The crown jewel of Durmitor National Park in Montenegro, Black Lake (Crno Jezero), is a place full of natural beauty.
It’s located just a short walk away from the small mountain town of Žabljak and is the biggest of the Durmitor’s 18 glacial lakes. Funny enough, Black Lake itself is a combination of two different lakes.
However, the narrow strait that splits them is only above water for a brief part of the year.
Highlights of the lake include a multitude of different activities. Most of which involve cooling down in the waters and/or something a little more adventurous.
Swimming is encouraged (but only in the hotter months), and boats are available for hire. Various trails head to and from the lake, including one that leads you around the whole thing in a single giant loop.
The loop takes about an hour and a half to finish and gives you stunning views of the lake’s reflective waters. Picnic tables and benches can be found every couple of hundred feet, and grassy patches line the lake shore, making ideal spots to toss down a blanket.
So, feel free to bring a snack and soak up the sun. Afterwards, you can grab a meal or a refreshing drink at the restaurant overlooking all of this scenery.
THE SEASONS AT BLACK LAKE
Durmitor National Park see visitors almost throughout the year.
During the spring and early summer months, the snow-capped peak of Mount Medjed can be seen above a sea of thick forest.
Swimming in the water will still put a chill in your bones, but it’s quite refreshing on a hot day. A variety of birds can be seen playing in the trees and the hiking paths start to open up.
Later in the summer, the water level starts lowering, and the narrow path that separates the two lakes starts to appear.
During the colder months, snow surrounds the lake and sometimes even covers it. A thin layer of ice is known to form on top, making it look like a winter fairytale.
With the right equipment, some of the surrounding paths can be traversed, so don’t be afraid to pop on some snowshoes!
A TALE OF TWO LAKES
As I mentioned before, there are actually a pair of lakes that merge together to form Black Lake. They are known as Big Lake (Veliko Jezero) and Small Lake (Malo Jezero).
Ironically, the “Little” Lake has a larger overall volume than Big Lake. However, while it might be tinier in terms of square km, the depth is about double that of Big Lake’s.
Tours To Black Lake
Durmitor National Park is one of those places that seems to attract tourists, even if it’s only for a few hours. That’s because of the easy access from just about anywhere in Montenegro.
Most of those visitors are going to end up at Black Lake. For anyone coming from the coast, these usually involve a full-day itinerary with other activities involved. Some of those stops are the Ostrog Monastery and Tara Gorge, two places I’ve written about extensively in the past.
If you find yourself staying along the coast and want to see one or more of these places along with Black Lake, here are a few options to look at:
Alternatively, you can come to Žabljak on your own and explore Black Lake at your leisure.
There are also a few other lakes to see in the area, like the hidden Zminje Lake, which is smaller than Black Lake and totally enclosed by the forest. Hiking there can be done on your own, but for those who would prefer a guide, you can check here.
GETTING TO BLACK LAKE, MONTENEGRO
Black Lake is between 2 and 3 km away from Žabljak, depending on where you are staying. There is one main street (Njegoševa) in town that leads straight to the lake. Just follow the signs for Crno Jezero and they will take you there.
The walk takes around 30 minutes and is very pretty. However, I should mention that the last 10 minutes come after the national park entrance.
Park Fee | The entrance fee is 3 euros per day. I’ve read that there was a multi-day option for a discount, but this wasn’t a choice when I visited.
Žabljak can be reached by bus from almost anywhere in the country within a day. Montenegro is tiny after all. Most times you’ll head through Podgorica, which has buses running quite often. The journey takes a few hours, depending on how often the bus driver stops.
If you are driving, you could technically visit Black Lake as a day trip from one of the bigger cities. However, there are so many things to do throughout the region that I suggest spending a few nights in Žabljak if you can.
Black Lake is a truly spectacular place to spend the day. When you’re in Montenegro, don’t forget to visit the alluring lake!
