Municipality of Rakovica: Caves, karst and cycling routes

Karst shapes the landscape of the Municipality of Rakovica. Caves, sinkholes, forests, meadows and marked cycling routes offer different perspectives for a stay; there is also an exhibition on natural and cultural heritage, historic fortifications and encounters with wildlife. This makes it possible to tailor your visit to your interests, whether nature, culture or outdoor activities.

Within the wider destination of Karlovac County, the protected area of the Barać Caves and its associated Natura 2000 network lie within the Municipality of Rakovica. This area is a karst landscape of hornbeam and beech forests, meadows, fields and numerous sinkholes. The caves are home to a significant bat colony and several endemic insect species.

Caves, circular trails and exhibition

The Barać Caves opened to visitors in 1892. The Upper Barać Cave is 495 metres long. Three circular walking trails start and end at the caves’ excursion area. Visiting the caves and walking the trails offer two different ways to explore nature: an underground karst landscape and routes that bring you back to the starting point.

The permanent exhibition at Speleon presents the region’s natural and cultural heritage through four themes: speleology, geology, archaeology and palaeontology. Alongside speleology, these fields broaden the perspective on the region to include geological, archaeological and palaeontological aspects.

Fortress and fortifications

Stari grad Drežnik is a registered medieval fortress and a registered cultural asset in the Municipality of Rakovica. Its round defensive tower is an example of 15th- or 16th-century fortification architecture. The castle offers visitors an authentic experience of an early Renaissance castle. Its historical context and the tower’s distinctive shape give the site a focus of its own alongside the natural attractions.

Cycling routes and getting around

The Municipality of Rakovica has an organised network of marked cycling routes. One specifically named route is R31 Rakovica–Oštarski Stanovi–Rakovičko Selište: it is 7.94 kilometres long and starts in the centre of Rakovica. R31 is therefore a clearly defined option, while the marked network provides a broader local framework for cycling trips.

There is also a named route for getting around by road: the main state road runs through the municipality along the Karlovac–Slunj–Rakovica–Grabovac–Plitvice Lakes route. The cycling routes and road corridor offer two different ways of getting around: local activity by bicycle and a road connection linking several named places.

Outdoor activities

Plitvice Adrenaline Park offers a 300-metre zipline over the Korana River canyon. Ogi Adrenaline Park features a rope course and a giant swing; check current operating status before travelling. There is also a sport climbing site in the Municipality of Rakovica, above Gajina Cave. Confirm its current availability locally. The activities are quite distinct: a zipline, a course with a giant swing and sport climbing.

At Ranch Dolina Jelena, an open-air zoo with more than 100 wild animals, visitors can hand-feed, pet and photograph deer and stags. Due to high interest, a visit must be booked a few days in advance by email or phone. After the visit, local specialities, natural juices and spirits produced by Bićanići and neighbouring family-run businesses are served. Encounters with animals, advance booking and regional produce together shape the visit.

Karlovac County as the wider setting

The wider destination of Karlovac County has almost 700 kilometres of cycling routes. It also offers more than 200 kilometres of waterways for rafting, kayaking and canoeing. These regional figures broaden the picture beyond the municipality: cycling and water activities shape the wider setting of Karlovac County, while the routes and experiences mentioned above relate specifically to Rakovica.

Discover more destinations: Smoljanac, Municipality of Plitvička Jezera, Municipality of Perušić, Municipality of Udbina, Municipality of Karlobag, Municipality of Gospić, Municipality of Brinje, Municipality of Donji Lapac.

Return to the wider travel overview: Lika-Senj.