Morské oko

Morské oko sits at around six hundred metres in the volcanic Vihorlat hills, a lake of about thirteen hectares formed when a landslide blocked a valley, surrounded entirely by beech forest with no development on its shore. The name means sea eye. It is reached on foot or by bicycle along a forest road, and a path climbs from it to Sninský kameň, a volcanic rock outcrop with a view across the whole eastern lowland.

What you actually see

• The lake - thirteen hectares of water ringed entirely by beech forest.
• The landslide dam - the slope failure that created the lake.
• Sninsky kamen - a volcanic outcrop above the lake with a long view.
• The beech forest - old woodland covering the whole Vihorlat massif.

When to go

May to October is the walking season, with beech colour in October the best of the year. The forest road is closed to cars, so it is a walk or a ride. Winter access is difficult.

Honest expectations

There is no vehicle access to the lake and the walk in takes about an hour each way. Swimming is prohibited. Facilities at the lake are a single buffet that is not always open.

Nearby

Snina is north, and Zemplinska Sirava is southwest.