How to Visit Plitvice Lakes National Park

Hiking Through Plitvice Lakes

Lower Lakes

• There are several routes you can take to hike through the Park.  You can read the options here. 

• We chose to take Route C from Entrance 1. 
• Entrance 1 takes you from the lower lakes to the upper lakes and was recommended by Rick Steve’s.  In my opinion, any recommendations from Mr. Steve himself is always a good one, lol. 
• But of course, if you start at Entrance 2, you’d be starting from the upper lakes, working your way down to the lower lakes. 
• Either entrance you start at, you will still get the many views of the lakes and waterfalls just as well. 

• Starting at the beginning of Route A-C at Entrance 1 (they’re the same route, but C is the longest of the three), I grabbed a quick photo of the Big Waterfall (Veliki Slap) view from above. 

• You can’t miss this big waterfall; it’s literally the first one you see as you make your way down the trail.
• Once you get to the lower part of the trail and start your walk along the wooden plank walkway, there will be an intersection where you can either continue on the trail or take a quick detour towards the Big Waterfall (Veliki Slap) and grab some photos and admire it before you retrace your steps back to the intersection and continue on Route C.  I failed to do this, thinking we would be heading back on this trail. 
• From then, we followed the wooden plank walkway and used the map as needed the entire way.   
• You’ll also find signs along the way directing you which route is which.

• Walking along the wooden walkway, watch your step if it’s raining; we were careful not to slip. 
• There are no side rails in certain areas for support, so keep an eye on your little toddlers who may love to try to jump into the water. The water is so beautiful; it makes you want to jump in (albeit, it is not allowed).

• Since it was just us, it was a peaceful walk along the wooden plank-way as we zig-zagged our way, admiring the lakes and many small waterfalls and green, beautiful, gushing water in the rain. 
• Route A, at some point at the end of the lower lakes, will then turn to a high trail to head back to Entrance 1; we didn’t take this route; we kept following the trail to P3 for the boat. 

Boat Ride

• After admiring the green lakes and waterfalls for several miles, we followed the signs for P3, where the boat is located, to take us across the Jezero Kozjak Lake. 
• The boat ride is already included with the entrance fee.
• Once you are on the boat, there are two stops (P1 and P2). 
• For those wanting to continue on Route C, as we did, we did not get off P1 (the first stop). 
• P1 will take you to the shuttle (ST2) that will take you back near Entrance 1. (If you take this route, you’ve just completed Route B)
• The boat will then continue to P2, where we got off.
• Once the boat docked at P2, we started our walk towards the upper lakes and falls. 
• The boat ride was less than 30 minutes.
• It was a peaceful ride and a nice break to rest our legs and eat our snacks before our next hike to the upper lakes.  

Upper lakes

• From P2, we followed the wooden walkway and laced our way around the Upper Lakes, following the signs for ST3.

• The upper lakes are where the scenery and views get really, really good!
• I think I took too many photos and videos to count!  I really can’t describe the beauty of the lakes and falls here. 
• I appreciated the fact that we started from the lower lakes to admire the prettier views of the upper lakes with the waterfalls (in my opinion).  I will say, Rick Steve was right to recommend this route so far. 

• If I had to describe the upper lakes, the lakes are clear green and blue as a swimming pool with cascades of waterfalls in varying heights.
• The backdrops of lush greeneries and the wooden walking planks add a nice finishing touch to the scenery. 
• It almost felt like I was walking into an enchanting forest but with lakes and waterfalls. 
• Because I’m a terrible wordsmith, I’ll post some of my many photos here for you to enjoy. 

• The route to the upper lakes eventually becomes a slight climb at the end of the waterfalls and lakes as you near ST3.  It’s nothing steep, but there are some small, hilly ascents. 

• We rushed through the end because my youngest had a sudden urge to use the bathroom, so we quickly ran to the nearest rest area by the ST3 Shuttle Pick up (also included in the entrance fee.)   

*** Tip, be sure to use the bathroom before the hike; restrooms are only located near the Boat dock P1 & P2, and Shuttle bus pick up locations, ST1, ST2, ST3***

• After the bathroom fiasco, we boarded the shuttle bus at ST3, and we were dropped off at Shuttle stop ST2 near Entrance 2. 

• We followed the pathway that would take us back to Entrance 1. 
• This walking pathway offers the perfect opportunity to capture an aerial view of the lower lakes from above as well as the Big Waterfall before the trail takes you back to Entrance 1.