# Shelter "Scary lake", Bulgaria: what it is and when to go > Shelter "Scary lake" is a mountain hut (з.Страшното езеро) in Bulgaria, at 2,465 m above sea level. Interests: Mountains and Hiking. The best time to visit is July to September, a short season because of the altitude. In June there are 15 h 04 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 56. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/shelter-scary-lake/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Mountain hut · Mountains, Hiking - **Local name:** з.Страшното езеро - **Where:** Bulgaria - **Elevation:** 2,465 m - **Best time:** July to September. - **Nearest airport:** SOF Sofia, 57 km as the crow flies - **Price:** Gratis - **Coordinates:** 42.1809, 23.39948 ## What it is and where Shelter "Scary lake" is a mountain hut (з.Страшното езеро) in Bulgaria, at 2,465 m above sea level. Its coordinates are 42.1809, 23.39948; the nearest main airport is Sofia Airport (SOF, Sofia), 57 km as the crow flies. How to get around Bulgaria (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=42.180902%2C23.39948) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=42.180902%2C23.39948) It is one of the [Mountains](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/montana/) and [Hiking](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/senderismo/) places in Bulgaria. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go The best time to visit Shelter "Scary lake" is **July to September**, and the season is short because it sits at 2,465 m: above 1,800 m there is snow until June and it returns in October. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Better not | 9 h 15 | | February | Better not | 10 h 21 | | March | Better not | 11 h 40 | | April | Better not | 13 h 09 | | May | Better not | 14 h 24 | | June | Possible | 15 h 04 | | July | Best time | 14 h 47 | | August | Best time | 13 h 43 | | September | Best time | 12 h 16 | | October | Possible | 10 h 50 | | November | Better not | 9 h 33 | | December | Better not | 8 h 56 | In June there are 15 h 04 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 56. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. | What you come for | Best time | Possible | | --- | --- | --- | | Mountains | July to September | June and October | | Hiking | July to September | June and October | It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Shelter "Scary lake" has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you. When to go to Bulgaria in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to Bulgaria To enter Bulgaria there are 6 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid Spanish ID card (DNI) or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Bulgaria checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Euro (EUR) since 1 January 2026; plugs: Type C and F · 230 V · 50 Hz (the same plug as in Spain); emergencies: 112. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [ST506 Mechit hut - Rila Monastery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/st506-mechit-hut-rila-monastery/): Hiking · 462 m - [Malyovitsa hut](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/malyovitsa-hut/): Hut in Bulgaria · 2.3 km - [Malyovitsa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/malyovitsa/): Mountain in southwestern Bulgaria · 3.1 km - [Rila Monastery Forest](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/rila-monastery-forest-reserve/): Nature reserve in Bulgaria · 5.0 km - [Rila Monastery - Ribni Ezera](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/rila-monastery-ribni-ezera/): Hiking · 5.4 km Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Bulgaria guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/). ## More in Bulgaria: Mountains - [Musala](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/musala/): highest mountain of the Balkans in Bulgaria - [Botev Peak](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/vrah-botev/): peak in Bulgaria - [Vihren](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/vihren/): highest point of Pirin mountain - [Midžor](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/midzhur-midzor/): the highest mountain peak of the Western Balkan Mountains - [Buzludzha](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/buzludzha/): mountain peak in Bulgaria - [Ruy](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/rui/): mountain in Bulgaria and Serbia Every Bulgaria place under Mountains, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/montana/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Shelter "Scary lake"? It is a mountain hut (з.Страшното езеро in the local language) in Bulgaria. ### When is the best time to visit Shelter "Scary lake"? July to September, and it is worth checking carefully: at 2,465 m the season is shorter than lower down. In June there are 15 h 04 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 56. ### How do you get to Shelter "Scary lake"? The nearest main airport is Sofia Airport (SOF), 57 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=42.180902%2C23.39948) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Bulgaria is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Bulgaria map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [ST506 Mechit hut - Rila Monastery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/st506-mechit-hut-rila-monastery/), [Malyovitsa hut](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/malyovitsa-hut/), [Malyovitsa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/malyovitsa/). The rest is in [the Bulgaria guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/bulgaria/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/610406456), licensed under the ODbL. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).