Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles.

Super popular out of Skopje, North Macedonia, are kayak and boat rides on a manmade lake in Matka Canyon. You can paddle into caves.

I skipped those — instead hiking a narrow trail carved out of the rock cliff.

It’s a maximum of 9.2 km out and back. The first 2 km are relatively easy — and that’s all I had time for.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.

Here’s the dam that created the lake.

This place is popular. On weekends you might have to park 15 minutes away.

Almost everyone signs up for a boat ride or kayak rental.

Almost everyone enjoys a drink in one of the restaurants.

I took off immediately on the FREE hike. And saw no more than a dozen others on a busy day — and one dog.

It’s an interesting trail. Somebody decided to hang a kayak up on the cliffside.

Feel free to swim.

You can do this hike on your own. But it is included in many day tours out of Skopje. An easy way to get to the trailhead.

My tour included taking the cable car up to the Millennium Cross on Mount Vodno — BUT the cable car had been closed for a number of months.

It also included a fascinating stop at the Church of St. Panteleimon. Highly recommended.

Great views back down to Skopje from up here.