Wikiloc | Theth - Syri i Kalter (Blue Eye)

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Photo ofTheth - Syri i Kalter (Blue Eye) - Nderlysaj

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Ferrran7

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Trail stats

Distance: 8.62 mi
Elevation gain: 1,391 ft
Technical difficulty: Easy
Elevation loss: 2,218 ft
Max elevation: 2,490 ft
TrailRank: 65
Min elevation: 1,697 ft
Trail type: One Way

Time: 4 hours 23 minutes
Coordinates: 1269
Uploaded: September 25, 2022
Recorded: September 2022

9 Claps 2 comments

near Theth, Shkodër (Albania)

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Trail photos

Itinerary description

Hiking trail in Theth National Park, northern Albania, to one of the most beautiful spots of the country: the Blue Eye of the north (Syri i Kalter). After a 2h drive from Shköder, I park the car after crossing the Theth River (Lumi i Thethit), on the left of the bridge. The hiking trail starts following the 4wd road, going to the Southeast. Some minutes later, the road splits into two and I take the one going to the waterfall. After crossing a red bridge, only for pedestrians, the track starts going uphill, reaching a beautiful waterfall, which can be better seen from a flat field with wooden houses, on the way back to the main track. I needed to check the GPS twice until I finally got back to the track, which is well marked by the classic red and white band, typical sign of the mountain long distance trails. The track pointed to the South and I crossed some creeks coming from the top of the mountains nearby, and after a while crossed again the Teth river to the other side, back again to the 4wd road. 20' later I arrived to the village of Nderlysaj, the closest one to the Blue Eye. From there, the way to the famous turquoise blue pool is easy, steep at some points, and slippery if it rains, going to the Northwest. The day I did this track was cloudy and rainy, it had been raining the previous two days, so when I got to the Blue Eye, it was overflooded so that the famous blue colour could not be seen. However, the hiking trail was beautiful.

ADVICE: Don't go to the Blue Eye in Theth if you are expecting bad weather or if it has been raining the previous days.

Waypoints

Theth

The track began in the village of Theth, on the eastern side of the Theth river, close to the visitors information center.

Bridge

Red bridge for pedestrians only. It is not far from the 4wd road and allows you to cross one creek coming from the Eastern mountains which feed Theth river.

Grunas Waterfall

Big waterfall (up to 30m high approx.) in the Eastern side of Theth Valley, in a spot known as Grunas, where you can see some wooden houses, horses and livestock. Given the rain fallen the previous days, the whole path to the waterfall was slippery and dangerous, so we only took pictures from a certain distance.

House for livestock and/or warehouse

House for livestock and/or warehouse in Grunas Area. There are beautiful views of the Grunas waterfall from there.

Crossroads

The main track, with the typical mountain red and white band, splits into two: one for the canyon, and the other for Nderlysaj and beyond, which was the one we took.

Small wooden bridge

Views

Views of the valley, towards Nderlysaj village.

Bridge

Bridge that crosses the Teth river back to the western shore. It is also suitable for 4wd carr.

4WD Car Road

Road only suitable for 4WD cars, even though we saw different vehicles driving trhough.

Wooden bridge and waterfall

Wooden Bridge close to a beautiful waterfall. You can use that bridge to cross to the bars and restaurants on the other shore. The waterfall is only 1' away.

Waterfall

Magnificent waterfall in the middle of the last leg to the Blue Eye. The last part of the leg is steep.

Sign announcing the Blue Eye

Sign announcing the Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter).

Sign to the Blue Eye

Even though you get to the Blue Eye if you follow the track on the left, it can be reachable also going thorugh the one on the right, which leads you to another bridge 5-10' away so that you can cross the river. If you take the one on the left, it goes downhill mainly but at the end you need to cross a narrow lever/crowbar 3m over the river (only suitable for one person at a time) in order to get to the place where to take the best pics.

Bridge

In order to get to this bridge, you have to take the path on the right in the previous BLue Eye sign. More safer, specially if the path is slippery.

Blue eye

The Blue Eye in Theth is a blue turquoise natural pool, where the water pumps up from the bottom. If the stream is in its normal status, the colors are beautiful and the water is clear. The day I did the track, it was cloudy and rainy, so the pool was overflooded and there was no blue color at sight. I am attaching another picture of the Blue Eye on its normal appareance, just to compare. (I do not have rights on the picture, I am attaching it only for info purposes).

Hut

Back to the village of Nderlysaj, there are several houses on the other shore of the river, one Hut among them, including bars and restaurants. I finished my track there. From there you can take a 4WD bus or taxi back to Theth (20', from 500 LEK).

Comments (2)

Finn_andersen Jul 1, 2023
The lake is fantastic, but the walk is asfalt and not so nice
Ferrran7 Jul 3, 2023
I think you talk about the Blue Eye in the south of the country. There is another Blue Eye in the North. I did this trekking las year in September ñ, in Theth area, and it's 100% gravel and dusty road/path. Unless the whole track has been asphalted recently in the last months, I think you are mistaken...Have you double-checked the track? Otherwise, if it's me who's mistaken, please let me know, thanks! F.

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