Cijevna (Cem)

Course

From the border the river runs through its canyon, one of the best-known in the country, and then out onto the plain, where it meets the Morača below Podgorica; the water continues to Lake Skadar and, through the Bojana, to the Adriatic. The view of the canyon from above is from Grlo sokolovo, the lookout on the 65 km Korita circuit (Podgorica, Medun, Ubli, Kučka Korita, Zatrijebač, Fundina), the first fully marked panoramic road in Montenegro: the Cijevna lies far below, and the far side of the canyon is Albania.

Protection and wildlife

The Cijevna canyon is a Nature Monument under Montenegrin law, a Key Biodiversity Area and one of the "pearls" of the European Green Belt. It is managed by Tuzi municipality's Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environment. The river holds marble trout (Salmo marmoratus), Adriatic trout (Salmo farioides), the Salmo dentex trout and the critically endangered European eel. Birds of the canyon include golden eagle, eagle owl, wallcreeper and dipper, and it is Egyptian vulture habitat.

Fishing

The fly-fishing zone on the Cijevna starts 2 km downstream of the Albanian border and is Adriatic-trout water, with daily permits from the local club. Under the national order of 2026 (Sl. list CG 75/2026, in force 11 June 2026) trout in Podgorica waters are closed from 1 November to 1 April, and marble trout in all waters until 1 April 2029: any caught must be returned alive. Zones on other rivers are on the fly-fishing page.

Niagara falls

The Niagara falls on the Cijevna, in Tuzi municipality, are 7 km from Podgorica. The Niagara lookout above them is at 42.3837, 19.2789 for navigation, 10 km and about 17 minutes by car from the centre of Podgorica. No bathing place is designated on the river, so any swimming is at your own risk.

Kayaking and canyoning

With the Morača, the Cijevna counts as one of the calmer rivers near Podgorica for kayaking; river kayaking in Montenegro is a sport for April, May and June, because in other months the water is too low or too strong. The Cijevna is also one of the canyons named for canyoning, alongside the Grlja, the Škurda and the Vruća rijeka. Offers are on the kayaking and canyoning pages.

Getting there

• The canyon: in Tuzi municipality, with a road through it; the Morača and the Ribnica are the neighbouring rivers.
• Niagara: 10 km, about 17 minutes by car from the centre of Podgorica.
• Grlo sokolovo: on the Korita circuit, 36 km and about 56 minutes from Podgorica.

Driving times are free-flow, without traffic.

Questions

How long is the Cijevna in Montenegro?

32 km of 58.8 km: 31.97 km in the Water Register, 32.3 km per Parks Dinarides.

Is the canyon protected?

Yes, as a Nature Monument, managed by Tuzi municipality.

What fish live in it?

Marble trout, Adriatic trout, Salmo dentex and European eel.

How far are the Niagara falls from Podgorica?

7 km; the lookout above them is about 10 km and 17 minutes by car from the city centre.