Regardless of whether you are a recreational person, a professional athlete or just a lover of sightseeing by bike, Gacka offers bike routes for everyone's taste. From gravel and wooded routes ideal for mountain biking to paved roads ideal for a family experience on two wheels.

Take a ride through the Humac and Fortica hills, the park, or the town streets. Visit some of the nearby towns by traveling along the Gacka River. Visit the springs of Gacka, the Švica Lake, or the bears at the Kuterevo Bear Refuge. You'll understand why many bikers claim that Otočac and the Gacka Valley are riding paradises when you can smell the fields, hear the birds humming in the background, and yet feel the wilderness of the forest and a sense of peace.

We offer these six cycling routes:

JURJEVE STIJENE TRAIL

A demanding trail, 42.4 km in length, starting at 34 Kralja Zvonimira Street. It passes through Podum, Škare, and Doljani, ending at Jurjeve stijene (Juraj’s Cliffs).

Jurjeve stijene is a historic site of Croatia’s greatest military victory against the Ottomans in 1663, featuring a relief of Petar Zrinski and Fran Krsto Frankopan, and offering a stunning view over the entire Gacka Valley.

DISTANCE: 42.4 km

START / FINISH: 34 Kralja Zvonimira Street

ELEVATION GAIN: 657 m a.s.l.

SURFACE: asphalt (34.7 km), gravel (7.7 km)

THREE LAKES TRAIL (Staza tri jezera)

The shortest trail, starting at the Vivoze Bridge. It is moderately demanding, with a highest point of 404 meters above sea level. The route combines asphalt and gravel surfaces, offering scenic views of both the Gacka River and the Švica Lake.

LENGTH • 30.8 km

START / GOAL • Vivoze Bridge

ALTITUDE DIFFERENCE • 404 m/nm

SURFACE • asphalt (19 km), macadam (11.8 km)

DABAR BREVIARY TRAIL (Staza dabarskog brevijara)

A challenging route just over 37 km long, reaching an elevation of 795 m. Around 30 km is asphalt, the rest is gravel. Named after a breviary written in the nearby village of Dabar, the trail features sights like the Church of St. Michael (1730) and Osman-aga’s Field — named after a wounded Ottoman commander who, legend says, hid inside a hollow tree there and died.

DISTANCE: 37.3 km

START / FINISH: Dabar – Škare – Podum crossroads

ELEVATION GAIN: 795 m a.s.l.

SURFACE: asphalt (29.2 km), gravel (8.1 km)

THE URSA MAJOR TRAIL (Staza Ursa Major)

Dedicated to the European brown bear, this medium-difficulty trail leads toward Kuterevo and its Bear Refuge. The 34.7 km route begins at the dam by the Vivoze Bridge and is partially paved.

DISTANCE: 34.7 km

START / FINISH: Vivoze Bridge

ELEVATION GAIN: 657 m a.s.l.

SURFACE: asphalt (partially specified)

BARKAN TRAIL (Barkanova staza)

A long, moderately demanding trail full of cultural landmarks and natural beauty along the Gacka River — one of Croatia’s most beautifulwaterways. This 42.6 km route features over 30 km of asphalt, with the remainder on gravel. It starts at Dr. Franjo Tuđman Square and reaches a 500 m elevation. It’s a local favorite, as it follows the Gacka River past Šatrići, the Church of St. Francis, and the Majer and Tonković springs.

DISTANCE: 42.6 km

START / FINISH: Dr. Franjo Tuđman Square

ELEVATION GAIN: 500 m a.s.l.

SURFACE: asphalt, gravel, field paths

HAJDUK'S VALLEY  TRAIL (Staza Hajdučka draga)

The longest and most demanding trail at 52 km, starting from the city park in Otočac and climbing to 870 m elevation. It runs along both asphalt and gravel roads and passes through Kopije, the tri-border of the Velebit villages Kuterevo, Krasno, and Kosinj, as well as the Bear Refuge in Kuterevo.

DISTANCE: 52 km

START / FINISH: City Park, Otočac

ELEVATION GAIN: 870 m a.s.l.

SURFACE: asphalt, gravel

If you choose to cycle during your stay in Otočac but didn’t bring your bike — don’t worry. Local agencies like Velebit Activities https://www.velebit.info/ and Quad & Kayak Otočac https://quad-kayak-otocac.com/ offer both standard and electric bike rentals. Friendly staff will also help you choose the ideal route or even create a custom one for your ride. And if you’d rather not explore solo, you can book them as certified cycling guides and get a detailed, guided look at Otočac and its surroundings.

You can also reach out to licensed cycling guides through the Barkan Cycling Club:
• https://barkanbike.wordpress.com/

• Dražen Benčić, mobile number + 385 98-164-2362
• Josip Kraljić, mobile number +385 95-199-9124
• Hrvoje Mudrovčić, mobile number +385 99-8199-282

Barkan Cycling Club is also the main organizer of the annual Barkan Memorial Ride, held in late June or early July. The event is open to both children and adults and includes a recreational ride and a children’s cycling course.