17.5
PDI
9.3 mi
DISTANCE
3,059 ft
GAINED
6.3 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Bryant Robbins, Palmer, AK
INTRO
Vojak East is the coastal approach to Učka, the mountain range that separates the Istrian peninsula from the Kvarner Gulf. The climb runs 14.9 km (9.3 mi) from the Adriatic shore at Ičići, just south of Opatija, to 945 m (3100 ft) on the upper switchbacks of Ž5047, about 1 km (0.6 mi) below the Poklon pass, gaining 932 m (3059 ft) at a 6.3% average. It currently ranks #1284 in the world on our list.
The first 9 km (5.6 mi) climb past villas and gardens and through the hamlet of Poljane at a gentle, even 5-6%, with the Kvarner Gulf and its islands opening up behind you. Near Veprinac the road joins the old route over Učka and turns into a proper mountain climb: from km 10 (mi 6.2) to the finish it averages 7.5% through the forest, and the steepest kilometer reaches 10.1%.
Vojak itself, at 1401 m (4596 ft), is the highest point of Učka and of the whole Istrian peninsula. To reach it, carry on over Poklon and up the narrow summit road for roughly another 6.5 km (4.0 mi) to the stone lookout tower built in 1911. The mountain is protected as the Učka Nature Park, declared in 1999 and covering 160 km² (62 sq mi), which is home to the Učka bellflower - a plant found nowhere else - and to griffon vultures and golden eagles.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. Vojak East is 14.9 km (9.3 mi) long and climbs 932 m (3059 ft) from 15 m (48 ft) at Ičići to 945 m (3100 ft), an average of 6.3%, with almost no descending.
The lower half is all about rhythm: kilometers 1 through 8 sit between 5.2% and 6.3%. Kilometer 9 kicks up to 7.1% on the approach to Veprinac, and kilometer 10 drops back to 3.6% - your last easy stretch of the day.
From km 10 to the finish (mi 6.2-9.3) the climb averages 7.5%, building through 6.4% and 7.7% to back-to-back kilometers of 8.8% and 8.7%. That's where you'll find the steepest kilometer (10.1%), the steepest mile (9.1%) and the steepest 2 km (1.2 mi) at 8.9%, before the final 900 m ease to 5.5%. The steepest 5 km (3.1 mi) average 7.4%, and the steepest 100 yards touch 13.2%.
Roadway: Paved the entire way. Ž5048 climbs from the coast through residential switchbacks, and Ž5047 above Veprinac is a well-surfaced forest road - Street View imagery from June 2024 shows good asphalt on both. If you continue past Poklon to Vojak, the summit road narrows to a single lane. Snow and ice can affect the upper road in winter, and races such as the Trofej Učka hill-climb in June bring temporary closures; the Učka Nature Park news page posts closure notices.
Traffic: Expect some resident traffic on the lower switchbacks, which serve the villas and hamlets above Ičići. Above Veprinac, most through traffic goes underneath the mountain in the Učka Tunnel, so the old road is used mainly by nature-park visitors - except when work on the A8 motorway between Matulji and the tunnel sends detoured traffic over Ž5047. Check HAK traffic info before you go.
Parking: Spaces near Ičići's waterfront are in short supply on summer days (our Ičići-Poklon page covers the main beach lot), so if you're staying in Opatija or Lovran, it's easier to ride along the coast road to the start. The car park at the Poklon visitor center, about 1 km past the finish, is the best place to meet a support car.
Provisions: The cafés on Ičići's waterfront are your last easy stop. Partway up, Veprinac (around km 9-10) has Restaurant Aurora just below its old village, while Restaurant Pansion Učka and Restaurant Dopolavoro are at Poklon, about 1 km beyond the finish - fill your bottles there if you're carrying on to the summit, as there's nothing above them.
Gear: The upper slopes of Učka can be far cooler and windier than the Riviera, especially in spring and autumn, so carry a layer for the descent. If you're heading on to Vojak, the summit road adds a final kilometer of 10%, so compact gearing helps.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Lovran, a few kilometers down the coast from Ičići and linked to it by the seaside Lungomare promenade, is the chestnut town of this coast. Its Marunada festival every October celebrates the local sweet chestnuts with chestnut dishes, brandy and even beer, and in June the Cherry Days fill the main square with live music and cherry strudel. The compact old town is worth a wander too: the Stubica gate is the only one of its four original town gates still standing, and the Church of St George on the main square dates largely from the 14th century.
The Učka Nature Park is a rewarding place for a rest day. On the Istrian side of the mountain, the Vela draga canyon is a protected natural monument of limestone towers several dozen meters high, popular with climbers, and the summit tower on Vojak has a 360-degree view. Our Ičići-Poklon page covers Ičići's waterfront and the Brituh viewpoint at Veprinac, and our Vojak page covers Veprinac's walled old village and the history of the Poklon pass.
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