Skakavitsa Hut – Rila Lakes Lodge
This is one of the options for the trek from Skakavitsa Hut to Rilski Ezera (Rila Lakes) Hut. The trail markings are abundant at first, but after the first junction, they become unclear and start to fade. This is quite important, as there is no shortage of misleading detours and less-than-obvious turns. Nevertheless, the route is completely passable, and if you use a navigation app or a GPS device…
Elevation profile
Waypoints
Segments
We set off from Skakavitsa Hut along the trail that crosses the river. Follow the signs to the first junction, where we turn right onto the trail for Ivan Vazov Hut - this is the only signpost indicating this direction. Continue to the second junction and turn left - there might be a sign indicating the winter trail to the Lakes, but the summer trail starts from there as well. Next, follow the green markings until you reach a wide meadow, where the markers suddenly turn blue. Although maps show a junction here between the blue and green trails, it doesn't actually exist on the ground, and the direction where the green trail is supposed to continue is completely overgrown with bushes.
Once we find ourselves the blue-marked trail, we'll notice that the tall coniferous trees are gradually replaced by dwarf mountain pine. If the weather is clear, the Malyovitsa ridge with its characteristically jagged peaks can be seen in the distance. We will eventually emerge onto a wide meadow where the markings are hard to spot - especially where the trail twists - so extra care is needed there. After climbing a short hill, Rilski Ezera Hut will come into view, along with the queue of people arriving from the chairlift.
