Štirovača: Croatia’s Hidden Forest That Once Had National Park Status

May the 28th, 2026 – Štirovača isn’t a name you’ll hear often, but this hidden forest once held national park status, but few know why it lost it. Very deep in the northern part of the imposing Velebit mountain range lies one of Croatia’s most intriguing and least-known natural areas, the forest valley of Štirovača , a place boasting rare history, dense woodland and a very unusual protected status story.

What makes it particularly notable is not just its natural beauty, it is its highly unusual conservation history. Štirovača is located at roughly 1,100 metres above sea level, forming a sheltered valley surrounded by Velebit’s rugged peaks. The entire expansive and densely forested area is characterised by dense coniferous and mixed forests, primarily beech and spruce, which thrive thanks to the cool temperatures and high precipitation levels typical of this part of the mountain range. Unlike the dry, rocky landscapes often associated with Velebit, Štirovača feels noticeably greener, wetter and more enclosed, almost like a natural basin of forest life. One of Štirovača’s most distinctive features is its water system. Despite being in a karst region where surface water is often scarce, the valley contains springs, small streams and moist grassland areas that support its rich forest ecosystem. Croatian environmental reporting often highlights this contrast, a lush, water-fed forest existing within a wider mountain landscape known for its dryness and rocky terrain. Štirovača is also historically significant because it was among the earliest areas in Croatia to be placed under formal protection. According to historical accounts frequently cited in Croatian media, the area was designated for national park-level protection back during the late 1920s, even before many of Croatia’s best-known protected areas were formally established. However, this status was short-lived, lasting only around a year before being revoked as conservation policies and priorities changed at the time. Today, Štirovača is no longer a national park, but parts of it are protected as a forest vegetation reserve within the broader Velebit conservation system. Štirovača has not always been an untouched wilderness.

Key points

• What makes it particularly notable is not just its natural beauty, it is its highly unusual conservation history.
• Štirovača is located at roughly 1,100 metres above sea level, forming a sheltered valley surrounded by Velebit’s rugged peaks.
• The entire expansive and densely forested area is characterised by dense coniferous and mixed forests, primarily beech and spruce, which thrive thanks to the cool temperatures and high precipitation…
• Unlike the dry, rocky landscapes often associated with Velebit, Štirovača feels noticeably greener, wetter and more enclosed, almost like a natural basin of forest life.
• One of Štirovača’s most distinctive features is its water system.