The crown jewel of the Durmitor National Park, Black Lake (Crno Jezero) in Montenegro is a place full of natural beauty.
It’s located a short walk away from Žabljak and is the biggest of the park’s 18 glacial lakes. 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.
The highlights of the lake include a multitude of different activities. Swimming is encouraged (but only in the hotter months) and boats are also available for hire.
There are various trails that head to and from the lake, as well as one that leads you around the whole thing.
The loop takes about an hour and a half to finish and gives you stunning views of the reflective waters. Picnic tables and benches can be found every couple 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 the scenery.
A TALE OF TWO LAKES
As I mentioned before, there are actually a pair of lakes that merge together to form the Black Lake. They are Big Lake (Veliko Jezero) and Small Lake (Malo Jezero). The funny thing is, Little Lake has a larger volume than Big Lake.
While it’s smaller in terms of square km, the depth is about double of Big Lake’s.
THE SEASONS
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!
How to get to Black Lake?
Black Lake is between 2 and 3 km away from Žablak, 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.
Some views from the walk to Black Lake.
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. The entrance fee is 3 euros per day. I’ve read that there was a multiday 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!
