Everything you need to know about hiking on the Gradac river
Going for a hike on hot summer days might not sound very exciting, especially not in Serbia, where summers can get very hot. Temperatures can reach up to 40° degrees in July and August, so you should avoid hiking trails that leave you exposed to the open sun for too long.
But what if we tell you that hiking during hot Serbian summer days can actually be refreshing? Yes, you heard right.
The Gradac river and its gorge offer plenty of shadowy spots along the hiking route and plenty of opportunities for swimming. This hiking trail is a bit more than 1 hour away from Belgrade, which makes it a perfect day trip. Or, if you like, you can bring your tent and camp there, just like the locals do.
If you want to take it easy, have a relaxing weekend, but still stay active, then you should go to the Gradac river. Continue reading for everything you need to know on how to spend a perfect day at the Gradac river.
Table of Contents
Quick facts about this hike
- Length: 13.8km
- Difficulty: Easy
- Elevation gain: 465m
What do you need for this hike?
- Swimsuit (you have the opportunity to swim in various parts of the river)
- Normal hiking boots or water shoes
- Protection for your head
- Sun cream
- Spare clothes (after the swimming)
- Backpack
- Snacks (there is a fantastic restaurant along the hiking route)
How to get to the Gradac River?
The Gradac river lies south of Valjevo. Valjevo is a town in western Serbia and southwest of Belgrade. It´s only an hour and 20 minutes away from Belgrade, so it’s the perfect day hike from Belgrade.
By car: you can reach Valjevo easily by car on the highway. The drive takes a bit more than 1 hour.
By train: Valjevo is part of the Serbian railway system, here you can check if there’s a train from the city you are. From Belgrade it is a nice ride with good views of the surrounding landscapes. After arriving in the train station, you can call a taxi to bring you to the river.
Bus: You can reach Valjevo by inter-city bus from Belgrade or any major city in Serbia. The drive from Belgrade to Valjevo takes about 2 hours. You can check for the timebus table here. Same as traveling by train, after arriving in Valjevo, you need to call a taxi to bring you to the river.
Let's start hiking!
Starting from the Celije Monastery – passing by the Skok po Skok restaurant (where we had the best Edelflower juice ever, but people go there to eat fish) – going towards the Lelicka Vodenica – an old watermill – going back to the direction of the Celije Monastery but turning right towards the Deguricka pecina (a cave).
This hiking route starts with a little challenge: to reach the Celije Monastery you must go down many stairs, like really many! So, don´t do it if you have knee issues. There´s a road next to the stairs which you can take that will also take you to the monastery.
After a few minutes, you are going to reach the end of the stairs. Continue walking to the right and you will see a trail that continues going down. The monastery is on your left side.
In front of the Monastery’s entrance, on your right side, is the beginning of the trail that passes by the river. On the way back, make sure to stop by the Skok po Skok family farm. This family farm is a must-go place for trout and homemade juice. From there the hiking trail meets the Gradac river.
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The Gradac river
During the hike, we saw many people visiting the river for different purposes: Chilling time, barbecue, or ‘kupanje’, which is a Serbian word for bathing. Serbs like to come here with families or their friends and often time they camp along the river. Gradac is definitely the top weekend destination for many people in the area. Gradac is the weekend destination for many people in the area.
Most of the time, the water in the river is quite cold! At some spots, we could see people putting their boxes cooler in the river to keep their drinks cold.
Hiking through the river
At some spots, you need to hike through the river. The water is not very deep, so really everyone can do it. The deepest parts reached our knees. Feeling the water on our skin is just the best feeling during such hot summer days. The water is crystal clear and you will always see where you are stepping but still make sure to wear proper hiking shoes or water shoes to avoid slipping.
From now on the entire route is a mix of hiking through the river and on the trails along the river.
You can stop to swim in the river in some deeper parts if you don´t mind the cold.
The Bridge
Continue hiking towards the cave and you will see two bridges with a railway. They are both used by the famous Belgrade-Bar route and other local train lines operating in Valjevo.
Canyon of the Gradac River
After the bridges, continuing towards the Deguricka cave, the beauty of the Canyon waits for you on your right side. It’s a perfect place for a quick break to drink some water and appreciate the view.
Deguricka Cave
The Deguricka cave is located a few minutes after the Canyon. The water flowing from the cave is very clean, so feel free to refresh yourself.
Conclusion
Gradac is a great option for a day hike from Belgrade. It’s a pleasant hiking experience where there is plenty of fresh water close to you all the time and many trees protecting you from the sun. If you are interested in monasteries, you can visit the Lelic monastery as well.
Do you want to go to explore Gradac river and its gorge? Leave a comment below, if you have any questions. Enjoy your adventure.
