Black Lake (Crno Jezero)

Encircled by pine forests and mountain peaks, Black Lake is the crown jewel of Durmitor National Park.

B lack Lake, known locally as Crno Jezero, is the kind of place that makes you believe in fairy tales. Nestled in a glacial basin near the mountain town of Žabljak, this twin‑basin lake sits at the foot of Mount Međed and reflects the surrounding spruce forests and craggy peaks like a mirror. In summer, the water shimmers in shades of deep blue and emerald; in winter it can freeze over, creating a serene ice‑scape beneath snow‑covered trees. For many visitors, this lake is the highlight of a trip to Durmitor National Park – a serene counterpoint to the park’s rugged highlands and dramatic canyons.

The trail around Black Lake is an easy, family‑friendly loop of about 3.5 kilometres, offering ever‑changing perspectives of the lake and the mountains above. Picnic spots and benches invite you to linger, while small wooden docks serve as launch points for rented rowboats. We loved visiting early in the morning, when mist still clings to the water and the only sound is the splash of trout beneath the surface. In the afternoon, the area fills with walkers, cyclists and swimmers, but the far side of the lake remains quiet.

Beyond the main circuit, more adventurous hikers can follow trails up to the higher alpine lakes known as the Mountain Eyes or continue towards Savin Kuk peak, one of Durmitor’s most popular summits. In autumn, the forests around Black Lake blaze with colour, and in spring wildflowers carpet the meadows. Whether you stay for an hour or a day, the lake’s beauty has a way of slowing you down and making you pay attention to the small details – the way light filters through the trees, the call of a jay, the shifting hues of the water.

Black Lake is Durmitor’s mirror – a tranquil place to reflect on the wilderness around you and perhaps on yourself.