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Positioning - mountain

• Shar Mountain / central segment

Starting point

• Village of Brodec

Description of the trail 

The trail starts from the bridge of river Pena under the village of Brodec. The climb starts on a wide unpaved road in the direction towards south-southwest. The first part of the climb to the place called Mal Jelak, passes through a beech forest. From Mal Jelak, at the spot where the river is impounded, the trail passes on the left bank of the river and continues to ascent to Jelak. In this part, we go through a forest belt of fir trees. Moving along the road (still a wide unpaved road) we reach a viewpoint from which we begin to move to east. If we go just 50 meters off the road to the west, we arrive to the viewpoint where the beautiful view of the valley of the river Studena Reka and Jelacki Crn Vrv can be seen. Moving towards the east, we arrive at Jelak, where the Mountain Hut “Jelak” is located. From that point, the trail leads us to the hill above Popova Shapka and from there we are heading towards the southeast on a pasture ground and then descend to the Popova Shapka ski center.

Technical data:

Altitude at the start point

• Village of Brodec – 1030 masl

Highest point

• Ridge between Popova Shapka and Jelak – 2000 masl

Altitude at the end point

• Popova Shapka  – 1700 masl

Trail duration

• 3.30 – 4.00 hours

Trail length

• 15 km

Altitude gain

• hike up – 970 m
• hike down – 300 m

Trail difficulty

• ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Required level of physical fitness

• ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Panoramas and landscapes

In the first part of the trail, when we go from the village of Brodec to Jelak, or more precisely the ridge above Popova Shapka, as we climb higher we can have a clear view towards west of the peaks Kobilica and Crn Vrv with the Valley of Vejachka River.

After passing the ridge, a view opens towards the south, southeast and southwest towards the entire Polog Valley.

Access to the start point 

• Motorway Skopje – Tetovo, 43 km
• Local road Tetovo – Village of Brodec, 16 km
• In the lower part of the village, near the bridge there is a possibility for parking of several vehicles. 

Access to the end point

• Motorway Skopje – Tetovo, 43 km
• Local road Tetovo – Popova Shapka, 20 km
• On Popova Shapka, there is a possibility for parking several vehicles.

Places of tourism interest

from the start point:

• Kobilica Peak – 4.00 hours hiking frоm Village of Vejce

• Dupnat Kamen – 3.00 hours hiking from Village of Vejce

from the end point:

• Titov Vrv Peak - 4.00 hours hiking frоm Popova Shapka

• Leshnica - 4.00 hours hiking frоm Popova Shapka

• Lake “Bogovinjsko Ezero” - 4.00 hours hiking frоm Popova Shapka

Accommodation and food 

• Mountaineering Hut “Ljuboten” – Popova Shapka
• Hotel “Popova Shapka” – Popova Shapka
• Hotel “Slavija” – Popova Shapka
• Hotel “Konak” – Popova Shapka
• Hotel “Scardus” – Popova Sapka
• Hotel “Arena” – Popova Sapka
• Hotel “Snow Patrol” – Popova Sapka
• Different accommodation in Tetovo

Public transport: 

• Public bus, van transport and taxi