Hiking in the Plitvice Lakes – one of the world’s most beautiful locations

Previous visitors to the Plitvice Lakes National Park know all about its unbelievable beauty and stunning nature. But even if you haven’t visited in person, you have surely seen magical photos that almost replicate the experience of visiting this part of Croatia. It may come as no surprise, therefore, that a recent study has revealed that hiking in the Plitvice Lakes region is the second most beautiful hike in the world!

The world’s most beautiful hikes

It’s a spot in France – the Calanques de Marseille – that has been named the world’s most beautiful hiking location. Located in the Calanques National Park between Marseille and Cassis, this hiking route takes walkers through a landscape of white limestone cliffs dropping into turquoise Mediterranean coves, with trails ranging from easy half-day walks to multi-day treks.

After the Plitvice Lakes, third place goes to the Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland. Carved by glaciers into the Bernese Oberland, the valley sits beneath 72 waterfalls with the Jungfrau peaks towering above, giving walkers a dramatic view of the Alps.

Hiking locations in Europe certainly lead the way, taking no fewer than thirteen places in the top twenty countdown. You’ll notice that Lake Bled in neighbouring Slovenia rounds off the list – I can certainly recommend this gorgeous setting as a wonderful hiking destination too. (In fact, I can also personally recommend the Inca Trail in Peru, but Visit Croatia doesn’t cover South America…yet!)

The full list of locations can be seen in the table below

About the study – what makes a “beautiful hike”?

The study of the world’s most beautiful hikes was conducted by SportsShoes.com, who compiled a list of the 64 most popular hiking trails worldwide. The study then selected a representative image of each destination, focusing on the most recognisable viewpoint or most photographed section of a trail from that destination. 

200 participants from around the world took part in an eye-tracking study, measuring the average time each person spent looking at each image, as well as the average time taken to their first ‘fixation’. The two data points were indexed to create a score out of 100, with the highest-scoring location deemed the most “eye-catching” and therefore the most beautiful.

What’s interesting about these results is the sheer variety of hikes: ancient ruins, coastal paths, alpine lakes and slot canyons all feature. And while some of these trails are bucket list hikes that might take months of planning to reach, others are a simple day trip from a major city.

What they do have in common, however, is that the beautiful scenery is one of the primary reasons people do them and we hope our research will inspire people to put on their hiking boots and get out there. Whether it’s a multi-day trek or just a couple of hours on a coastal path on a Sunday afternoon, having the right kit, starting with your footwear, can make all the difference.

Ben Mounsey, Trail and Outdoor Expert at SportsShoes.com

All of the research on the most beautiful hikes can be found here: www.sportsshoes.com/advice/hiking-hub/trails-inspiration/most-beautiful-hikes

Hiking in the Plitvice Lakes

The 300-square-kilometre National Park that is the Plitvice Lakes contains sixteen beautiful lakes that are interconnected by a series of waterfalls, large and small. The deeply wooded area is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, with deer, bears, wolves, boars and birds (and fish in the water!) all making their habitat here. (You are very unlikely to encounter bears and wolves, or even deer, on your visit as these animals are in the protected and more private areas of the Park.)

The paths within the Park take you right up to the edge of the calm lakes, and past the rushing water of the powerful waterfalls. The many wooden walkways and bridges over the water really get you up close. Whilst the imagery you see online gives you an idea of the amazing nature of the park, you really need to visit in person to get a proper feel for the waters here.

The National Park has designated eight hiking programmes within the Park, four that set off from Entrance 1 and four from Entrance 2. The shortest trails will take you about 2-3 hours to complete (the absolute shortest covers a distance of 3.5 kilometres), whilst the longest take around 6-8 hours to complete (the longest is 17.5 kilometres). Not all trails are open all year round, and whatever hiking trail you undertake, make sure you have appropriate footwear!

Some may not consider these Park walks true hikes, so to those I say – well, hold on! The Park does also have information on what would be considered “proper” hiking in the Plitvice Lakes – you can find more information on this on the Plitvice Lakes National Park website. Do please pay attention to the hiking rules listed on that page.

Whatever hike you choose, wherever in the world it may be, you are sure to encounter a magical experience. Happy hiking!