My favorite place for hikes in the North of Dalmatia are definitely rivers of Krka, Krupa and Zrmanja. I have a soft spot for forgotten hardware — old lighthouses, Roman cisterns, and, yes, quiet stretches of rail that no longer see a timetable. One of the easier ones to explore sits just south‑east of Knin where the disused Knin–Zadar line hangs above the Krka River near the village of Radučić. It’s an easy half‑day outing, perfect when you need fresh air but don’t feel like queueing at Skradinski buk. A great place for hiking in the Krka National Park. A different route.

A line that meant a lot to locals

The Knin–Zadar route opened in 1967 after a lot of local lobbying and quite a bit of dynamite. Cargo ran well enough; passenger numbers never matched the investment. However, it brought the people of Bukovica closer to Zadar and Knin as that was daily commute for many while working in long gone factories. War damage in the 1990s and steady road competition finally shut passenger traffic in 2014. Today the track is still owned by HŽ Infrastruktura, but only the occasional inspection cart rattles through. The rest of the time it’s just you, the rails, and the smell of wild sage. Or my friend Zoran riding his rail bike (see video): https://youtu.be/yKKa9P74pp8

Getting there

• From Zadar take road D59 toward Kistanje.
• At the tiny Omčikus crossroads turn right on a gravel spur that drops to the long‑silent Radučić station (look for the peeling “RADUČIĆ” sign).
• Park off the track. The station building is locked but intact.

I took my family and we parked near one house asking the locals if that was OK not to block anyone. From the station step onto the sleepers heading north (toward Knin). The first 200 metres are flat and open — a good place to check boots and camera settings before the gorge view steals your attention.

On the tracks

Step off the Radučić platform and swing north toward Knin. The first few hundred metres pass almost lazily, thyme brushing your boots while the limestone cliffs drop away to the Krka flashing silver on your right. The first cool stop is Tunnel 17.

It bends just enough for your footsteps to echo before daylight returns and a postcard view opens: far below the river curls past speckled cattle grazing the flood‑plain grass.

Keep the momentum and, three‑hundred meters later, the line slips into Tunnel 17. This one runs dead‑straight and a shade cooler, letting you count each wooden sleeper by sound alone until you burst back onto a ledge of pale Promina stone.

This tunnel is much longer and thus darker and cooler. We had to use our cell phones lights to see walking through. And not to step on cow dun as it is all over the tracks

And then we got hungry and decided we have seen enough. We will keep the other part for another trip as this was quite fun and different than regular hikes.

Round‑trip to the Tunnel no 17 and back: about 7 km, 2 hours walking.

The Future of the Railway

The long-promised overhaul of the 95 km Knin–Zadar line is finally on the calendar: works are set to kick off in October 2024. HŽ Infrastruktura has picked Austrian contractor Swietelsky for the €87 million job—part of a wider EIB-backed rail-upgrade package—tasking them with a full renewal of rails, sleepers, switches and level crossings. The four-year project will start from the Zadar end and move north; station refurbishments are penciled in for a later stage.

Good to know

• Season: Late spring and early autumn for comfortable temps and aromatic hillsides.
• Footwear: Sturdy shoes. Sleepers are uneven and the terrain is rocky
• Ownership: This is still railway property. Trains are rare but possible. Keep ears open and step clear if you hear wheels.
• Wildlife: Snakes like the warm rails. Stamp a bit so they move first.

Nearby stops

• Knin Fortress – Croatia’s largest medieval fortification, 15 minutes north.
• Manojlovac & Brljan falls – quieter cousins to Skradinski buk, further down D59.
• Krka Monastery – a peaceful Orthodox monastery deeper in the canyon.

Kod Pere in Radučić

Then it was time for lunch. What better place to go to but the famous Kod Pere in the very Radučić? If you are looking for a fancy place, this is not it. This is a typical tavern as it was back 40 years ago. Stepping back in time? Yes, please!
The lamb is the specialty and worth the stop. Or a cold beer to cool off the summer heat.