• enough water and food, a charged phone, a map and a torch.

Plan to return before dark, particularly on the shorter autumn and winter days. Stay on marked trails and tell someone your route and expected return time. In an emergency, call 112 and give your location, preferably with GPS coordinates.

Distance from Bale: 58 minutes driving (65.8 km)

For: families, first time visitors, nature lovers, athletes, recreationists, dog owners

What to do: information, activities, landscape, recreation

Start navigation