Marichini Lakes

IMPORTANT: The Marichini Lakes lie within the Central Rila Reserve and should not be treated as an ordinary hiking destination with unrestricted direct access to the shores.

ACCESS REGIME: Hiking through the reserve is permitted only on specifically designated transit routes. Leaving those routes in order to descend directly to the lakes is not an authorised tourist approach.

PERMITTED ROUTES IN THE AREA: Officially permitted transit lines include the route through the Tiha Maritsa valley and the high route from Musala via the Bliznatsite and Marishki Peak toward Granchar and Zavrachitsa huts.

MAP: Use BGMountains only for orientation along permitted routes. Do not use the map to create an unmarked shortcut to the lake shores.

BEFORE VISITING: Check the current Rila National Park regulations, as reserve rules take precedence over hiking descriptions and GPS tracks.

THIS PAGE IS INFORMATIONAL: Its purpose is to show where the lakes are and why they are important without encouraging visitors to violate the reserve regime.

Upper Marichino Lake lies at approximately 2,378 m above sea level.

Lower Marichino Lake lies at approximately 2,367 m.

The Maritsa River, one of the major rivers of the Balkan Peninsula, originates in the Marichini cirque.

The former Marichini Lakes Reserve is now incorporated into the strictly protected Central Rila Reserve.

The cirque is surrounded by some of Rila's highest summits.