This is a short hike of 3.5 km with 250 m ascent to a recently discovered cave in Galicica National Park. It was named “Alpinistička Peštera” because it is located in an area used for rock climbing. For instance, the Via Ferrata is located near the cave. I believe the cave was found by the people who were preparing these climbing locations. I think I’ve also seen the name “Mountaineering Cave” somewhere.
The cave is described in the scientific paper “ CAVES INVENTORY AND DATABASE IN GALICICA NATIONAL PARK” by Biljana Gičevski et al in Geographical Reviews (58) 43-56 (2025). This paper gives an approximate location on a map, mentions that the cave is at the site named “Dobroja” near the Via Ferrata, and has a total length of about 28 m.
I decided to try to find this cave after I had climbed Magaro Peak from the entrance of Galicica National Park. That means that I had already paid my entrance ticket for the park, and only had to pay for the car. I believe it was 100 denars in 2025 for the car (https://galicica.org.mk/). I drove to the picnic site Korita, where I parked the car next near the spring. This is one of the few springs on the Galicica Mountain.
I followed the signs and markings for the Via Ferrata and actually climbed all the way to the top, following the part of the Via Ferrata that not necessarily needs special equipment. But I could not find the cave.
Luckily, just when I was about to give up, I met some mountaineers who were training on the Via Ferrata and a local could point me into the right direction. The cave turned out to be about 400 m north of the Via Ferrata. Without the help of the local I would never have looked all the way in that direction.
There is another option as a starting point to reach the cave, in a sharp bend of the asphalt road. However, the possibility to park there is very limited, and all parking spaces were actually occupied by the mountaineers who where climbing the Via Ferrata. Parking at the picnic site Korita is the safest option.
I have deleted all the unnecessary parts from the GPS track.
The cave itself is not very special, but it is one of the larger caves of Galicica National Park. Once again, the adventure to find the cave was more exiting than the cave itself!
You can view and download the GPS track of this hike here: https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/alpinist-cave-from-korita-in-galicica-national-park-240998020
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