Tara River Canyon: this drive is well worth the time

Located in Montenegro, Kanjon Tare is the deepest canyon in Europe and the second deepest in the world, at 1,300m (4,300ft) deep.

Where is Tara Canyon?

Tara River Canyon, Europe's deepest gorge, is located in the Pljevlja Municipality, in the northwestern part of the country, within Durmitor National Park, which is part of the Dinaric Alps.

How do you get to Tara Canyon?

The road through the gorges is fully paved. It’s called P4. The drive is 45.9 km (28.52 miles) long, running from Most na Đurđevića Tari (Djurdjevica Tara bridge) to Mojkovac.

Is the road to Tara Canyon challenging?

The road is quite challenging. It can be slippery after rains and has narrow parts and unlit tunnels. The drive is very curvy and can be busy during summer months.

What’s the Djurdjevica Bridge?

The bridge with large arches was built in 1940, offering picturesque views. Construction of the bridge began in 1938 and was finished in 1940. Over time, this bridge became one of the symbols of the river. Even though it was built by human hands, when viewed from above, it appears to be a natural part of Tara’s curves. The bridge is 154 meters long and 135 meters high.

Is Tara Canyon worth it?

To drive the road without stopping will take most people between 50 and 60 minutes. The drive is very scenic. Gorges and waterfalls alternate throughout this stunning road. The canyon, protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a unique phenomenon due to its depth of 1000 to 1300 meters in some places. It ranks just behind the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River in the United States. It is the longest river in Montenegro with a course of 150 km, and at the river's end, just a small part of it flows through Bosnia & Herzegovina. Tara River later flows into the Drina River. The Tara River has an average fall of 3.6m/km, creating numerous waterfalls, rapids, and cascades which complement the Durmitor National Park, to which the River Tara belongs. The river Tara has many special places, but the most valuable ones are its cascades. The roar of some of its cascades can be heard from the very edge of the canyon. The most famous ones are: Djavolje laži (Devil’s lies), Sokovina, Bijeli kamen (White stone), Gornji and Donji tepački Buk (Upper and Lower Tepački cascade), etc. When it comes to fauna in the locality of River Tara, mountain goats should be mentioned. Besides wild goats, deer and wild boar can be found here. The River Tara is also rich in fish, especially brook trout, salmon, grayling, chub, etc.