Matka Canyon Weather by Month and the Best Time to Visit

Month by month

Month	Afternoon high	Night low	Rain	Days with rain
January	6°C	-3°C	74 mm	10
February	10°C	0°C	45 mm	8
March	14°C	3°C	69 mm	11
April	19°C	7°C	63 mm	10
May	23°C	11°C	76 mm	13
June	28°C	16°C	61 mm	11
July	31°C	19°C	40 mm	7
August	31°C	19°C	38 mm	7
September	26°C	15°C	41 mm	6
October	20°C	9°C	53 mm	7
November	13°C	5°C	81 mm	10
December	8°C	1°C	60 mm	9

Averages for 2016-2025 from the Copernicus climate reanalyses (ERA5-Land temperatures adjusted to the lake’s level, ERA5 rainfall), for the canyon’s area; days with rain are days with 1 mm or more. No weather station publishes long-term averages for the canyon itself.

Map of the heights around Matka Canyon: the Matka dam with its crest at 317.5 m and Lake Matka, below the peaks of Rasa (1,369 m), Shtrbina (1,184 m), Crvena Karpa (1,189 m), Sitoica (1,122 m), Rblak (1,101 m) and Kale (1,044 m) — Lake Matka lies at about 317 m, with ridges of 1,000 to 1,370 m around it.

Spring: March to May

Afternoons warm from 14°C in March to 23°C in May, and the slopes turn green. May is one of the two wettest months, with rain on about 13 days, so carry a waterproof layer. The lakeside trail has been closed since 26 February 2026 for falling rock; see the trail page.

Summer: June to August

Afternoons average 28 to 31°C, and July has about seven days at 35°C or more. Come in the morning, carry plenty of water and wear a hat.

Illustration: autumn trees in yellow and orange on steep slopes above a still green lake, a small domed stone church on the shore in soft afternoon light — Illustration. Autumn colour on the slopes above Lake Matka.

Autumn: September to November

September is warm and dry, with afternoons of about 26°C and rain on only about six days, and October cools to about 20°C. The woods on the slopes turn colour in October. November is the wettest month of the year, with about 81 mm of rain, and the first frosts arrive.

Winter: December to February

Afternoons reach 6 to 10°C. Frost comes on about 20 nights in January and on 12 to 14 nights in December and February. Snow falls in some winters. The churches stand all year, and paths and steps can be icy in the morning; the lakeside trail has been closed since 26 February 2026. Boat trips and kayak hire are not published by any public body and may not run in winter; ask before you go.

Planning around the weather

Getting there: bus 60 runs all year; see Skopje to Matka Canyon.
The trail: closed since 26 February 2026 for falling rock; see the lakeside trail.
The boat: see Vrelo cave by boat.

Questions visitors ask

What is the best time to visit Matka Canyon?

April to June and September to October. Afternoons average 19 to 28°C, comfortable for a day on the lake and at the churches. July and August are hot, with afternoons averaging about 31°C. The lakeside trail has been closed since 26 February 2026 for falling rock, whatever the season.

Is Matka Canyon worth visiting in winter?

For the churches and the view up the lake from the dam, yes, on a dry day. The lakeside trail has been closed since 26 February 2026 for falling rock. January nights average about -3°C with frost on about 20 nights, so paths and steps can be icy in the mornings. Boat trips and kayak hire are set on site and may not run; ask before you go.

How hot is Matka Canyon in summer?

July and August afternoons average about 31°C, with about seven days in July reaching 35°C or more in the modelled record for the canyon.

Which is the rainiest month at Matka?

November (81 mm), May (76 mm) and January (74 mm) are the wettest in the modelled averages; July, August and September are the driest, with about 40 mm each.

Matka Canyon weather and the best time to visit