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Hiking

Some of the region's most beautiful lakes can only be reached on foot. The glacial lakes of the Prokletije, the Durmitor and Rila mountains, and the Pindus range are known as mountain eyes, and the walk to them is part of the experience. Other lakes have easy paths around the shore, suited to a relaxed afternoon.

Mountain weather changes fast and snow can linger on high trails into early summer, so check conditions and carry enough water. The places and trails below are linked to the lakes they lead to.

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  • Natural lake
  • Natural, regulated
  • Artificial lake (reservoir)

Highlights

Where to start

Photo: Martin Brož · CC BY 3.0

Bosnia and Herzegovina · Herzegovina

Blidinje Lake

Blidinje Lake is an alpine lake on the karst Blidinje plateau, in Blidinje Nature Park between Jablanica, Tomislavgrad and Posušje, and the largest of its kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is very shallow, and its size changes strongly with…

4.75 square kilometresarea
1,179 metreselevation
3 metresmax. depth
Hiking
Photo: Dido3 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Bulgaria · Rila · Southwestern Bulgaria

Bliznaka

Glacial · natural

0.09 square kilometresarea
2,243 metreselevation
27.5 metresmax. depth
Hiking

All lakes

46 lakes

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Photo: Martin Brož · CC BY 3.0

Bosnia and Herzegovina · Herzegovina

Blidinje Lake

Karst · natural

4.75 square kilometresarea
1,179 metreselevation
3 metresmax. depth
Hiking
Photo: Dido3 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Bulgaria · Rila · Southwestern Bulgaria

Bliznaka

Glacial · natural

0.09 square kilometresarea
2,243 metreselevation
27.5 metresmax. depth
Hiking
Photo: Dezidor · CC BY 3.0

Romania · Southern Carpathians

Lacul Bucura

Glacial · natural

0.09 square kilometresarea
2,040 metreselevation
16 metresmax. depth
Hiking
Photo: я · Public domain

Greece · Thessaly

Lake Plastiras

Reservoir · artificial

23.56 square kilometresarea
750 metreselevation
60 metresmax. depth
Hiking
Photo: Glagoli · Public domain

Bulgaria · Rila · Southwestern Bulgaria

Okoto (Rila)

Glacial · natural

0.07 square kilometresarea
2,440 metreselevation
37.7 metresmax. depth
Hiking
Photo: Draganandj · CC BY-SA 4.0

Montenegro · Durmitor · Northern Montenegro

Trnovačko Lake

Glacial · natural

0.19 square kilometresarea
1,517 metreselevation
9 metresmax. depth
Hiking
Photo: Jenny Poole · CC BY 2.0

Serbia · Southern Serbia

Vlasina Lake

Reservoir · artificial

16 square kilometresarea
1,213 metreselevation
10.3 metresmax. depth
BirdwatchingHiking
Show all 46 lakes in Explore

Places

Places for Hiking

Trails

Trails for Hiking

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