Hiking the Three Peaks Trail (Volušnica, TalIjanka, Popadija)

If there’s one well-known hike in Prokletije National Park, it’s the Volušnica TalIjanka Popadija trail. Referred to by locals as the “three peaks” hike, this trail delivers nonstop breathtaking views along a ridge that includes three mountain summits in a loop.

Our favorite hiking bloggers World Wild Hearts said that this was their favorite hike in Montenegro. So, expectations were high, and this hike delivered!

The first hour or so takes you through a forest. Which, in mid-October, is getting more colorful and beautiful by the minute.

You emerge from the forest into an alpine meadow. Soon you reach a fork in the path, which marks the start of the loop. From here you can go left to the Volušnica peak, or right to the Popadija peak. Folks who aren’t up for a 7-hour hiking day can do just one of those peaks as an out-and-back.

For us this was a four peaks hike. Three mountain peaks, plus peak autumn! Ignore the posts saying that the hiking season here ends in September: October hiking is where it’s at.

The first summit: Volušnica! With dramatic views of the Karanfili peaks.

A kind fellow hiker offered to take this couple photo for us.

The incredible views of both Karanfili and the fall colors continue as you head toward the second peak. I can’t believe these are the same Accursed Mountains we hiked through two weeks ago in Theth. Autumn comes at you fast.

We expected to face cold and wind like in Durmitor, but by midday, it was actually pretty scorching out. We definitely should have brought more water. Live and learn (and ration).

Look at these ridges. They are just wild. No wind, so no big fear factor this time.

Made it to TalIjanka: the highest peak at 2057 meters.

Once again, we found a hungry dog on this peak. James was happy to have saved his dog food for the top of the mountain this time.

And look who else we found? It’s our buddy from yesterday’s Kissing Cats hike! Glad to see he’s still living his best mountain dog life (if a bit overheated today).

Onward to the third and final peak!

Tada! The Popadija Peak. It is 2030 meters high, and technically part of Albania. But there are no border guards up here.

On Popadija, we met a group of hikers from Serbia who had climbed all the way up here to party. They brought a full-on picnic with homemade cheese, pie, cured meats, and of course: raki. And they invited us to share their meal with them! We also accepted a shot of raki, and promised to mail them some maple syrup (we really will do it!)

All three peaks having been peaked, it was now descent-o’clock.

Back through the meadow, and back through the beautiful forest.

Made it safely back to the land of fresh water.