7 Gorgeous Hikes in Durmitor National Park, Montenegro

Underrated Montenegro receives just a tiny amount of visitors compared to Croatia, its larger and more popular neighbour. This is a real shame, as Montenegro offers some of the best and most beautiful hiking opportunities in all of the Balkans.

Deep in the country’s beautiful north lies Durmitor, the largest of Montenegro’s 5 national parks. The scenery here is spectacular, characterized by thick pine forests, rugged limestone peaks, mirror-calm glacial lakes and the mighty Tara Canyon — the deepest gorge in Europe.

With so much natural beauty to discover, Durmitor National Park is a hiker’s paradise, boasting 200 kilometres of waymarked trails, as well as a large handful of peaks over 2,000 metres. This article will showcase 7 of the best Durmitor National Park hikes, with a mix of summit climbs, stunning viewpoints and lakeside walks.

Hiking in Durmitor National Park

As I mentioned previously, there are 200 kilometres of hiking trails in Durmitor National Park. These are all fairly well-maintained and waymarked, so navigating the trails isn’t too challenging. There are also plenty of signposts pointing the way to key landmarks, as well as red and white waymarkers painted onto rocks/trees to keep you on the correct path.

That being said, I would recommend downloading the maps.me app as the park’s hiking trails are clearly displayed on there. You can also pick up a printed map of Durmitor National Park for just 5 EUR from the tourist info stand in Žabljak, right in front of the HM Durmitor hotel.

Best hikes in Durmitor National Park

From the great heights of Bobotuv Kuk to the peaceful Black Lake, here are 7 beautiful hikes in Durmitor National Park.

Crno Jezero (Black Lake)

Distance: 4.7 km | Time: 1 hour 20 | Start/Finish: Park Entrance

Crno Jezero, also known as Black Lake, is one of the most popular hikes in Durmitor National Park. It’s a stunning glacial lake, where the surrounding pine trees cast a reflection on the mirror-calm water — in overcast conditions, this makes the colour appear almost black.

There’s a complete hiking trail that loops around the entirety of Black Lake, allowing you to enjoy it from every angle. The loop is quite short, taking about 1 hour and 20 minutes to complete, so it makes for a nice morning or afternoon stroll. The hike is fairly easy but does have a few rocky sections where you’ll need to be careful of your footing.

Your hike will take you through sweet-smelling pine forests and you’ll be treated to gorgeous views over the lake and surrounding mountains. There are plenty of benches and conveniently placed rocks along the way to sit and enjoy a picnic, as well as a restaurant at the entrance to the lake.

Bobotov Kuk

Distance: 11.4 km | Time: 6 – 7 hours | Start/Finish: Sedlo Pass

At a lofty 2523 metres, Bobotuv Kuk is the highest peak in Montenegro. Once you emerge atop its craggy summit, you’ll have a sweeping view of Bosnia to your left, Albania to your right and the whole of Durmitor National Park before you.

The hike to Bobotov Kuk’s summit can be challenging for those without a head for heights, as you’ll need to use a fixed rope on parts of the ascent, as well as scramble near the top. But for those who are up for the challenge, the view from Bobotuv Kuk is certainly rewarding.

There are two main routes to Bobotuv Kuk’s summit — a shorter one that begins and ends in Sedlo and a longer one that begins and ends in Žabljak. You can also hike point-to-point, starting in Sedlo and finishing in Žabljak.

Mount Prutaš — Southern Approach

Distance: 9 km | Time: 4 hours | Start/Finish: Dobri Do

The southern trail to Mount Prutaš offers some really dramatic views, as well as a lot of variety, taking you through rolling valleys, green meadows and amongst limestone peaks. As you ascend to the summit, you’ll see beautiful panoramas of neighbouring Durmitor mountains, including Đevojka, Bezimeni Vrh and Bobotov Kuk.

At Prutaš’s summit, you’ll find a spacious, grassy plateau — perfect for sitting to admire the surrounding scenery. The dramatic views and the variety of landscapes on this trail make it one of the very best Durmitor National Park hikes.

If you’re trying to decide whether to hike Bobotov Kuk or Mount Prutaš, I recommend Prutaš. Bobotuv Kuk may be the highest peak in Montenegro, but the scenery on Prutaš’s trail is more impressive, and you’ll see incredible views of Bobotov from the summit.

