SemkovoBulgaria’s Rila mountains
Apartments for saleFree PDF guide

Hiking / H03

Vapski Lakes

Walk via Semkovo Hut and Vapa canton to the two Vapski Lakes on a full mountain day, turning back at the upper shore.

Time
6–7 hours
Difficulty
Experienced
Distance
15.4 km
Ascent
↑ 750 m
Start
Coliving Semkovo
Route
Return walk

Fit hillwalkers with a full day and mountain navigation skills.

Walkers picnicking beside Vapsko Lake in its rocky mountain bowl.
Walkers picnicking beside Vapsko Lake in its rocky mountain bowl.

Route map

Follow the line marked H03. Return walk.

T02 / Vapski lakes
T02 / Vapski lakes · Follow H03 past the lower lake to the upper lake; the plan returns to Semkovo. View full map
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database Licence; terrain produced using Copernicus data and information funded by the European Union, EU-DEM layers
Open the selected route on the interactive map

Elevation profile

H03 elevation profile
H03 elevation profile · Return walk · 15.4 km
Terrain produced using Copernicus data and information funded by the European Union, EU-DEM layers

Distance and ascent above follow the mapped route using terrain-model heights. Elevation: 1575–2279 m.

Route measurements & alternative starts

Start/finish: Coliving Semkovo. About 15–15.5 km return · 710 m ascent · allow 6–7 hours · strenuous mountain day. From Semkovo Hut, the upper lakeshore is 6.47 km away, or about 12.9 km return; allow around 3 hours for the outward climb.

Mapped profile: 15.43 km, 750 m terrain-model ascent. Original guide estimate: about 15–15.5 km return, 710 m ascent. These are separately published figures; the profile uses terrain-model heights.

Return walk · 15.4 km. Rounded labels on the original map or profile may differ slightly. The original guide estimates are retained here for comparison; use the full figures for your chosen starting point.

Route directions

Who it’s for: Experienced. Fit hillwalkers with a full day and mountain navigation skills.

Two lakes, two different moods: the smaller lower lake is the first reward, while the larger upper lake gives you room to stop and take in the high country. Bring a proper picnic. This is a day to enjoy the destination, with enough time in hand to walk home comfortably.

The way: walk to Semkovo Hut, then take the left-hand road towards Vapa canton. Beyond the canton, the route leaves the taller forest for dwarf pine. At the fountain, the lake approaches divide: one climbs the slope to the right; another follows the stream ahead. Keep to the chosen marked line to the lower lake, then continue roughly 15 minutes to the upper lake. Return by the same approach.

The lake walk finishes at the upper shore. Paths continuing above it lead into a longer ridge day; they do not make Vapa summit an automatic extra. Several sections through the dwarf pine are easy to miss, and the open upper ground has little shelter from sun, wind or an approaching storm. Start early and turn back if cloud is building over the ridge.

Photos from this route
Narrow wooded path and trail marking on the Vapsko outing.
Narrow wooded path and trail marking on the Vapsko outing.
Two walkers posing above the forest on the Vapsko outing.
Two walkers posing above the forest on the Vapsko outing.
Small stone cairn and a walker on a forest path during the Vapsko outing.
Small stone cairn and a walker on a forest path during the Vapsko outing.
Two walkers sitting by the clear shore of Vapsko Lake.
Two walkers sitting by the clear shore of Vapsko Lake.

Other walks to consider

Back to all hikes

Medium · H02

Suhoto Lake

4–6 hours

9.9 km · ↑ 540 m · Return walk

From Coliving Semkovo

Regular walkers comfortable with a steep forest climb.

View route and map