Short description
The start is from Doboj towards Ozren mountain. After we cross the Bosna river, we turn right, after the bridge and cycle next 2km to the roadsign “Preslica 9.5km”, where we turn left and go through railway underpass. We follow the main road toward Preslica picnic area and after 7km when we reach triangular crossing, we turn right – en route Kraljica, Okolišta. We descend some 500 m to the graveyard in Striježevica village where we turnm left and ascend while cycling for approx. 10 km on asphalt road until we reach Okolišta plateau. From the Okolišta we turn left on macadam road toward Ostravica, then shortly after left again toward Gostilj. After one kilometre the descend to Gostilj starts on wide macadam road and one short section of narrow asphalt road. All the time we follow tourist roadsigns! At the foothills of Gostilj we go left then turn right (marking G at the map) the follow wide forest trail toward the peak. Exiting from the forest we cycle on well-trodden path across the barren rocky ground and soon we see 13 metres high cross. From the marking “G” and the top we combine walking and cycling. The ascend is rather demanding and the peak Gostilj is 773 metres above the sea level.
From the top of Gostilj, following western slope, we descend only because we have good brakes, good technique and a lot of courage. You will need the guide for this section. The downhill partly follows marked hiking trail and then continues to the village Tekućica following Krušička river. After the marking “01” we turn left to the marking “02” which is few hundred meters above the Church of St. Petka in Tekućica, direction of Preslica. From the marking “02” we again turn left, cycle some 200 m, cross Duboki Creek and follow the widest road toward Preslica. We enter Preslica passing by the concrete football field that we’ll see on our right hand side and immediately we see the entrance ramp of the “Interpretive Trail”. We have completed the circle around Preslica picnic resort using asphalt road and back to the “Interpretive Trail”. From there we descend through the forest to the Goransko Lake. After the rest at the lake we continue down the Jošanički Creek until we reach the asphalt road, where we turn left. We ascend to the top of Lipac village then go down and across the pedestrian bridge over the railway station, which brings us back to Doboj.
CAUTION!
This trail is much more demanding regarding fitness and technical demands from both a cyclist and a bicycle. Bear in mind that you descend “head first” from the top of Gostilj using rough downhill trail. This is only recommended to the most experienced cyclists chasing high-adrenaline events. If you’re not one of those, go straight through the forest, from the “G” marking on the map and soon you’ll reach “Pešino Kalilo” ranch from the left side, then go through Boljanić village, pass the Church of the Holy Trinity and you’ll reach main road to Doboj. From there, turn left then go back on asphalt road to marking “02”.
Rest points
Agritourism Spasojević, Okolišta plateau, At Stojan's, Pešino Kalilo, SRC Preslica, Interpretive Trail, Goransko Lake, restaurant Nacionalna Kuća.
