Just over the mountains from the Piva Canyon lies one of the Balkans' great natural treasures: Durmitor National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of glacial lakes, soaring limestone peaks and pristine hiking country.
Durmitor is a UNESCO-listed national park in northern Montenegro, part of the Dinaric Alps. It protects a dramatic massif of limestone peaks, glacial lakes, dense forest and deep canyons, with the town of Žabljak — Montenegro's highest town at around 1,450 m — as its gateway. It pairs perfectly with a Piva trip: Žabljak is only about 50 minutes' drive from Plužine.
The park's most famous and accessible sight is the Black Lake, a beautiful glacial lake about 3 km from Žabljak. An easy, mostly flat trail of around 3.5 km loops the shoreline beneath the peaks — ideal for families and a gentle counterpoint to a day of via ferrata. In calm weather the surrounding summits mirror perfectly in the water.
Bobotov Kuk (2,523 m) is the highest peak of the Durmitor range and a classic, demanding hike — expect exposed sections, scrambling, rope-secured ledges and boulder fields, roughly 5–6 hours round trip from the Sedlo Pass. (A common myth calls it Montenegro's highest point; in fact higher peaks rise on the Albanian border.) It's for fit, experienced hikers — but the views are immense.
The most scenic way between Plužine and Žabljak is the P14 over the Sedlo Pass, which tops out around 1,907 m — the highest paved pass in Montenegro. It winds past meadows, the highland hamlet of Trsa and a string of jaw-dropping viewpoints, including overlooks of the Piva Lake. Note that this high road is typically open only from May to October and snow-closed in winter.
Because the two are so close, many visitors base themselves around Plužine or Žabljak and do both. A great plan:
You can also weave in the Tara Canyon, which borders the park. See the full list in things to do near Piva Canyon.
Make the canyon the highlight of your northern Montenegro adventure — book your Via Ferrata Piva adventure and build your trip around it.
Join a guided Via Ferrata Piva adventure in Montenegro's spectacular Piva Canyon. All safety equipment and an expert local guide are included.
Book Your Adventure
Things To Do
Tara Canyon vs Piva Canyon — how Montenegro's two great gorges compare on depth, scenery and activities, and how to experience both on one trip.
Read more
Things To Do
12 of the best things to do near Piva Canyon and Plužine — via ferrata, kayaking, rafting, Durmitor, the Sedlo Pass, sport climbing and more.
Read more
Via Ferrata
Everything you need to know about Via Ferrata Piva in Montenegro: the route, difficulty, the 80-metre rock face, what to expect, prices and how to book a guided tour.
Read more