Montenegro Guide - National Parks

Durmitor, Skadar Lake, Biogradska Gora, Lovcen and Prokletije National Parks cover a total area of more than 100,000 ha. 

Durmitor National Park is the most well known of Montenegro's National Parks running along one side of the Tara Canyon, with some of the highest mountains in Montenegro and lakes of a deep blue colour. In winter the small town of Zabljak provides a base for skiing and winter sports. In summer the mountains of the park provide a stunning backdrop for walkers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. The Tara river runs through part of Durmitor National Park and provides visitors with one of the world's deepest canyons, and the deepest in Europe, reaching 1,300m at it’s deepest point. White water rafting on the Tara is a popular summer pastime.

Biogradska Gora is Montenegro’s oldest protected park and mostly consists of primary forest. The park boasts five glacial lakes and covers an area from the Tara river to the summit of Mt Bjelasica. Superb summer hiking is available and wilderness camping. A comprehensive map of the hiking trails available in the tourist offices. The snow cover in this region remains on the highest peaks for six months of the year, so is best for summer hiking unless you have specialist equipment.

Skadar Lake National Park covers an area of around 40,000 ha including the lake itself. It is known as a bird watchers paradise and offers excellent fishing as well. Villages around the shoreline offer local accommodation and restaurants. The scenery of the surrounding mountain peaks reflected in the lake’s waters is bound to provide inspiration for painters and photographers alike.
 
Lovcen National Park is the most accessible of the National parks from the Bay of Kotor. The second summit of Mt Lovcen at Stirovnik (the highest summit is Jezerski at 1,657 m) is home to a Mausoleum dedicated to Montenegro’s most celebrated King and poet - Petar II Petrovi Njegos. The breathtaking views from the summit far reach north west to the Bay of Kotor, towards Skadar Lake in the south east and across the central inland plateaus and mountain ranges of Montenegro. The village of Njegos, where the poet was born, is 19km away and is famed for the locally cured prosciutto ham. The road from Njegos to Kotor descends through 32 hairpin bends, known locally as the ‘Serpentine’ and gives a spectacular view of the Bay of Kotor.

Prokletije National Park is the newest region to get National Park status. Occupying the north of Albania, southwest of Kosovo and the east of Montenegro the name Prokletije means the 'Accursed Mountains'. It is home to the highest peak in Montenegro - Zla Kolata at 2,534m. The area is remote and difficult to travel to from other parts of Montenegro. Old traditions and cultures remain strong in the region and the ties with Albania inextricably linked here.