Rila National Park, National park in Rila Mountains, Bulgaria

This protected area covers large parts of the Rila Mountains and includes dense coniferous forests, rocky summits, and narrow valleys winding between the heights. In the upper zones, bare plateaus open up with shallow lakes surrounded by grasses and low shrubs.

The area was designated after the end of the socialist regime, when the government began protecting natural landscapes. Even before that, individual forest sections were protected reserves, some dating back to the 1930s.

The name comes from the Thracian word for water, describing the many rivers and lakes that flow through these mountains. Hikers often follow old paths once used by shepherds moving between high pastures.

Most hiking trails start in surrounding villages and climb for several hours through forest and open terrain. Good fitness and weather-appropriate clothing are important, as conditions can change quickly at these elevations.

The park holds 120 glacial lakes, among them the Seven Rila Lakes. Nearly 4% of all rivers in Bulgaria rise within its boundaries, including the Maritsa, which carries more water than any other river entirely within the Balkans, and the Iskar, the longest river entirely in Bulgaria.