The Pošćenje lakes are two small lakes, each a hectare or two, in the village of Pošćenje at about 1,000 m, a few minutes' walk from the houses and close to the Nevidio canyon parking. They are not the better-known Pošćensko lake near Žabljak, which lies about 13 km further north.
What they are
Pošćenje is a scattered village on a terrace above the Komarnica, a few minutes from the mouth of Nevidio canyon. Among its meadows lie two small lakes, about 600 metres apart, at roughly 1,000 m above sea level. The larger covers around two hectares, the smaller about one.
They are not dramatic. That is the point. After a morning in a cold, dark canyon, an hour in open meadow by still water is exactly what most people want. For anyone who did not go into the canyon, they make an easy, quiet walk from the village.
Not the lake near Žabljak
If you search for “Pošćensko jezero” you will mostly find a different lake: a glacial lake at about 1,495 m in the Pošćenski kraj area near Žabljak, about 13 km to the north as the crow flies. That area was settled by people from this village, which is how it got the name.
The figures you will see online (a depth of 3.8 m, an area of 15,300 m², water lilies, freezing from December to February) belong to that lake, not to the two lakes in Pošćenje. Several travel sites mix them up.
The walk
The lakes are reached on village tracks and across meadows from the houses of Pošćenje. There is no long trail and no climb to speak of. Allow:
- From the village to the first lake: a few minutes on foot.
- On to the second lake: about 600 m across the meadows.
- Back to the village, or on to the canyon road for the entrance and Skakavica waterfall.
The ground is uneven and can be wet after rain, so wear shoes rather than sandals. Respect fences, hay meadows and animals: this is working farmland.
Good to know
- Best time: May to October. Early mornings and evenings are the quietest and have the best light.
- Winter: the meadows are under snow and the lakes freeze.
- Facilities: none at the lakes. Restaurants are on the canyon road nearby.
- Pushchairs: village tracks only; the meadows are rough.
Questions people ask
Are the Pošćenje lakes the same as Pošćensko jezero near Žabljak?
No. The lake usually listed online as Pošćensko jezero, at about 1,495 m near Žabljak, is a different lake about 13 km to the north. It was named after settlers who came from this village. The two lakes described here are in Pošćenje itself, next to Nevidio canyon.
Can you swim in the Pošćenje lakes?
They are small, shallow-edged meadow lakes, used by the village and its animals. Ask locally before swimming, and do not expect beach facilities.
Are the lakes suitable for children?
Yes. The walking is short and gentle. Keep children close to the water's edge, as with any lake.