Zelovo - Svilaja (past Umac)

Access to starting point:
a) Leave motorway A1 at Split exit and continue driving on the expressway towards Split. Leave it at the first exit and proceed towards Drniš and Knin. In Gornji Muć turn right and in Sutina turn left towards Zelovo. Drive past the turn-off for Svilaja and when arriving in Zelovo village turn left into the village and park at a suitable place by the road. Best by the bus stop, where there are also mountaineering signs.
b) Drive to Knin and from there follow towards Kijev and Vrlika. Drive through Vrlika and along Perućko Lake to Hrvace, paying attention to the right turn-off for Zelovo. Turn and when arriving in Zelovo continue to the village centre and park at a suitable place by the road. Best by the bus stop, where there are also mountaineering signs.

Path description:
From the starting point follow the markings through the village. The road loses its asphalt covering and enters the forest. After 20 minutes of walking the road forks. Continue right to a barely visible junction where the path to the hut via Mačkovec branches left. After a few minutes reach another fork and turn slightly right again. The road then becomes a poorer cart track. Soon the cart track turns into a trail. We begin a slight ascent through the forest. The path disappears in places. We emerge from the forest, the path steeply climbs the meadow, the path from Đoline drage joins from the right, and we reach a "rest area" with a bench. Continue along the path and soon reach the road leading to the hut. Continue right along the road. With ever better views of Orlove stine and towards Maglaj and Kamešnica we arrive at the junction before the hut. Continue ahead along the road. Alternatively continue right past the hut. After a short ascent the road flattens and a path to Svilaja and Jarebinjak branches left. Continue ahead along the road crossing the slopes of Jarebinjeka and Crnega Umaca. After about half an hour of walking from the hut we reach a small beehive and the turn-off for Umac. Continue ahead along the road. The road gently descends then traverses the slopes. After 20 minutes of traversing we reach the turn-off for Svilaja. Continue left. The path steeply ascends through the forest. The path is overgrown in places. After 15 minutes of steep ascent the path reaches wide grassy and panoramic slopes of Vršina (1466 m). From here poles assist orientation in addition to markings. The path traverses to a junction where the path via Jarebinjak joins from the left. Continue right continuing the traverse of somewhat steeper slopes of Vršina with some short rocky sections in between. After half an hour of traversing we reach the wide saddle between Svilaja and Vršina. The path turns slightly left and over a short rocky step reaches the western slopes of Svilaja. The path fades here somewhat so carefully follow the markings. After a few minutes of steep ascent we reach below the forepeak which we bypass on the right. Finally the last ascent to the summit of Svilaja awaits where a panorama in all directions greets us.
Description and photos refer to the condition in June 2023.

On the way: Planinski dom Orlove stine (1065m)