Description

A valley situated on the northwest slopes of Učka. Water and wind have been sculpting its extraordinary contours for thousands of years. There, you will find narrow towers scattered over the sunny side of the valley. From there you can see the peak of Učka on one side and fields on the opposite side. Because of all that, climbing in this extraordinary ambiance is quite a special experience.

Note: Initial parts of certain routes are cragged. Being a part of the Nature park Učka the whole area of canyon is protected as geomorfological natural phenomena. All the already known routes on the northern cliff except for the solitary rock named Svijeća (=Candle) are allowed for climbing. Access to the routes and through the canyon is allowed only using the already known paths. Some routes are not very well protected, while others are.

Accommodation: Campsite Raspadalica, campsite Ičići, mountaineers’ lodging Poklon (Učka).

☝🏼Vela Draga is a part of Učka nature's park and therefore you must be sure not to go off existing paths. Canyon is home to numerous protected plant and animal species. Prohibited activities (Croatian Law on Nature Protection):

- off-road driving and driving out of the main public roads
- waster dumping
- destruction or removal of cave decorations, fossils and minerals
- destruction of plants, animals or fungi
- making fire
- camping

New routes cannot be opened.

History

This area was first climbed in 1931 by an Italian alpinist Emilio Comici from Trieste who, together with his partner, climbed the northern rock face of Veliki Toranj. Later on, Italian and domestic climbers from Rijeka climbed the remaining two towers (Rukavica, Svijeća). Almost “impossible” routes have been clim­bed by Silvije Verša from Rijeka. Since 1986, Vela Draga has been developing into a modern climbing site.

Vela Draga

The area is access sensitive!

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Parking place is near Ucka tunnel (northern end of tunnel).
From Rijeka head to Pula, pass the tunnel “Učka” and immediately after the tunnel turn right to Labin. A parking lot will be after a few hundred meters, on the left side of the road.
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From here a well-marked educational trail leads to the canyon.
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If you want a faster approach to sectors A (Nad tunelom) and M (Ispod tornja), continue down the road to Labin for another 1,1 kilometers and then take a turn towards the quarry.
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Park by the quarry and then follow the railroad through the tunnel (there is no traffic, so don’t worry) and when you have reached the end, turn left towards your chosen sector.