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Meridiela.

Trnovacko Lake

A heart-shaped glacial lake under the Maglic massif, reached by a walk from the Montenegrin side.

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WhereNorthwestern Montenegro
Nearest cityPluzine
Best seasonJune to September
Time to allowA day
Getting thereFrom the Piva valley near the Bosnian border; rough track then a walk
EntryFree

Trnovačko jezero lies at around seventeen hundred metres in a cirque below the Volujak and Maglić massifs near the Bosnian border, and its outline, roughly heart-shaped, has made it one of the most photographed lakes in the region. It is reached from the Montenegrin side by a rough track from the Piva valley and then a walk, or on foot from Bosnia. The water is very cold and the surrounding scree and peaks rise steeply on all sides.

What you actually see

  • The lake shape - the roughly heart-shaped outline seen from the ridges above.
  • The cirque - the glacial bowl below Volujak and Maglic.
  • The peaks - the limestone massifs enclosing the lake.
  • The camping meadow - the flat ground at the lake used by walkers.

When to go

June to September; snow lies late and the track is impassable outside summer. July and August are the reliable window. Nights at the lake are cold in any month.

Honest expectations

The access track is rough and needs a proper four-wheel drive, then a walk. There are no facilities of any kind. The border is close and routes cross it, which needs care and the right documents.

Nearby

Piva Canyon is south, and Pluzine is beyond it.

What to pack for Trnovacko Lake

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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