January the 8th, 2026 – There’s a place in Croatia where it snows even during summer, with the entire area often being totally cut off during the winter months.
As Putni kofer writes, on a clear day, it’s a place with one of the most beautiful views of the mountain slopes and the sea in the distance. Even when shrouded in autumn fog, it retains its beauty and unobtrusive charm. In winter, it is almost inaccessible, with the largest snowdrifts in the country. Zavižan is a mythical place for every mountaineer and nature lover.
The mountain peak in the northern part of Velebit is named Zavižan or Veliki Zavižan. This name is also shared by the mountain lodge located not far from the peak, as well as the meteorological station that always records the most snow in the entire country.
Most people who aren’t mountaineers know Zavižan from the weather forecast as the place with the most snow in Croatia, in fact, it’s a place where it’s been known to snow even in summer. It was precisely there that the highest snow depth in the country’s entire history was measured. Back in 2013, as much as 322 centimetres of it fell. Another interesting fact is that Zavižan is the only meteorological station in all of Croatia where snow cover is recorded during all months. As stated, this even includes the scorching summer months, including July, which is on average the warmest month in Zavižan.
The location itself in the Northern Velebit National Park is often totally inaccessible by car during the winter. Due to the harsh weather conditions, the Alan and Babić Siča entrances are often closed, and the road from Krasno via Oltar to Zavižan is impassable, as is the one connecting Zavižan and Alan. However, these are all normal winter conditions for this part of Croatia.
The meteorological station itself is an attraction in itself. It is located at the foot of the imposing Vučjak peak, right next to the mountain hut, at 1,594 metres above sea level. Measurements began being taken there back in 1953. Since then, it has been operating without a single day of interruption, despite the harsh weather conditions prevailing across the mountain, according to the Northern Velebit NP website. “Meteorological observers at Zavižan send meteorological data to the State Hydrometeorological Institute in Zagreb every day, even during strong stormy winds, high snowdrifts or thunderstorms. For the past half century, this job has been carried out by members of the Vukušić family from the village of Gornja Klada at the foot of Velebit,” the Park’s website states.
Meteo Info writes that a 630-metre-long educational meteorological trail has been set up next to the station, the first of its kind in Croatia. There are 17 educational boards on it, and the time required for a tour is about half an hour. To add to the meteorological curiosities, we should also add that the highest air temperature ever measured at Zavižan was 28.3 degrees, and the lowest -28.6 degrees.
Naturally, Zavižan is so much more than meteorology for mountaineers. Due to its easy access, the Zavižan Mountain Lodge is a favourite starting point for mountaineering tours on Velebit. There’s a car park in the immediate vicinity, drinks and hot beverages are served there, and with prior notice, you can even spend the night. Coffee at the Zavižan Mountain Lodge before setting off on the famous Premužić Trail is almost a mandatory part of the experience.
Those who choose not to set off on the Premužić Trail often visit the most popular peaks of Northern Velebit. Among them is the Veliki Zavižan peak, towering at 1676 metres high. There is a well-maintained trail to it, the peak is rocky, and from there you can enjoy a beautiful view of the valley and the surrounding peaks. The tour of the northern Velebit peaks also includes Vučjak, 1644 metres high, Balinovac at 1601 metres above sea level, and Velika Kosa, which is 1620 metres high.
Near Zavižan sits the Velebit Botanical Garden, a unique place that preserves the richness of the Velebit flora. It was founded in 1967, and the idea behind its creation still lives on today: to make the rich plant life of Velebit accessible to everyone. The garden can be visited as part of a leisurely stroll, from there you can start a hike to the surrounding peaks, or continue towards the Premužić Trail. This trail is a masterpiece, created in 1933, which has made even the harshest parts of Velebit accessible to walkers. Near Zavižan, you’ll also come across the picturesque stone Chapel of St. Anthony of Padua.