Durmitor Ice Cave (Ledena Pecina)

Distance: 12.4 km | Time: 5 hours 30 | Start/Finish: Park Entrance

There’s a peak that really stands out among the surrounding mountains of the Durmitor massif — Obla Glava (Round Head). It’s a prominent, dome-shaped mountain, already visible from the start of the trail at Black Lake. But what makes Obla Glava really special is the so-called “Ice Cave” inside it.

In this cave, winter never stops. Water continuously drips from the ceiling, and the cold air causes icy figures to form and rise up from the bottom of the cave. It’s an enchanting sight, and well worth the long hike to reach it.

The hike to the Ice Cave (Ledena Pecina in the local language) will take you along beautiful forest tracks, before opening up into a valley, and then bringing you onto rocky mountain trails. The final ascent up to the ice cave is quite steep, so be sure to take it slow.

Zmijinje Jezero (Snake Lake)

Distance: 6 km | Time: 2 hours | Start/Finish: Park Entrance

Most tourists who visit Durmitor National Park will go to Black Lake. It’s close to the entrance of the park from the nearby town of Žabljak, so it’s easy to get to, and simple to follow the trail that loops around it. But hidden within the forests beyond is Zmijinje Jezero, also known as Snake Lake. It’s less crowded and more peaceful than Black Lake, but is still beautiful, reflecting an epic shade of green from its waters.

To get to Snake Lake, simply follow the trail into the forest behind Black Lake, and keep to the waymarkers for Zmijinje Jezero. Despite the name, it’s very unlikely that you’ll encounter snakes here, so ophidiophobes need not worry.

I recommend that you bring a picnic as there are plenty of rocks and logs by the lake to sit on to eat and enjoy the view.

Planinica

Distance: 12.4 km | Time: 7 – 8 hours | Start/Finish: Park Entrance

For a full-day hike with incredible views and lots of variety, I recommend Planinica (2330m). This high alpine plateau offers one of the best hikes in Durmitor National Park by far, showcasing forest, lakes, grassland and mountains along the way. Like many of the hikes in Durmitor National Park, the trail to Planinica begins from Black Lake (Crno Jezero).

You’ll begin by hiking through the forest beyond Black Lake, before passing through a series of meadows. These are often peppered with grazing livestock, which I think makes the landscape really come to life. After crossing the meadows, there’s a final push to Planinica’s summit.

From Planinica’s top, you’ll be able to see across the soaring peaks that surround you, as well as the blue waters of Veliko Skrcko Jezero below.

Ćurevac — Tara Canyon Viewpoint

Distance: 2.10 km | Time: 1 hour 30 | Start/Finish: Curevac car park

The Tara Canyon is the second deepest canyon in the world (next to the Grand Canyon) and the viewpoint from Ćurevac is one of the best places to see it. From this viewpoint, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the canyon below and the peaks of Durmitor to the southwest.

The trail to the viewpoint from Ćurevac car park will only take 30 minutes or so, making it an hour round trip. This short but scenic hike will take you through pine forests and across meadows before reaching the rocky summit and the epic view from its top.

While this hike is a great way to get a bird’s eye view of Tara Canyon, I also recommend you go rafting along the canyon. Getting into the water itself and weaving through the gorge is the best way to see it and makes for an amazing day out.

Planning your visit to Durmitor National Park

Want to go hiking in Durmitor National Park yourself? Here’s what you need to know when planning your trip.

Žabljak — The best base for exploring Durmitor National Park

Located in the foothills of Mount Durmitor, Žabljak is a convenient town to base yourself in the national park. From the town centre, you’ll be able to walk to the park entrance within 20-30 minutes, or easily drive to the surrounding trailheads. The cosy yet sociable Hostel Highlander is great for solo travellers, while Dzakovic Stana is a lovely, spacious guest house option.

How to get to Durmitor National Park

Podgorica Airport is 120km away from Durmitor National Park. The best way to get to Durmitor — and to get around while you’re there — is to hire a car. If this isn’t possible, there are 6 buses that run from Podgorica to Žabljak each day. The journey takes 2.5 – 3 hours and costs just 10 EUR. You can use busticket4.me to check the timetable and book your ticket.

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