CLIMBING AREA OHRID LAKE
OHRID city and lake are is a UNESCO site and are well known in the region and worldwide for its natural beauty and heritage. Ohrid is the home place of Slavic literacy and culture, wide cultural inheritance, churches, frescoes, icons, and manuscripts. In Ohrid region, there are four cliffs on different locations that have bolted routes for sport climbing.
Sector: ROCK St. KANEO
*Location: The rock is located in region of "Gorna Varosh" axially in the old part of Ohrid, near the monastery St. Kaneo. When approaching the monastery before entering the area, turn left, down the stairs, which are finish on the lake's beach. Before the end of the stairs, on the left side you will notice the rock.
Rock structure: Not high quality red limestone.
Climbing season: Year around. In winter period only sunny days afternoon. Boulder traverse also!
Sector IKAR FACE
This small, sunny crag sits above the village of Elshani, which is located about a 20 minute drive south of Ohrid, North Macedonia. The cliff has commanding views of Lake Ohrid.
*Location: Drive south from Ohrid along the east shore of Lake Ohrid past the village of Lagadin to a sign for the village of Elshani. Turn left and go uphill a kilometre. On your left as you drive up, you'll see a hillside with a number of small cliffs and a small pinnacle (none climbed on as of 10-2018). At 1 km up from the main road on the lake shore, turn left on a small side street and park about 100 feet up from the main road through the village (make sure you aren't blocking local resident access). Looking up at the hillside, you may see a drainage with a prominent square cliff on its left (N) side. This drainage is about 150 yards to the right (S) of the pinnacle. From the parking spot, walk up and left on a dirt road past some houses into the woods that are just below the main hillside. If you've followed the correct path, you'll drop down to the base of the drainage that is directly below the crag. Go up and right a hundred yards or so on one of several trails until you can follow another trail back left across the hillside to the drainage and the cliff.
Generally, you'll want to follow one of several trails that come from the right (S [near a small dump]) and lead left (N) across the hillside to the drainage and the crag. Once you have been to the crag and know which trails to take, the approach only takes about 10 minutes from the car.
Sector DESARET
Location: This sector is on the beach located between the Hotel Desaret and the beach restaurant "Bane". Enter Hotel Desaret and go down to the lake and continue along the beach in the direction to Gradiste. On your left are the rocks and the last rock is climbing sector. After a small ferrate you reach the climbing routes.
Notice: Every route has it's own name written in red color.
Sector: ROCK St. NIKOLA
Location: From Ohrid on the way to St. Naum, at only 3 km from camping place “Gradiste” to the village Trpejca, the road continues on the right. From the asphalt road, you continue on the grand road.
You approach the biggest field where you may park your vehicle (if any). From the field place, you reach the climbing site and hike to the end of the grand road which continues on trekking road. Trekking road is by the coast of the lake, through the monastery garden, down the rocks. You will find the climbing sector at the last rock. Follow the red market sine.
Rock structure: Soft Limestone
Climbing season: All year around. Climbing is best during the summer period in mornings and in winter in the afternoon.
Notice: Every route has it's own name written in red color.
Sector: ROCK TRPEJCA
Location: On beach of village Trpejca, go to the left and after 100m, when you loose the view of the village, you will notice the small rock, which is located in the water.
Rock structure: Limestone
Climbing season: Year around. In the winter period there are only sunny days in the afternoon.
Notice: Every route has it's own name written in red color.