Galičica National Park Park

Address: Galičica National Park - between Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa, North Macedonia

Galičica National Park covers the Galičica mountain range between Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa in southwestern North Macedonia and is protected for its endemic flora and mountain habitats. The park’s significance lies in its ridge-line views that overlook two of the region’s major lakes.

The park’s terrain includes steep ridges, forested slopes, and alpine meadows that are used for hiking and nature observation; trails along the ridge provide viewpoints over Lake Ohrid to the west and Lake Prespa to the east. Wildlife includes regional mammals and a number of endemic and Balkan plant species.

The area was designated for protection to conserve the mountain ecosystems and endemic biodiversity that characterize the Galičica range. Conservation, recreational access, and small-scale pastoral use have shaped its management.

The park sits between the towns of Ohrid and Resen in southwestern North Macedonia along the international watershed between the two lakes. Access is typically from roadheads near Ohrid and surrounding villages.

• Dual-lake viewpoints: Look for ridge viewpoints that offer clear overlooks of both Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa on the same visit, best in clear weather.

Galičica National Park occupies the Galičica ridge between Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa. The usual approach is from the city of Ohrid: drive or take a local minibus east out of Ohrid onto the paved road that climbs the Galičica ridge toward the park. Driving from Ohrid city centre to the park edge and main parking/trailheads takes only a short drive (roughly 15-25 minutes); from roadside parking areas expect short walks (hundreds of metres) to viewpoints and trailheads.

• Start hikes from the Ohrid-side villages (for example Trpejca) early in the morning or late afternoon to get cooler temperatures and the best panoramic views over Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa while avoiding midday visitor traffic.
• Drive the ridge road between Ohrid and Resen and stop at the park's roadside viewpoints rather than attempting long circuits from the busier lakeside towns; the Prespa-side trails tend to be much quieter if you want solitude.
• Don't miss short side trails off the main ridge that showcase Galičica's endemic plants and small traditional villages - ask locally for marked paths, as these pockets of flora and local life are easy to overlook from the main viewpoints.