Five macadam climbs to viewpoints that the asphalt does not reach
Where the asphalt stops, what you bought a 4x4 for begins — five forest climbs to panoramas the bus will never see.
Asphalt is for those in a hurry. A lookout worth stopping is almost never at the end of a marked road — you climb up to it on macadam, which is dusty in August and turns into two muddy ruts in September. Gearbox, first, foot off the gas. It's the only part of driving where the SUV is not a pose but a tool.
Five sections we passed with a tall vehicle and decent tires — none requiring a locked differential or rock tires, but each requiring ground clearance and smarts on the right foot. Before you go, read howengine brakes on a long descent— because you return down the same way.
Where the lowlands no longer help
Stara planina — forest road to Mižor (2169 m).From Topli Do and the Babin Zub ski resort, a network of forest roads leads to the highest peak in Serbia. The drivable part ends at about 1800 m; the last kilometer is on foot. The macadam is large, without mud in the summer, but with rockfalls after the rain. This is a continuation of our storyguide through Stara planina— only for wheels instead of legs.
Tara — macadam to Banjska stena (1065 m).The tamest on the list. From Mitrovec, a wide, flat macadam road leads to the most famous viewpoint over Perućac and the Drina meander. Passable even for an urban crossover, but dusty — keep your distance from the vehicle in front as visibility is lost in the cloud. You can find the details of the accommodation in the text aboutthey flee to Tara and Zlatibor.
When the land becomes more important than the horse
Golija — forest roads to Odvračenica (1494 m).A macadam course through a spruce forest, with sections where the rut is deep even after a sunny day. Here, for the first time, clearance and a smart choice of line are really required. The reward is a plateau without a single house in sight.
Five sections we passed with a tall vehicle and decent tires — none requiring a locked differential or rock tires, but each requiring ground clearance and smarts on the right foot.
Dry mountain - climb to the Valožje plateau.On the side of Bojanina water, stony macadam climbs towards the pastures below Trem (1810 m). The dry name is not accidental — there is no spring, bring water. The uphill is long and hard on the clutch; do not tow in high gear.
Beljanica — road over Lisine and Veliki buko.Above the Veliki buk waterfall, the macadam leads to the karst plateau. The last third is narrow, with a culvert for one vehicle and pockets for overtaking. Ideal for the weekend, impossible to pass when a tractor comes along.
| Share | The substrate | Vehicle to | Demanding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midjor (Stara pl.) | coarse macadam | ~1800 m | medium |
| Spa rock (Tara) | hard macadam | 1065 m | easy |
| Refrain (Golia) | rut | 1494 m | medium-heavy |
| Valozhe (Suva pl.) | stone | ~1600 m | medium |
| Egg white | narrow macadam | ~1200 m | medium |
The rule that saves the gimbal
Dust gets everywhere, stone jumps into the sills, and the descent wears out the brakes faster than the ascent. The tire is more important here than the drive: with a summer passenger tire on a large rock, the side is cut like paper. If you choose a day, choose it after two dry days — the wet macadam of Golija and Beljanica turns the middle section into a difficult one.
Questions & answers
short and to the point- Do I need a proper 4x4 for these sections or is an SUV sufficient?
- An urban crossover is sufficient for Banjska stena on Tara. For Golija and Suva Planina, you need a clearance of over 18 cm and preferably all-wheel drive, especially after rain.
- How high can you reach Midjor by car?
- The forest road is drivable up to about 1800 m; the last kilometer to the top at 2169 m is crossed on foot.
- When is the best time to drive dirt roads to mountain viewpoints?
- From the end of June to the middle of October, and after at least two dry days — the wet rut on Golija and Beljanica turns an easy section into a difficult one.
