Savnici-Sitnik-Observatory

Approach

Interesting day-long trek that goes iside the mountain from the N,
than leads us into NW-SE traverse through the central limestone plateau of mt. Bjelasnica.
Beggining of the trail is town Pazaric, 25 km west from Sarajevo,
accessible both by car as well as by train (trainstop of the Sarajevo-Mostar railway route).
One may shorten the drip by driving  from Pazaric till Ljubovcici village,
followed by 15 minutes of footwork uphill till the Savnici hut. On weekdeay, there is regular
bus connection Pazaric-Ljubovicici. At  Ljubovcici, get off at the last stop (foodshop nearby).
Pazaric-Savnik hut all by  foot, takes just over an hour.

Route Description

Route:
Savnici hut(940m)->Podgradina hut(1350m) 90 minutes
Podgradina hut(1350m)-> Stanari hut(1585m) 1h
Stanari hut(1585m)->Kameniti do->Sitnik hut(1790m) 1h
Sitnik hut(1790m)->Bjelasnica peak(2067m) 3 1/2-  4h

From Savnici hut follow the marked path, up the carriage road in the woods.
 After an hour and half, you should reach the Podgradina hut. Add another hour,
path still leading through the woods, and youll reach old shepards settlement at Stanari.
You are going to see cute "Visokogorci" hut on your right first,
 Stanari hut is another 40 yards or so down the stretch.
From  Stanari to Sitnik,
hit the uphill trail on the left side of the hut (shepperds chalets settlement is now on your bottom right)
Shortly, you are out of forrest and on the far end of the central limestone plateau.
Direction now is ->SE all the way.
If you cannot catch tke marked trail, spot the high wooden poles (winter markation)
which help you keeping the right direction.
At the Sitnik hut, hit the trail uphill left, then turn right  and again folow the SE direction.
After jusrt over an hour or so, the trail branches,do not go downhill left, stick with the right and slightly uphill one.
Now, you should already see the Bjelasnica peak, or rather the weather station and other facilities on top of it.

Essential Gear

Sturdy hiking boots, wind and rainfall protection, compass. Depending  of the wather conditions, this may turn out to be a fairly long day hike.
Count on staying in one of the huts, if you are going to return the same way back

Pano view from the Bjelasnica peak