Musala Peak (2925 m) is the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula and it is located in Rila Mountain, Bulgaria. Climbing Mount Musala (2925 m) is achievable for almost anyone, but preparation is mandatory. In this article I will describe the route to Musala Peak and will share how to prepare for climbing it, emphasizing that this is a summer climb – in seasons without snow cover.
Climbing Musala Peak had been on my mind for quite a long time, but more like a wish, since until that summer some time ago I hadn’t done anything about it. Then, however, I took matters into my own hands, made a plan of the places I wanted to visit, and Musala Peak was one of the mandatory sites.
The only higher peak that I had climbed until then, yet several times, was Cherni Vrah. But after the hike to Musala, climbing to Cherni Vrh seemed like a longer walk to me. A little later in time, we also climbed Vihren Peak – the second highest peak in Bulgaria. Yes, it was more difficult to climb (and to descend), but Musala Peak gave us a good start and generally a good starting point for climbing peaks.
So. To Musala. It was high summer.
Contents
Preparing to climb Musala Peak
Musala Peak hike
On Musala Peak
The way back
To sum up
And more
Final thoughts
Preparing to climb Musala Peak
Preparing for the Musala climbing consisted of three main aspects:
- researching the route;
- repeatedly checking the weather forecast and choosing a day to climb (in fact, the options were limited to exactly two options – Saturday or Sunday, but in the absence of other options, this is also accepted as a choice);
- obtaining the missing but possibly necessary equipment.
We found information about the routes to Musala Peak on the Internet and through friends-hikers who shared valuable experience and impressions. The equipment we were missing was not much – mostly comfortable hiking shoes and raincoats. We had the rest.
✨ You can join a guided trek to Musala Peak and forget the worries about the rout and logistics. See the prices and availability here.
Our main problem was the endless rains at that time, storms and thunderstorms, which would ruin everything. Therefore, during the week before the climb, we made frequent checks with the weather forecast, and on Friday we mainly followed the 24-hour forecast. We also followed the information from the Mountain Rescue Service and webcams. Initially, we were thinking of heading to Musala on Saturday, but thanks to the forecasts, we postponed it to Sunday.
Musala Peak hike
There are several routes to climb Musala Peak, but we chose the most popular one – by lift from Borovets to Yastrebets Hut, via Musala Hut and the Ice Lake Shelter. I am describing it here.
Starting point: Borovets resort
The route starts from the “Yastrebets Cabin” lift station, about 9 km from Samokov and about 73 km from Sofia. It can be reached by car, and there is a large paid parking lot next to it.
You can also use public transport – there are regular bus lines from Sofia to Samokov, and also from Samokov to the Borovets resort. Buses from Sofia to Samokov leave from the Yug (South) Bus Station, you can see the schedule here. You can see the schedule of buses from the Samokov bus station to Borovets here.
Yastrebets Cabin: opening hours and prices
The opening hours of the lift in the summer are from 8:30 to 18:00, with the last boarding from the lower station at 17:30. See the current schedule here.
I advise you to be there at 8:30 so that you have enough time to go up to Musala and get off.
The current price of the lift is €21 for a round-trip ticket. See the actual prices here.
Stages of the route to Musala Peak
This route can be divided into 4 stages, starting from the Borovets resort:
- stage 1: ascent by lift from Borovets to Yastrebets hut;
- stage 2: hiking from Yastrebets to Musala hut;
- stage 3: hiking from Musala hut to the Ice Lake shelter;
- stage 4: ascent from the Ice Lake shelter to the summit.
Stage 1
The lift ride from Borovets to Yastrbets hut takes approximately 25 minutes.
Stage 2
The next is a hike from the upper lift station to Musala hut along a wide and relatively flat road, which took us about 50 minutes. This hike is about three kilometers long.
In one hour from Yastrebets hut to Musala hut you can see a lot of things from the typical Rila landscape. In this area are also the Markudzhitsite ski slopes and the facilities along them. Shortly before Musala hut we pass by Suhoto Lake, which is sometimes full of water.
At Musala hut we took a 15-minute break by the lake there – this is the Lower Musala Lake from the Musala Lakes group. Opposite it rises the majestic Irechek Peak (2852 m), the third highest in Rila.
