Hiking
Walk around Black Lake
Žabljak · Durmitor & Northern Mountains
QUICK INFORMATION
- CATEGORY
- Hiking
- COUNTRY
- Montenegro
- REGION
- Žabljak · Durmitor & Northern Mountains
- DURATION
- About 1 hour for the loop; 2–3 hours including the walk from Žabljak.
- DIFFICULTY
- A flat, easy lakeside walk — no fitness or equipment needed.
- BEST TIME
- June to September for walking and swimming; year-round, with snow in winter.
ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE
The loop around Black Lake is the gentlest walk in Durmitor and the one almost every visitor does. A flat, well-marked path of about 3.5 km runs right around the two lakes — Veliko and Malo Jezero — through dense pine forest beneath the rocky slope of Medved, with the water never far from the trail. It needs no fitness, no equipment and no planning beyond an hour and a pair of shoes, which is why it is the classic first stop in the national park and the easiest way to see a Durmitor lake up close.
WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE
What you’ll experience
You walk from Žabljak to the lake — about 3 km on a clear track — then follow the loop path around the two lakes. The trail is flat and shaded by black pine, with the dark water of the lakes on one side and the slope of Medved above. The two lakes are joined by a short stream that can dry to a trickle in late summer, and the path crosses it at the narrows. The whole loop takes about an hour at a relaxed pace. In high summer the lake is warm enough at the edges for a swim from the shore; in winter the lake can freeze and the loop becomes a snow walk.
THE EXPERIENCE IN DETAIL
What it’s really like
HIGHLIGHTS
Moments worth savouring
A flat, well-marked 3.5 km loop right around both Black Lakes — the gentlest walk in Durmitor.
Dense black-pine forest along the whole route, with the dark water always close.
The narrows between Veliko and Malo Jezero, where the two lakes nearly meet.
The reflection of Medved peak on the dark water that gives the lake its name.
A possible swim from the shore in high summer, or a snow walk in winter when the lake freezes.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Good to know before you go
The loop is open year-round and free to walk. It is flat and shaded, suitable for all fitness levels and families. The walk from Žabljak to the lake adds about 3 km each way; in summer a small road train runs from the town to the lake for those who prefer not to walk. A café and boat rental operate at the lake in high season. Bring water in summer; in winter the path may be snow-covered, so check conditions and wear appropriate footwear.
WHY IT MATTERS
Why it matters
The Black Lake loop is the walk that makes Durmitor accessible to everyone — a genuine glacial lake in a national park, reached on foot and walked around in an hour with no effort. For a visitor it is the natural first taste of the massif, and for many it is enough: the lake, the pine forest and the peak above in a single easy circuit, without committing to a full mountain hike.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before you go
THROUGH THE LENS
From the road
MAP & LOCATION
Walk around Black Lake
Walk around Black Lake, Žabljak, Durmitor & Northern Mountains, Montenegro
43.1447, 19.0908
ATTRACTIONS NEARBY
Pair it with these sights
MORE EXPERIENCES
More to do in Žabljak
FOOD & DRINK
Where to eat nearby
Savardak — traditional Durmitor dishes near the town
Pizzeria Durmitor — a practical town-centre staple
Mountain guesthouse kitchens — hearty soups, grilled meats, dairy dishes and other highland food around Žabljak
HOTELS & STAYS
Where to stay nearby
Hotel Polar Star — modern rooms in town
Eko Katun H2O — mountain huts on the plateau
Family-run chalets and apartments — flexible self-catering bases in and around Žabljak
NEARBY DESTINATIONS
Continue the journey
PART OF
Keep exploring
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