Seven Rila Lakes in The Rila Mountains - Bulgaria

Jul 15

Written By Chris Shields

“Drop by drop is the water pot filled” - Bulgarian Proverb

The Story -

On our Balkan adventure's second to last day, we hiked six moderate and magnificent miles at the renowned Seven Rila Lakes in the Rila Mountains Range in northwest Bulgaria. The Seven Rila Lakes area is popular with locals and tourists alike, providing many picturesque views and an unmatched hiking experience.

Seven Rila Lakes -

The Seven Rila Lakes are a group of glacial lakes, situated between 7000 and 8000 feet in elevation above sea level. As you can probably guess, they are seven lakes all in close proximity to each other high up in the mountains. In winter, they are frozen over and covered in snow. In summer, once melted, the lakes are an emerald green and sapphire blue. Each lake also carries a name associated with its most characteristic feature, examples include "The Tear", "The Eye", and "The Kidney". The lakes are located one above the other and are connected by small streams, which form many wonderful waterfalls, cascades, and natural springs in between.

Spill The Tea -

To access The Seven Rila Lakes trail, you must take a ski lift to the trailhead after driving several miles on a road curvier than most roller coasters. And while the ride on the ski lift seemed never-ending, it gave us the opportunity to relax and enjoy some breathtaking views of what was to come. Leaving the lift, you almost immediately begin the first of many difficult ascents that get your heart racing and your legs burning. We had several mandatory “picture” stops for the gorgeous views, our code to take a break and catch our breath.

Add Some Cream and Sugar -

Many of the mountains still had snow on them which added an element of allure to the already appealing mountains. We we able to view six of the seven lakes, even walking beside and sticking our toes in several. The glacial lakes were cold, yet perhaps not as cold as I imagined they would be. Another surprise was the amount of flatness between ascents. Don’t misunderstand, the ascents are brutal, yet once at each lake the terrain smooths out for enjoyable strolls next to the water.

Wrap It Up -

The Seven Rila Lakes hike was one of my favorite hikes of all time. It had everything I look for in a hike and more. The only negative perhaps is the number of people, yet with the vastness of the area, it never feels crowded. I am fortunate to have had the chance to go to Bulgaria and hike the Seven Rila Lakes, and it should be added to your bucket list as well.

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