The Seven Rila Lakes

The Seven Rila Lakes are one of the most beautiful natural sights in Bulgaria, a chain of seven glacial lakes set at different altitudes high in the Rila Mountains, connected by little streams and cascades. Each lake has its own character and shifting shades of blue and green, and a hiking trail climbs past them, from the lowest to the highest, offering spectacular views over the whole shimmering staircase of water amid the rugged peaks, one of the country's most popular and rewarding mountain walks.

History

The lakes lie in glacial cirques stepped between about 2,100 and 2,500 metres, and they drain into one another: the top three each feed the Twin, the water runs on through the others, and out of the lowest lake rises the Dzherman, a tributary of the Struma. Their names are recent. Not long ago the whole group was called Edi Göl, and the lakes had other names - Bash Göl, Chanak Göl, Kara Göl, Chifte Göl and the Middle Lake, while the two lowest had none. Today each name describes the lake: the Tear for its clear water, the Eye for its oval shape (at 37.5 metres the deepest cirque lake in Bulgaria), the Kidney, the Twin, the largest, the Trefoil, the Fish Lake, the shallowest, with the Seven Lakes hut on its shore, and the Lower Lake. Local legend says they are the tears of a giantess whose husband was killed defending their mountain home, and guides point out a rock shaped like the two of them (Bulgarian Wikipedia, Seven Rila Lakes).

Highlights

• The chain of lakes - the seven glacial lakes at different heights.
• The panoramic viewpoint - the view over the whole staircase of lakes.
• The mountain hike - the trail climbing past the lakes.
• The Rila peaks - the rugged surrounding mountains.

When to go

July to September, the summer, when the high mountains are clear of snow and the trails open and safe; even in summer the weather can turn quickly at altitude, so bring warm and waterproof layers. Weekdays are far quieter than the busy summer weekends.

Practical notes

It is a genuine mountain hike at altitude, reached by a chairlift and then a climb to the viewpoint, so it requires reasonable fitness, good footwear and weather awareness, and cloud can hide the famous view. It is extremely popular on summer weekends, so the trail can be crowded; a weekday is better. The staircase of lakes and views, though, are stunning.

Nearby

The Rila Monastery, Sofia and the Rila Mountains are within reach.

Key facts