Stara Baška - Obzova (via Lipica)

Access to starting point:
From the Rupa - Rijeka / Rijeka or Zagreb - Rijeka motorway, we drive towards Rijeka, from there following the signs for Krk island. When the motorway or expressway in the final section ends, we descend to the Krk Bridge (toll 35 kuna - March 2014), then continue driving towards the towns of Omišalj, Njivice, Malinska, Krk, Punat and Baška. At Punat, we leave the road to Baška and from the roundabout continue right towards the Punat and Stara Baška exits. We then drive through Punat, after the town the road first ascends, then descends towards the Škrila camp. From the camp, the road first climbs to the bus turning circle, then further to Stara Baška. At the start of Stara Baška, just after pension Stanka, we notice the mountain signposts for Obzova and Veli vrh. This is also the official trail start, but as there are no designated parking spots for hikers nearby, we must park earlier, best near Škrila camp or drive further beyond Stara Baška and park at the large designated parking lot. Parking at Škrila camp extends the trail by about 10 minutes, at the designated parking at the end of Stara Baška by about 20 minutes.

Path description:
From Stara Baška, where we see the signs for Obzova, the trail first ascends transversely above the start of the settlement, then leads under the nearby power line. With fine views of Škrila beach, Stara Baška, Galun islet and Cres island, we climb one level higher, where the trail first turns slightly right and levels out transversely. This is followed by crossing a small valley, where the trail turns left, then ascends transversely over a steep partly gravelly and partly overgrown scree slope reminiscent of the high mountains of the Slovenian Alps. When the crossing ends, the trail gradually flattens and enters more plateau-like terrain, also gradually moving away from the sea. A gentle ascent follows over quite rocky ground and we follow the relatively well-marked trail to the Kanjine junction at a small stone fence.
From the junction we continue right towards Veli Hlam peak and Spuhotina junction (left Obzova via Mala Brestovica junction) on a fairly even trail that continues ascending through plateau terrain. We follow the well-marked trail to Spuhotina junction, then continue left onto a barely visible and poorly marked pathlet that bypasses Veli Hlam on the left and leads directly to Lipica junction, where through a narrow passage in the stone fence we rejoin the better-trodden and well-marked trail.
From Lipica junction we continue left (right Veli Hlam) and first descend along the stone fence. After a few minutes the descent ends and we reach a plateau, across which we ascend gently amid fine views. Somewhat further we cross another small pasture fence, then the trail turns rather illogically right downhill to steeper slopes. Lower down we cross a valley, then begin ascending through rocky terrain. The trail soon flattens and returns to the plateau edge, where on the right, slightly off-trail, we spot a wooden cross. The trail ahead leads past an animal watering hole, then through the interesting landscape of Krk island to the panoramic summit.
From Zminje we first descend slightly, then continue on the marked trail that ascends gently towards Obzova. Obzova, the highest point of Krk island, is reached after about 15 minutes' walk from Zminje.
In fog, orientation over much of the trail is very difficult.

On the way: Zminja (537m)