Mošćenice - Balin (mimo Kalvarije in Peruna)

Access to starting point:
Through the border crossing Jelšane or Pasjak, we drive onto the motorway towards Rijeka. We leave the motorway at the Opatija junction and drive along the expressway towards Pula, which we exit at the first Opatija exit. Follow the signs for Lovran. We drive along the coastal road to the town of Mošćenička Draga, where at the intersection we turn slightly right towards Mošćenice. We can park at the parking lot in Mošćenice or lower down by the road.

Route description:
From the starting point we continue along the road past the Perun inn and soon a sign directs us right onto the path. After a short ascent between houses it brings us to a junction next to which there is a chapel. The marked path goes left, we continue right into a short stretch of forest. The path from here on is marked only with the K mark. After approximately 10 minutes of uneven ascent along a quite rocky path we arrive at the chapel and church of the Holy Cross on Kalvarija.
We bypass the church on the left side and continue ahead along the path which leads along the dry-stone wall. The path gently ascends through the forest. Further on the forest thins somewhat and we reach a small clearing where the path slightly descends. The first views open towards the Učka ridge and the sea. After a short ascent we step back onto the marked path to the Chapel of Christ the King in the hamlet Marići. Then we step onto the asphalt road which leads through a small hamlet. After a longer ascent we briefly leave the road and go along the marked shortcut back to the road and into the hamlet Mihani. Signs direct us right onto the path. We bypass the last house on the left and enter the forest. The path gently ascends to the road where there is a marked junction. Left along the road one reaches Kremenjak, we continue straight ahead along the path. After 15 minutes along the gentle path we arrive at the Votive Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, next to which there is a bench. We continue ahead along the path which ascends unevenly. Higher up the path leads along the left side above a small gully, then turns left onto a scenic meadow. After approximately half an hour of ascent from the chapel we step onto the road which we follow to the right. Straight ahead is the marked path to Perun or towards the Učka ridge. From here on the path is no longer marked. Soon a path branches off to the right to a small viewpoint from which the Gulf of Rijeka and the island of Cres are visible. After 20 minutes of walking along the eastern slope of Perun we arrive at the turning area where we turn left onto the logging trail. After a few minutes it brings us to a junction where there is a small pond nearby. Here we step back onto the marked path. Straight along the logging trail one reaches Perun which is another 15 minutes, we continue right. The path begins to descend transversely and in 10 minutes of walking we arrive at the road. After a few steps we reach a junction where the previously mentioned marked path which bypasses Perun joins opposite us, we turn right. The path leads past the hunting observation post and slightly descends behind it. The path then turns right and enters dense forest. Further on we walk across a short grassy section and soon we are at the saddle or main ridge of Učka. Straight ahead the path leads to Vojak via Mala Učka and to Podmaj, we continue left. Along a gentle and scenic path which becomes somewhat steeper towards the end, in 20 minutes we reach the scenic summit of Balin.
Description and photos refer to the condition in January 2026.

Along the route: Sveti Križ na Kalvariji (225m), Kapelica Krista Kralja (415m), Marići (420m), Mihani (490m), Zavjetna kapelica Srca Jezusovega (570m)

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