Vražje jezero
A round glacial lake on the Jezerska plateau of Durmitor National Park, about 1,411 m above sea level and up to 11 m deep, 12 km south-west of Žabljak on the old road to Nikšić. Two necropolises of medieval stećci stand nearby.
Glacial Lake · 1,411 m · Žabljak
- Elevation
- 1,411 m
- Max depth
- Up to 11 m
Vražje jezero ("Devil's Lake") is a round glacial lake on the Jezerska plateau of Durmitor National Park, about 12 km south-west of Žabljak on the old road to Nikšić. It lies at about 1,411 m and is up to 11 m deep. The lake is reached by car or on the park's 38 km bike loop across the plateau, and it is one of the lakes in view from Savin kuk. The park ticket, €5 a day, applies here as everywhere in Durmitor.
The lake
The lake formed in the last Ice Age, one of the glacial lakes the park calls "gorske oči", mountain eyes. Official statistics cover only five natural lakes in Montenegro, and Vražje jezero is not among them, so there is no official figure for its area. Black Lake and Zminje jezero lie on the other side of Žabljak, 3 km from town. Durmitor's lakes hold only introduced fish, brown trout and Arctic char among them.
Two necropolises of medieval stećci, carved tombstones, stand near the lake. The park's stećci sites include Novakovići and Bare Žugića, and the bike loop to the lake passes Bare Žugića; the stećci page describes the type and the Novakovići graveyards.
Fishing
Fishing in Durmitor National Park is allowed from May to October on Black Lake and in the Tara canyon, with a daily permit from the duty ranger, one rod and artificial lures; the park's price list sells a daily permit for Black Lake (€20). Vražje jezero is on neither list, so there is no permit to buy for it. The park office in Žabljak is the place to ask before planning to fish anywhere else in the park. The fishing hub covers permits and seasons in the rest of Montenegro.
Cycling and paragliding
The park's marked bike route through Žabljak, Njegovuđa, Bare Žugića, Vražje jezero, Banjske kuće and Javorje is a 38 km loop of about 2 hours. Bikes are rented at the park's visitor centre in Žabljak for €3 an hour or €8 a day. The park's panoramic Durmitor Ring route is for bikes and cars alike, and the cycling hub covers the wider region. Tandem paragliding flights over the plateau last 15 to 20 minutes. There are no restaurants at the lake, so bring water and food from Žabljak.
Getting there
By car from Žabljak, about 12 km along the old road to Nikšić. The Durmitor ticket is €5 per person per day and free under 15; an annual ticket for all five national parks costs €13.50, and tickets are also sold online. The park is busiest from July to mid-September, and its busiest zones are Black Lake and the Tara rather than the plateau. Žabljak is 122 km from Podgorica via Nikšić.
Nearby
Black Lake and Zminje jezero are 3 km from Žabljak in the other direction. The Savin kuk ski centre is 5 km from town, and Vražje jezero is one of the lakes in view from its summit. The Durmitor hiking page lists the longer routes; other lakes are on the lakes hub, and the park page has the fees and rules in full.
Questions
How deep and how high is Vražje jezero?
Up to 11 m deep, at about 1,411 m. It is not in the official table of natural lakes, which lists only five lakes, so it has no official area figure.
Can you fish in Vražje jezero?
The park's fishing rules cover Black Lake and the Tara canyon, and its price list sells a permit for Black Lake only. Ask at the park office in Žabljak before fishing anywhere else in the park.
What else is there to see?
The two stećci necropolises near the lake, and the plateau itself by bike: the 38 km park loop passes the lake and Bare Žugića.
Things to do
Bike loop
Park route Žabljak, Njegovuđa, Bare Žugića, Vražje jezero, Banjske kuće, Javorje: 38 km, about 2 hours.
Stećci
Two medieval necropolises near the lake.
Paragliding
Tandem flights of 15 to 20 minutes over the plateau.
Sources
TO Žabljak, Vražje jezero · JPNPCG, Durmitor active holidays (fishing, bike routes) · JPNPCG, Durmitor price list · JPNPCG, Durmitor culture (stećci sites) · JPNPCG, Management Plan NP Durmitor 2026-2030 (PDF) · MONSTAT, Statistical Yearbook 2025, table 1-6 Natural lakes (lake not listed) · TO Žabljak, Savin kuk trail · National Tourism Organisation, Skiing (road distances to Žabljak, Savin kuk) · JPNPCG, online tickets (annual ticket, exemptions)
