Lubnica - summit Volcjak - Lubnica

The first part of the trail is rocky, then you enter a forest and the road is marked and easy which will deceive you that the next part is the same. You will arrive at a clearing with a cottage on the left and you start to loose the road marks but a few meters ahead you find the sign for the highest peak (Volcjak). The sign points right to a path you probably won't notice at first and you might stroll straight ahead in the wrong way (like us). When you notice the right way, a steep climb begins through a dense forest. There are marks on the trees here and there but they are not so easy to find so this app or a guide will be good to follow, otherwise you'll get lost easily, plus the many branches, thorns, leaves and the steepness are not making it easy on you. When you climb this, a beautiful view of the hills and the Valandovo valley opens. There it gets a little easier but it doesn't last very long and another steep (but shorter and with less thorns) climb awaits. After this you are longing for a rest and can sit beneath a big tree and gaze at the valley that you need to descend next. There could be cows grazing there and a few dogs guarding them. We tried to avoid the dogs by climbing the hill but I do not recommend this because you will get torn to shreds by thorns and take the dirt road instead. There are a lot of wild blackberries which taste amazing but don't eat them unwashed because of the cows and whatnot. The peak becomes visible from there and gets obvious quickly that another steep climb awaits you. The hill beneath the peak has been deforested which is a shame, but there is still a nice part left. There you will again have a hard time finding the marks and get a false sense that you reached the peak going only uphill but just follow my trail for the way back closely and you won't waste time. The view from the peak itself is very nice, you see the highway, the Demir Kapija valley and town and the river Vardar. Just bring enough water because the fountains are at the start of the trail and there are none afterward (and the terrain will drain you). A very fun hike with nice views.