The Notorius Frasher Loop
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 44.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 6,355 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 6,493 ft
- Max elevation
- 4,093 ft
- TrailRank
-
55
4.8
- Min elevation
- 773 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Time
- 5 hours 51 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1232
- Uploaded
- July 28, 2014
- Recorded
- July 2014
near Petran, Gjirokastër (Albania)
Viewed 9313 times, downloaded 609 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Frasher can be reached very comfortably on a rather good dirt road, taking the turn-off from the Kelcyre-Permet road near Piskove. It is an easy but long drive of almost 30 kilometer, passing through the Bredhi i Hotoves Park.
An alternative way starts at the Lengarice hot springs and canyon. The Lengarice spring is a tourist destination in itself, with asphalt road, an ancient arched bridge, with natural warm pools and views towards Nemercke mountain. In season, a small bar is open, and it might be difficult to find privacy. Waste management remains a concern.
Our trail crosses the Lengarice river here and continues as dirt road. For the next 7.5 kilometer, until the upper bridge across the Lengarice canyon at waypoint 05, the road is quite improved owing to the construction work going on in the upper Lengarice river. Starting from the bridge up to the village Ogren-Kostrec and possibly beyond, the road is narrow and extraordinarily exposed. It crosses steep gravelly slopes and what appear to be sheer rock faces, with narrow bends and stretches where you hope nobody will be coming your way.
The track is not very difficult in itself, in terms of technicalities such as unevenness of the surface, protruding rocks and the like, but the exposure does not let you forget where you are. There are a few spots that can turn muddy in or after rain, and the trail should only be done in dry conditions.
The worst is over once you arrive in Gostivisht (when coming from Lengarice), but not quite. Once in Ogren-Kostrec you can take a deep breath.
It takes about 3 hours from Lengarice to Frasher.
In Frasher, the museum dedicated to the three Frasheri brothers (Abdyl, Sami, Naim) was locked, without a sign telling where to find the person with the key. The village does not look very active. Just before you reach Frasher from Lengarice, you pass an extensive Teqe presently under renovation. The teqe is the place where the Frasheri brothers went to school.
Shortly after Frasher one reaches the Bredhi i Hotoves Park, which has a picnic place, signposted hiking trails and a ranger station. The air was cool on a hot July day.
We also paid a short visit to the Teqe Alipostivan, which is still under construction and looks from the distance like the Taj Mahal. It is impressive also from close-up. We were not allowed entry (closing time for visitors is 4pm, we were told).
Note that the trail is shown as improved road on some of the maps in circulation; notably the most recent Vector Maps; let yourself not be fooled.
An alternative way starts at the Lengarice hot springs and canyon. The Lengarice spring is a tourist destination in itself, with asphalt road, an ancient arched bridge, with natural warm pools and views towards Nemercke mountain. In season, a small bar is open, and it might be difficult to find privacy. Waste management remains a concern.
Our trail crosses the Lengarice river here and continues as dirt road. For the next 7.5 kilometer, until the upper bridge across the Lengarice canyon at waypoint 05, the road is quite improved owing to the construction work going on in the upper Lengarice river. Starting from the bridge up to the village Ogren-Kostrec and possibly beyond, the road is narrow and extraordinarily exposed. It crosses steep gravelly slopes and what appear to be sheer rock faces, with narrow bends and stretches where you hope nobody will be coming your way.
The track is not very difficult in itself, in terms of technicalities such as unevenness of the surface, protruding rocks and the like, but the exposure does not let you forget where you are. There are a few spots that can turn muddy in or after rain, and the trail should only be done in dry conditions.
The worst is over once you arrive in Gostivisht (when coming from Lengarice), but not quite. Once in Ogren-Kostrec you can take a deep breath.
It takes about 3 hours from Lengarice to Frasher.
In Frasher, the museum dedicated to the three Frasheri brothers (Abdyl, Sami, Naim) was locked, without a sign telling where to find the person with the key. The village does not look very active. Just before you reach Frasher from Lengarice, you pass an extensive Teqe presently under renovation. The teqe is the place where the Frasheri brothers went to school.
Shortly after Frasher one reaches the Bredhi i Hotoves Park, which has a picnic place, signposted hiking trails and a ranger station. The air was cool on a hot July day.
We also paid a short visit to the Teqe Alipostivan, which is still under construction and looks from the distance like the Taj Mahal. It is impressive also from close-up. We were not allowed entry (closing time for visitors is 4pm, we were told).
Note that the trail is shown as improved road on some of the maps in circulation; notably the most recent Vector Maps; let yourself not be fooled.
Waypoints
Bridge
1,083 ft
01-Bridge
27-JUL-14 10:58:46
Intersection
1,207 ft
02-Left
27-JUL-14 11:01:14
Intersection
1,834 ft
03-Left
27-JUL-14 11:17:21
Intersection
1,375 ft
04-Left
27-JUL-14 11:25:20
Bridge
0 ft
05-Bridge
05-Bridge
Intersection
2,198 ft
06-Fork
27-JUL-14 12:04:42
Ruins
2,241 ft
07-Cemetery
27-JUL-14 12:07:22
Fountain
2,274 ft
08-Water
27-JUL-14 12:13:45
Waypoint
Fountain
3,215 ft
11-Water
27-JUL-14 13:27:49
Mountain pass
4,049 ft
14-Highest point
27-JUL-14 14:36:49
Intersection
1,368 ft
17-Fork to Corovode
27-JUL-14 15:55:49
Intersection
1,302 ft
18-To Alipostivan
27-JUL-14 15:58:31
Comments (6)
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I have followed this trail View more
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Easy to follow
Scenery
Difficult
It's reason for concern for tourists' safety that the widely available Vector card marks this trail as a red, major road. The reason is the improved state of the first part starting from Lengarice canyon's south rim. From the in-river building site onward, however, due to the exposure on the steep and narrow trail this is not a "through"- road.
We drove this trail in June 2012, from Frasher to Ogren the "road" was in very bad condition, possible for us with our bikes, but not possible for cars, no way. Very nice trip, though!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LSSTQ6NhsY&list=PLN2OyVEpqAv5wCBIxN51zkNaCaqESnbyE
I have followed this trail View more
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Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
Beautiful trail. 4x4
I have followed this trail View more
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Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
Quite an easy track just a couple of SYP moments after Frasher going in a clockwise direction
I have followed this trail verified View more
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Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
Der Trail ist zwischen Pagri und Gostivisth (wir sind gegen den Uhrzeigersinn gefahren) sehr schön. Der Teil von der Therme bis zum Stausee ist auch sehenswert. Das Stück zwischen Stausee und Gostivisth ist reines Offroad ohne besonderen schöne Aussicht. Es gibt bei Ogrend-Kostec eine sehr schöne Möglichkeit zu übernachten. Wir hatten trockne Wetterlage und sind mit M+S Reifen ohne Sperre gefahren.
Trail für Anfänger dann möglich. Höhenangabe ist fehl am Platz.
Don't drive when it rained. This will be very problematic. There are many very muddy parts on the risky sections. Also I recommend doing this in the counter clockwise direction. So you have the hard part in the beginning. In May there where very deep muddy ruts which need high clearance and probably at least AT wheels.