The Seven Rila Lakes by car

The lakes

The seven lakes lie in a glacial cirque in the north-west of the Rila massif. From lowest to highest: the Lower Lake (Dolnoto, 2,095 m), source of the Dzherman river, the Fish Lake (Ribnoto), the Trefoil (Trilistnika), the Twin (Bliznaka), the Kidney (Babreka), the Eye (Okoto) and the Tear (Salzata, 2,535 m). The Eye is 37.5 m deep.

The lakes are part of Rila National Park and of the “Rila” Natura 2000 site. They stay frozen for almost nine months a year. The Seven Lakes hut (Sedemte Ezera) stands on the shore of the Fish Lake.

The route

• From Sofia, the Struma motorway (A3) south, past Pernik, to Dupnitsa.
• Then the road to Sapareva Banya, and the mountain road through the Panichishte resort to the lower chairlift station, near Pionerska hut.

Allow about 95 km and 2 h from central Sofia, as a guide. The motorway is part of the network subject to the vignette, already included on each of our cars. In Sapareva Banya, the tourist information centre, in the geyser area, is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 17:00.

Chairlift and hike

The two-seat chairlift, opened in spring 2009, starts near Pionerska hut and climbs to Rilski Ezera hut, at 2,135 m above sea level. From the upper station, allow about 1 h 30 on foot to the Tear, the highest of the lakes. A trail also starts at the lower station, for those who prefer to walk all the way up.

We found no chairlift hours or fares published by an official source: check on site or with the Sapareva Banya information centre before planning your day.

Season

The Ministry of Tourism recommends summer for visiting the lakes. In winter, the ascent calls for mountain equipment and mountaineering skills; without experience, the ministry advises contacting an experienced guide or the information centre first. In any season, bring proper hiking boots.

National park rules

• Stay on the marked trails: leaving them is prohibited.
• Entering or swimming in the lakes and rivers is prohibited; fishing is prohibited in the Fish Lake.
• Dogs must be kept on a lead.
• No open fires; bivouacs and tents only at designated, marked sites.
• Do not pick flowers or leave litter.
• Vehicles may only drive and park on designated, marked roads, unless the park directorate has given a permit.

These rules are published by the Rila National Park directorate, which notes that visitor numbers have led to trail erosion and eutrophication of the lakes.

Driving tips

Leave Sofia early in the morning: the drive, the climb and the walk back down fill the day. The last stretch is a mountain road; from 15 November to 1 March, the winter rules apply (winter tyres or at least 4 mm of tread), as explained in our winter driving guide. Rila Monastery, on the other side of the massif, has a guide of its own.

With our cars

We hand over the vehicle in Sofia or at the airport, for a day or longer. South of Dupnitsa, the Struma motorway leads towards the Greek border: our vehicles do not leave Bulgaria.