Certainly one of the most attractive sites in Učka Nature Park is Vela Draga Canyon. This natural phenomenon, which began to be formed by natural forces – earthquakes, winds, sunshine, and water- during the Cretaceous Period (over 140 million years ago), was placed under protection in 1963 as a natural reserve, and as a geomorphological natural monument since 1998.

The Vela Draga Educational Trail, opened in 2004, passes along the rim of the impressive eponymous canyon and with the help of information boards, it presents this monument of exceptional geomorphological value in four languages. The information boards written in a straightforward popular-science style, explain the geological phenomena behind the formation of the Učka massif and the canyon itself. Above the canyon, at a nicely-appointed rest area and observation point, you can take a short break. The wondrous views of limestone towers will certainly remain indelibly etched into your memories and once more arouse your awe for the greatest architect of all times: nature. The more strenuous portion of the educational trail continues from the vantage point to the foot of the stone towers and the very base of Vela Draga Canyon.

Trail length: 2 km

Time required: 1.5 h

Elevation: 300 m (500 m at viewpoint)

Did you know?

The griffon vulture feeding site

…that griffon vultures, endangered in Croatia, are often flying over Učka in search for food? Once they were nesting here, but today their northern-Adriatic population is decreasing and in order to help in their preservation, a feeding site was build in Učka Nature Park, popularly called 'griffon vulture restaurants'.

The „Two towers“ trail

…that in 2018 a trail named „Two towers“ was established, which connects the town tower in Lovran with the Vojak tower on Učka? The trail goes through the existing hiking trail, and alongside there are educational boards that inform visitors on the flora and fauna of Učka.

The Roman cheese

…that it is traditional on Učka to produce the „molded“ sheep cheese of distinctive taste since the Roman Empire time? Its production was standardized due to its use in the nutrition of the Roman legions, while today's cheese made on Učka doesn't differ much from its antique ancestor.

Slavic mythology

…that the Mošćenička Draga's canyon used to be the scenery of sacred beliefs for the first Slavic settlers on the Kvarner area? The local toponyms like Perun, Babin grob and Voloski kuk witness about the old Slavic cult of Perun.