About Life on Mars Trail

For all active tourism, hiking, walking, trail and trekking enthusiasts, Life on Mars Trail is an unique experience. All it takes is to come to Metajna, just 12 km from Novalja, bring the appropriate equipment and footwear and follow the marked routes to embark on an inexhaustible adventure along the paths of Mars, which combines its stone surfaces exposed by bora and salt in the same picture with the beauty of Velebit, seas and beautiful bays and beaches where you find true beauty and peace.

In 2020, the first Croatian 100 m long Via Ferrata over the sea was added to the trail, which is intended for active climbers and which requires additional equipment. Via Ferrata is intended for demanding active climbers, and it requires additional equipment (gloves, harness, absorber and helmet). Iz bridges the sea, connecting Slana bay and cape Sušac. It takes 10 to 15 minutes to pass it, and its height varies from 1 to 2 m above the sea. It is demanding in terms of difficulty. Via Ferrata is accessed from Slana bay from a marked hiking trail 2 km from Ručica beach in Metajna.

In the shallow sea near the Beriknica beach, there are three large rocks, and above the beach the spectacular Stogaj rock rises, which gives climbers an adrenaline rush and represents a real challenge with its unusual shape. Stogaj is a vertical rock of an unusual form and it has two climbing directions from its southeast side, Stigma (difficulty 5a and 5b) and La vida Loca (difficulty 5b, 5c and 5a), both 6 meters long. In addition to the mentioned direction, a variant of the first length called Halfmoon (difficulty 5b) 25 meters long was launched. Stogaj is a favorite destination of climbers and one of the most photographed motives of Life on Mars Trail, which offers almost 70 marked routes. If you are a beginner, try a short and easy ten-meter climb, and experienced climbers are recommended to take more demanding routes called Scorpion or Spyder.