The year · August is underlined
| Region | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Lura lakes |
The walk
| Distance | 9 km |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 450 m |
| Time | 5 h |
| Track | GPX in preparation |
The Lura lakes are a set of small glacial lakes on a plateau inside the Lurë-Dejë Mountain National Park, and the circuit between them is about 9 km with 450 m of climbing, four to six hours. The walking is straightforward. The getting there is not.
The approach road deteriorates above Fushë-Lurë and its condition changes from year to year, which is why almost every account of this walk is really an account of the drive. A high-clearance vehicle is the sensible minimum, rain makes it worse quickly, and there is no bail-out option once you are on the plateau. Check the road locally on the day rather than trusting a map.
The season is short and it is set by that road rather than by the lakes: June to September, with the shoulders unreliable in both directions. The forest around the lakes has been badly logged in places, which is worth knowing before you arrive expecting untouched pine, and which is also the reason the park's protected status is worth respecting when you are up there.