Experienced · H08
Macedonia / Makedonia Hut
6–8 hours
16.7 km · ↑ 800 m · Return walk
From Coliving Semkovo
Fit hillwalkers able to manage a long day and steep final climb.
View route and mapChernopolyanski / Karaalanishki Lakes
Follow forest roads to Karaalanitsa meadow and climb into the Chernopolyanski basin, with extra shore paths beyond the mapped approach.
- Time
- 7–9 hours
- Difficulty
- Experienced
- Distance
- 17.5 km + shore spur
- Ascent
- ↑ 870 m
- Start
- Coliving Semkovo
- Route
- Return walk
Confident route-finders on rough ground and dwarf-pine paths.
Route map
Follow the line marked H05. Return walk.
Elevation profile
Distance and ascent above follow the mapped route using terrain-model heights. Elevation: 1528–2296 m. Lakeshore spurs are additional.
Route measurements & alternative starts
Start/finish: Coliving Semkovo. About 18 km return, plus the lakeshore visits · roughly 870 m ascent · allow 7–9 hours. The map and profile follow the Karaalanitsa meadow approach to the path east of the lower lake; the final shore spur is additional.
Mapped profile: 17.51 km, 870 m terrain-model ascent. Original guide estimate: about 18 km return plus the lakeshore visits, roughly 870 m ascent. The mapped line returns from the path east of the lower lake; the final shore spur and visits to the lakes are additional.
Mapped basin approach & return · shore spur extra. 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. Confident route-finders on rough ground and dwarf-pine paths.
These western lakes reward a quieter kind of ambition. The larger lake comes first, round and open; the smaller lies about 10 minutes farther on, tucked among rocks. The names Chernopolyanski and Karaalanishki refer to the same lake basin.
The way: follow the forest-road approach west to Karaalanitsa meadow, as for H07. Continue towards the water intake, where the lake path begins about 20 m to its left. Climb through meadow and dwarf pine into the basin. The highlighted line stops on the mapped path east of the larger, lower lake; take the local shore path to the water, then continue about 10 minutes to the smaller lake. Retrace the same approach. Another access route runs through Semkovo Hut → Vapa canton → the waterworks track → Karaalanitsa; its distance is different.
The approach choice matters: settle it before leaving, and use a local guide if these upper junctions are unfamiliar. A much bigger circuit links Semkovo → Vapski → Kanarata sector → Karaalanishki → Semkovo: 23.03 km, 1,133 m ascent and about 10 hours. That is a separate hard day, and it does not necessarily visit Kanarata's summit.
Other walks to consider
Back to all hikes
Expert · H09
Kanarata Summit via the Waterfall
7–8 hours at a strong, steady pace
20.9 km · ↑ 1210 m · Loop
From Coliving Semkovo
Strong mountain walkers with exposed-ridge and navigation experience.
View route and map
Experienced · H03
Vapski Lakes
6–7 hours
15.4 km · ↑ 750 m · Return walk
From Coliving Semkovo
Fit hillwalkers with a full day and mountain navigation skills.
View route and map