THINGS TO DO
Hike to Lisina peak for the view over the park and the Krajina
A forest-trail hike to Lisina, the highest point of Kozara at 978 metres, for a broad view over the wooded park and the plains of the Krajina — a prepared-hiker objective.
Nature & National Parks
Kozara National Park
A forested mountain national park in the Krajina — hiking, wildlife and a powerful WWII memorial on the heights of Mrakovica.
QUICK INFORMATION
- COUNTRY
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- REGION
- Northwest Bosnia / Krajina
- BEST TIME TO VISIT
- May to October for hiking, cycling and wildlife watching, when the forest trails are clearest and the conditions are most favourable
- DURATION
- 1–2 days
ABOUT THE DESTINATION
Kozara National Park protects the forested Kozara mountain in the Krajina region of northwest Bosnia & Herzegovina, between Banja Luka and Prijedor. It is a quiet, wooded park of beech and fir forest, clear streams and meadows, with a network of hiking and cycling trails and a population of deer, wild boar and other wildlife. On the central heights of Mrakovica stands the Kozara monument, a striking concrete sculpture by Dušan Džamonja commemorating the fighters and civilians connected with the 1942 Kozara offensive and its consequences — one of the most powerful WWII memorials in the former Yugoslavia. In winter a small ski area opens on the mountain. For a visitor Kozara is the natural park of the Krajina: a place to walk in the forest, to read a difficult chapter of the region’s 20th-century history, and to reach a broad view over the plains of northern Bosnia.
MAP & LOCATION
Kozara National Park
THROUGH THE LENS
From the road
HISTORY & CULTURE
The Story Behind the Place
Kozara was declared a national park in 1967 to protect the forested mountain of the Krajina. Its modern identity is inseparable from the Second World War: in 1942 the Kozara offensive saw fierce fighting on the mountain between Partisan forces and the Axis, with heavy civilian losses and far-reaching consequences for the population of the region. The memorial at Mrakovica, with Dušan Džamonja’s monument at its centre, was unveiled in 1972 and commemorates the fighters and civilians connected with the offensive and its aftermath. The park’s forests, trails and wildlife have made it a favourite recreation area of the Krajina in the decades since, and the small winter ski area adds a seasonal layer to its outdoor life.
TOP THINGS TO DO
Experiences Not to Miss
TOP ATTRACTIONS
Sights & Highlights of Kozara National Park
FOOD & DRINK
WHERE TO EAT
01
Simple fare in and around the park — food and drinks at the park’s visitor and base areas, depending on opening
02
Everyday Bosnian dishes — grilled meat (ćevapi, pljeskavica), pies (burek, sirnica) and slow-cooked stews, available in the towns around the park
03
Picnic provisions — food and water carried in for a forest day, the practical option on the quieter trails
04
Banja Luka and Prijedor — the nearest towns for a wider choice of restaurants and cafés before or after the park
HOTELS & STAYS
WHERE TO STAY
01
Accommodation in and around the park, where available, convenient for an early start on the trails
02
Banja Luka as the regional base — about an hour away, with the widest choice of hotels and guesthouses
03
Prijedor and the surrounding towns — closer lodgings for a stay near the mountain
04
Private rooms and apartments in the area for an independent stay
Routes
Routes & rides
hiking
Mrakovica–Žečji Kamen Loop
A moderate forest and ridge loop in Kozara National Park from Mrakovica past the Kozara memorial to the Žečji Kamen high ground and back, combining history, forest paths and ridge views.
7.82 km · 2.6 h · moderate
VIEW ROUTEcycling
Kozara Yellow MTB Loop — Gola Planina & Duge Njive
A challenging mountain-bike loop in Kozara National Park on the marked Yellow Trail, crossing the Gola Planina ridge and the Duge Njive ground above Mrakovica.
19 km · challenging
VIEW ROUTEPLAN YOUR VISIT
Practical Information
Getting There
Kozara National Park lies between Banja Luka and Prijedor in the Krajina, about an hour from Banja Luka. A car is the practical way to reach the park and to move between the Mrakovica area and the trailheads; check current access information before you travel. The Mrakovica visitor and memorial area is the natural orientation point of a visit.
What to Wear & Bring
Sturdy footwear for the forest trails, layers for changing mountain weather, water and food for a forest day, and a map or current park information for the routes. For cycling, an appropriate bike and helmet; for Lisina, preparation suited to a forest-trail peak walk. Check forest, weather and seasonal conditions before departure.
Accessibility & Mobility
The Mrakovica memorial plateau is the most accessible area of the park, with the monument on open heights; the forest trails, the streams and the Lisina peak involve uneven outdoor terrain and are not readily accessible. The park does not offer full wheelchair accessibility across its trails and peaks — assess each site against your needs and confirm access details with the park in advance. No unsupported accessibility claims are made here for the trails or the peak.
WEATHER
Kozara National Park — Current conditions & forecast
Forecast data from Open-Meteo. Updated regularly.
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