Paklenica National Park is situated on the coastal slope of southern Velebit. It encompasses the watercourses of Velika and Mala Paklenica, their recognizable canyons which were vertically cut into the southern slope of Velebit and the wider environs.

The territory of northern Velebit was proclaimed a national park in 1999 due to the exceptional diversity of its karst phenomena, its rich biology and exceptional natural beauty on relatively small surface of 109 km2.