Hiking Trails in the Tatra Mountains
Hiking is one of the most popular activities for many tourists coming to the Tatra Mountains. No matter if you’re an experienced mountaineer or you’re only taking your first steps in hiking, in the Tatra Mountains there are trails for pretty much anyone. In this article, you will be able to read about some of the most popular hiking trails in the Tatra Mountains.
Koscieliska Valley – Smreczynski Pond
While wandering through the Koscieliska, it’s worth dedicating an additional hour for a visit at the Smreczynski Pond. You can get there by following the black sign from the mountain shelter in the Ornak hall.
You can begin this route at Kiry – one of the districts of the town of Koscielisko, which is a popular starting point for hikes through the Koscieliska Valley. You can get from Kiry to the Koscieliska Valley in aproximately 20 minutes, and after that, you can continue your hike to the shelter in the Ornak mountain hall, which will last about 1 hour. And from there, you can get to the Smreczynski Pond in approximately 30 minutes. The return to Koscielisko should last about 1 hour 35 minutes.
The Koscieliska Valley is one of the most popular places in the Tatra Mountains, located to the west from Zakopane. It is the second largest valley in the Tatra Mountains.
Koscielisko – Droga pod Reglami – Przyslop Mietusi
Droga pod Reglami is an interesting trail which connects the outlets of several valleys from Kuznice to Siwa Polana in the Chocholowska Valley.
The route through Droga pod Reglami is approximately 9.3 kilometers long, and it takes about 3 hours to conquer it. It is an excellent idea for both walking and cycling tourists. If you’re considering a walk with a stroller, first you must check if its wheels are adapted for off-road riding. Although this path is wide and comfortable, it is also rugged and quite bumpy.
From Droga pod Reglami you can continue your trip through Przyslop Mietusi. It is a creek between peaks, which divide two valleys – the Koscieliska Valley and the Mala Laka Valley.
This creek is occupied by the Mietusia Glade. Przyslop Mietusi is famous for gorgeous views. Tourists can admire Giewont, Konczysty Wierch and Kominiarski Wierch, among others. The name of the creek comes from the word „prislop”, which means „creek”, or „notch” in the language of Wallachians.
Chocholowska Valley – Grzes – Rakon
Grzes is an easily accessible observation point, which is very popular because of the marvelous views extending from the top. This peak can be an excellent supplement for a tour from the Chocholowska Valley. After reaching the mountain shelter in the Chocholowska Valley, you can continue going up for 1 hour and 30 minutes, if you follow the yellow trail. Grzes is especially recommended for those, who would like to test their skills on a longer, yet relatively easy route.
If you’re a person with better physical condition, you can extend your trip by 2 hours and 30 minutes to conquer the Rakon peak, and even reach Wolowiec.
The time of the entire trip varies depending on the length of the route. The shorter version lasts approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes both ways (from the Chocholowska Glade Shelter), or 6 hours and 15 minutes (from the Siwa Glade)
Meanwhile, the longer version of the route can last approximately 4 hours and 40 minutes (from the shelter in the Chocholowska Glade) or 8 hours and 10 minutes (from the Siwa Glade).
Rusinowa Glade – Gesia Szyja
A trip to Gesia Szyja through the Rusinowa Glade is incredibly beautiful because of the spectacular panorama of the Tatra Mountains. Many famous people were delighted with the beauty of this area, including Tytus Chalubinski, who promoted its panorama as „a view at 100 peaks and notches”.
The easiest way to get to the Rusinowa Glade is from Wierch Poronca (1 hour and 15 minutes) or from Zazadnia (1 hour and 15 minutes).
You can get from the Rusinowa Glade to Gesia Szyja in approximately 50 minutes. Once you get to Gesia Szyja, you can extend your trip and go to Wiktorowki – the famous Sanctuary of Our Lady of Jaworzyna, Queen of the Tatra Mountains, which is located by the blue trail from Zazadnia to the Rusinowa Glade.
Kuznice – Kasprowy Wierch
The hiking trail from Kuznice to Kasprowy Wierch is one of the easiest trails in the Polish part of the Tatra Mountains. To get through this trail, you must follow the green trail for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. You can begin your journey in the town of Kuznice. The first part of the hike lasts 1 hour and leads to Myslenickie Turnie, where you can stop for a short break, and after that, you will continue your hike for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, until you get to Kasprowy Wierch.
You can begin your hike by following the path that is perpendicular to the track of the funicular railway, which is easy to reach from the stopping point for the buses, but you should be careful not to deviate from the green trail and turn left at the very first crossroads.
Morskie Oko – Szpiglasowy Wierch – Five Polish Ponds Valley
The route to the Szpiglasowa Creek and Szpiglasowy Wierch is one of the greatest and most popular hiking trails in the Polish part of the Tatra Mountains. From the top extends one of the most gorgeous panoramas at the Tatra Mountains, but apart from that, you will also be able to see Rysy and almost the entire range of the High Tatras.
When you’re planning a hike on this route, you should keep in mind, that the approach from the side of the Five Polish Ponds Valley is more difficult. You take off following the harder trail and return following the easier one. Apart from that, if you go to Morskie Oko following the so-called „ceprostrada”, it might be quite monotonous and boring.
The entire route is approximately 25 kilometers long, and it takes approximately 8 hours and 45 minutes to get through it.