We supported ourselves with sandwiches and continued up towards the shelter.
Stage 3
From Musala hut to the Ice Lake shelter – it took us an hour and 10 minutes. The trail passes by several lakes, in many places you have to walk on stones, there are also steep sections.
At the Ice Lake we took another 15-minute break, after which we headed up to the summit.
Stage 4
This last stage, although the shortest in distance, is the most difficult and tiring, as the trail has a large elevation gain. We took it in 30 minutes, stopping several times for a minute of rest and gathering strength.
Thus, the entire hike from the lift station at Yastrebets to the highest peak in the Balkans took us a total of 3 hours, including short breaks. We got off the lift at around 9.30, and reached Musala peak at 12.30.
I must say that the trails we walked on are very well marked. In fact, there is a winter and summer route that run close to each other, and in places they intersect. The winter one is more difficult to walk in the summer, as it almost entirely runs along the stones.
On Musala Peak
And here we are at the top! I was so happy. Another fulfilled goal (not to mention a dream). Another checked-off point from my visits plan.
And there, at the top, it was gorgeous – a wide space with views in all directions. We really happened to be on the right weather – the sun was peeking through small, loose clouds and was not scorching, and the wind was almost non-existent. At times, only the light breeze reminded us of it.
There were moments when clouds, some smaller, some larger, quickly passed over the surrounding peaks. In places, fog fell, in others it lifted. We took every opportunity, when and where the fog lifted, to enjoy the view of the nearby peaks, the folds of the mountain, the rocks and the lakes.
We stayed for a whole hour enjoying the summit and the mountain.
The way back
I was convinced that the way down would be easier and we would take it faster, but somehow it didn’t work out. The descent, especially along the rocky and steep path, turned out to be an adventure due to the heavy load on the knees and calves. In addition, we began to feel the fatigue more and more strongly. In the end, our return journey from Musala Peak to the lift took exactly the same amount of time as the hike to the summit – 3 hours, including breaks.
I can say that out of nearly 6 hours of walking, climbing and descending the stones, at the end of the hike I didn’t have a single joint that was not moved 🙂 . I was almost “disassembled” from the waist down. But we were all very happy.
Around 16:30 we were at the lift station on Yastrebets. There were a lot of people there to go down and we had to wait in a queue, but we didn’t wait long anyway – 15 minutes in line and we were in the cabin.
To sum up
Despite its impressive height, Musala is not so difficult to climb up. Hiking to the peak takes about three hours in direction. The starting point of the route is hut Yastrebets. The hut can be reached by cable car from the center of the Borovets resort. The distance between Borovets resort and Sofia is 70 km or approximately an hour and 20 minutes driving. So, if you come to Bulgaria and you have a free day, you can devote it to climbing the top of the Balkans. For sure, you will be awarded with wonderful mountain views and with amazing feeling!
And more
Musala trail
The classic climb to Musala Peak from Borovets resort used to be without the Borovets – Yastrebets lift. From Borovets, you start along the Musala Trail, which takes you to the Musala Hut in about 3-4 hours. From there, the route is the same – stage 3 to the Ice Lake and stage 4 to Musala Peak.
The Musala Trail begins before the Tsarska Bistritsa Palace. From Borovets, you take the asphalt road to the residence and shortly before it, the trail branches off to the left of the road. There are signs for it. Approximate coordinates of the beginning of the Musala Trail: 42.2573357, 23.597018.
Other routes to Musala Peak
In addition to the classic route that I described above, Musala Peak can be approached from the Granchar, Zavrachitsa, and Maritsa huts.
Final thoughts
During our climb, there were many people like us, striving for the top. Most of them were foreigners. I was impressed that among the groups there were several small children no more than 7-8 years old. It is good that children are brought up from a young age in a love of the mountains, nature and movement.
Finally, I would like to highly recommend to everyone such a pleasant experience as climbing to Musala Peak. It is not that complicated, but it is very pleasant and energizing. Of course, you need to make the appropriate preparation such as researching the route, the weather forecast and good equipment, but the beautiful views, the lakes, the movement, the clean air and the positive emotions are worth the effort!
