Prošćansko jezero

Prošćansko Lake is the highest and first of the Upper Lakes in Plitvice Lakes National Park, near the village of Plitvički Ljeskovac in Croatia. While the park is best known for its cascades and turquoise pools, this stretch of water offers a quieter, more open scene — a wide, forest-ringed lake without the crowds that gather near the waterfalls below.

Where is it and how big is it?

Sitting at roughly 638 metres above sea level, Prošćansko is the second-largest lake in the entire sixteen-lake system, surpassed only by neighbouring Kozjak. It covers about 68 hectares, stretches nearly 2.1 kilometres in length, ranges from 180 to 400 metres in width, and reaches a depth of up to 37 metres. That combination of depth and breadth gives the water a deep, almost inky green tone, distinct from the brighter turquoise typical of the park's lower lakes.

What will you see at the lake?

Mixed coniferous and deciduous forest lines the shores, and in autumn the trees mirror their colours across the still surface — one of the most photographed views in the Upper Lakes section. Along the trail skirting the eastern bank, hikers pass the Veliki and Mali Prštavci waterfalls (the Great and Small Prštavac falls), smaller and far less crowded than the park's famous Great Waterfall but no less scenic. Unlike the tumbling cascades downstream, the lake itself is calm and wide, making it a natural spot to pause during a longer walk.

How do you get to Prošćansko Lake?

The most straightforward approach starts at Entrance 2, from which the Upper Lakes trail heads toward Lake Kozjak. The classic route combines a short boat crossing over Kozjak with a walk further upstream to the shores of Prošćansko. The full Upper Lakes loop covers roughly 10–11 kilometres with modest elevation gain and typically takes about 3 to 3.5 hours at an easy pace. A panoramic tourist train can carry visitors back to the starting point.

When is the best time to visit?

Plitvice Lakes National Park, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979, draws around 1.2 million visitors a year. The Upper Lakes section, being less crowded than the lower route, is best explored early in the morning or outside the peak summer months. Autumn is widely considered the most photogenic season for Prošćansko itself, when the surrounding forest colours reflect across the lake's surface.

Frequently asked questions

Is Prošćansko the largest lake in the park? No, it ranks second, just behind Lake Kozjak, which covers about 82 hectares. Together the two lakes account for nearly 80 percent of the park's total water surface.

Can you take a boat ride on Prošćansko itself? Boat tours mainly operate on Lake Kozjak; reaching Prošćansko is done on foot along the shoreline trail, which keeps the walk quiet and free of engine noise.

How long does it take to reach Prošćansko on the Upper Lakes route? The standard loop, including the boat crossing on Kozjak and the return by tourist train, takes about 3 to 3.5 hours of moderate walking.

Is it worth continuing past the lower waterfalls to the Upper Lakes? Yes — the Upper Lakes, including Prošćansko, see far fewer visitors than the popular route around the Great Waterfall, and the forested shoreline and calm water offer a more contemplative side of the park.