Road M5 is a narrow former railway through the Prača Canyon
M5 is a challenging mountain road located in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, running along the former Bosnian Eastern Railway ("Ostbahn") through the Prača Canyon. It’s definitely not for anyone suffering from vertigo or fear of landslides.
Is Road M5 through the Prača Canyon unpaved?
The road is very narrow (totally impassable for 2 cars at the same time) as it runs along the former Bosnian Eastern Railway, which was once a single track. Located within the Prača valley, the single-lane unpaved road runs through the scenic Prača Canyon. The road is very lightly traveled.
How long is Road M5 through the Prača Canyon?
It’s 21.2km (13.17mi) long, running west-east from the village of Hrenovica towards Mesići. The road is just a simple river crossing consisting of several concrete pipes in the river bed covered with gravel. This enables the water to pass through the pipes. It is now easily passable for any vehicle. However, that kind of pass is highly vulnerable to river floods/torrents and probably will not survive the first major river flooding (tends to happen during springtime).
How many tunnels and bridges are on Road M5 through the Prača Canyon?
The road is in bad condition and features 20 unlit, single-lane railway tunnels and 3 bridges. One of them was destroyed by an overloaded truck in 2017. The other two bridges are made of concrete and are in good condition. A bypass road has been built around the bridge that was destroyed in 2017. However, remember to check current road conditions before embarking on the drive.
How dangerous is driving Road M5 through the Prača Canyon?
Every few hundred meters there are bombed-out ruins of houses—very clear remnants of the Bosnian War. Part of the terrain surrounding the road is mined, but the road is 100% clear. Mobile phone signal reception is very poor. Driving along this route is a unique experience next to steep cliffs and through pitch-black tunnels several hundred meters in length, always winding along the river.
Road suggested by: Shred Bosanek
Pic: Shred Bosanek