Mountain hut Lugarnica on Mosor

Note: The trail is partially circular, so all displayed figures (elevation, length, and time) are for the round trip.

Winter might not seem like the ideal time of year for mountain trips at first, but we find it dear because temperatures are often more pleasant than in spring. The environment loses its colors as vegetation goes dormant, and if you go on a cloudy day, you occasionally feel like you’re in a black-and-white movie 🙂 However, it is precisely this desaturation that gives it a special charm.

We have already written about Mosor in the article where we covered the ascent to the mountain hut. This time, we are taking a more westerly trail that leads to Lugarnica.

Lugarnica is a mountain hut on the western slopes of Mosor at an altitude of 872 m. It is surrounded by a rugged environment, but the trail leading to it is not difficult. It passes through various areas, from barren karst to sinkholes where livestock used to be kept for grazing.

Although Lugarnica can be reached from several directions, we usually leave the car at the same parking lot as when we go to the main hut. From there, we even like to start on the same trail that leads to the hut. After one kilometer, when we ascend above “Texas” (the popular name for the Zagrađe valley), we turn off the trail for the hut and head straight north.

The landscape here is very dramatic. You can see Split across Texas, while you climb over rocks that dominate the clearing. In one section, the rocks form into sculptures of unusual shapes.

Most hikers pass through this part without staying long, hurrying toward distant goals, but this part of Mosor is an incredible place worthy of attention!

After this part, there is an ascent over stone slabs, and further across the ridge on the northern side of Texas to the other side.

The landscape changes significantly here! The trail takes on a forest atmosphere, even though the vegetation is relatively low.

Moisture, moss, and greenery are prominent features even in the winter period.

The attraction ahead of us is a huge surprise for most hikers passing through here for the first time. Namely, it is the abandoned “village” of Luč Dolac with the remains of old stone houses. In ancient times, shepherds stayed here seasonally while keeping livestock at pasture.

After the old “village”, we pass by sinkholes abounding with beautiful meadows enclosed by dry stone walls. From there starts the final section of the trail, which always feels like it lasts forever, as you expect Lugarnica to be right there behind the next bend, but it isn’t.

As we already mentioned, Lugarnica is located at 872 m above sea level. It has a kitchen with a wood-burning stove, a living room, and a room with multiple beds on two floors. The house is supplied with drinking water and electricity from a generator, and it is open to visitors on weekends.

From here, there is a beautiful view of Split, Solin, and Kaštela, but at the exact moment of our stay, thick clouds had enveloped all approaches to the viewpoint, so nothing could be seen.

On the way back, we followed the same trail for most of the time, only to branch off onto a shorter one above Texas, descending across the ridge to the parking lot. This variation has always been our favorite because we rarely take it, and it is very attractive. At the top of the ridge is the small church of St. Cosmas and Damian.