Mitrovac: Discover the Plateau and Bog Forest

Mitrovac is one of the largest plateaus in the Tara Mountains and lies at an altitude of about 1,080 meters above sea level. The Crveni potok Nature Reserve is also located here, in the central part of Tara National Park. This makes the area interesting if you want to make a high-altitude landscape and a specific natural area the focus of your stay.

Plateau and Forest Reserve

The Crveni potok bog is home to a unique relict forest community of Pančić spruce. The reserve also preserves a rainforest-like forest of spruce, fir, alder, and Pančić spruce. Two notable aspects of the vegetation therefore exist side by side here: the particularly noteworthy forest community and the composition of the preserved forest. For nature enthusiasts, both the altitude and the forest’s distinctive features shape Mitrovac’s character; the reserve’s name points to a landscape of its own within the national park.

The Tepih Livada walking and educational trail runs 550 meters through the forest bog to its central area, which is also called Tepih Livada. The terrain is flat, and information and educational signs accompany the trail. Access to the bog area is regulated. Outdoor demonstrations take place on the platform, accompanied by authorized staff of Tara National Park; visitor numbers there are limited to 20 people. If you are planning this part of your stay, take into account both the short educational trail and the conditions for access and demonstrations.

Hiking and Finding Your Way Around

In the Mitrovac area, the hiking trails start at the intersection by the Tara National Park visitor center. The visitor center opened in 2006 and covers 220 square meters. It includes an information point, a souvenir shop, exhibitions, and a lecture hall with 40 seats. Nature observation and a place for information and exhibitions therefore come together in Mitrovac. The location of the hiking trail starting point at the intersection by the visitor center gives you a specific landmark if hiking is part of your plans.

Mitrovac is one of Tara’s two tourist centers. This adds guidance for choosing where to stay to the landscape perspective: you can consider the plateau, the nature reserve, and the hiking trails as different reasons to get to know the area. The road distance via Bajina Bašta and Perućac is listed as 27 kilometers. As road conditions can change, it is worth checking them before you set out.

Cycling and the Best Time to Visit

Cyclists also have several ways to explore the area. The Wild Bear bicycle race takes place every September in Tara National Park. It consists of three stages, each starting and finishing in Mitrovac. If you want to plan your stay around the race, check the dates for the relevant year in advance.

The Zlatibor–Mokra Gora–Mitrovac cycling route is separate from the race. It ends in Mitrovac and is about 48 kilometers long, with a total elevation gain of around 3,600 meters. While the race is linked to Mitrovac by its stated annual September date and three stages, the route is characterized by its length and total elevation gain.

The season can also be an important part of your planning: Mitrovac has cold winters. The average snow cover is about one meter deep and lasts for around 100 days a year. Together with the race held every September, this creates a clear seasonal contrast between the cycling event and the winter conditions. Choose your apartment based on which of these landscapes and travel experiences is most important for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Semegnjevo, Rudine, Sainovina, Tvrdići, Mokra Gora, Rožanstvo, Kamenica, Rosići.

Return to the regional travel overview: Zlatibor District.