Slovak Tatra trails

Banówka (Baníkov)

Banówka (2178 m) from the Žiarska Valley car park via Plačlivé and Hrubá kopa: 20.6 km, 9 h 50 min, chains and exposure. Trail closed 1 Nov – 31 May.

Difficulty: difficult (chains, exposure)

Baraniec (Baranec)

Baraniec (2185 m) from the Žiarska Valley: up the yellow ridge, down past the hut. 16.7 km, 8 h 25 min, no chains. Above the hut closed 1 Nov – 15 Jun.

Difficulty: difficult (physically)

Bystra (Bystrá)

Bystrá (2248 m) from Kiry via Ornak and Błyszcz: 28.1 km, 11 h 50 min there and back, no chains. The summit trail is closed from 1 Nov to 31 May.

Difficulty: very demanding (physically)

Bystrá lávka (Bystra Ławka)

Bystrá lávka (2300 m) from Štrbské Pleso via the Mlynická Valley and Skok waterfall, down the Furkotská Valley: 16 km, 7 h 51 min, chains. Closed 1 Nov – 31 May.

Difficulty: difficult (chains)

Priečne sedlo (Czerwona Ławka)

Priečne sedlo (2352 m) from Hrebienok via Téryho chata to Zbojnícka chata: 17.9 km, 8 h 11 min, chains, rungs and exposure. Closed 1 Nov – 31 May.

Difficulty: very difficult (chains, exposure)

Dolina Białej Wody (Bielovodská dolina)

Bielovodská Valley (Dolina Białej Wody) from Łysa Polana to Litworowy Staw: 24.7 km, 7 h 38 min, no chains. Times to each meadow, closures 1 Nov – 31 May.

Difficulty: moderate (long)

Dolina Siedmich prameňov (Chata Plesnivec)

Dolina Siedmiu Źródeł from Tatranská Kotlina to Chata Plesnivec, the only hut in the Belianske Tatras: 10.1 km, 3 h 26 min, short and steep, no chains.

Difficulty: moderate (short, steep)

Gerlach (Gerlachovský štít)

Gerlachovský štít (2655 m), the highest peak of the Tatras and Carpathians, only with a licensed guide: chains and rungs, 13 km, 8–10 h, no marked trail.

Difficulty: climbing (UIAA I/II)

Jagnięcy Szczyt (Jahňací štít)

Jahňací štít (Jagnięcy Szczyt, 2230 m) from Biela Voda via Zelené pleso: 20.6 km, 10 h 25 min, chains below the summit. A long day. Closed 1 Nov – 31 May.

Difficulty: difficult (chains + long)

Koprowy Wierch (Kôprovský štít)

Kôprovský štít (Koprowy Wierch, 2363 m) from Štrbské Pleso via Popradské pleso: 20.9 km, 8 h 37 min, no chains, hands on the ridge. Closed 1 Nov – 31 May.

Difficulty: difficult (physically)

Krywań (Kriváň)

Kriváň (Krywań, 2495 m) from Štrbské Pleso via Jamské pleso: 19.8 km, 8 h 55 min, no chains but hands on granite blocks. Closed 1 Nov – 31 May.

Difficulty: difficult (physically)

Lomnica (Lomnický štít)

Lomnický štít (2634 m) by cable car from Tatranská Lomnica via Skalnaté pleso: how long the ride takes, booking tickets ahead and your time at the top.

Difficulty: very easy (cable car)

Mała Wysoka (Východná Vysoká)

Východná Vysoká (Mała Wysoka, 2429 m) from Sliezsky dom via Polish Ridge pass: 7.4 km, 4 h 45 min, chains at the pass and summit. Closed 1 Nov – 31 May.

Difficulty: difficult (chains)

Popradské pleso and the Symbolic Cemetery

Popradské pleso from the Tatra electric railway stop and the Symbolic Cemetery under Ostrva: 9.6 km, 3 h, +280 m, easy. A simple walk in the Slovak High Tatras.

Difficulty: easy

Roháčske plesá (Rohackie Stawy)

Roháčske plesá (Rohackie Stawy): a waterfall, four lakes and Ťatliakova chata. 13 km, 5 h 50 min, no chains. Trail closed from 1 Nov to 15 Jun.

Difficulty: moderate

Rysy (from the Slovak side)

Rysy (2503 m) from the Slovak side via Popradské pleso and Chata pod Rysmi: 21.9 km, 9 h 12 min. Easier than from Poland, chains below the summit.

Difficulty: difficult (fitness-wise)

Siwy Wierch (Sivý vrch)

Sivý vrch (Siwy Wierch, 1805 m) in the Slovak Western Tatras: red trail over Radové skaly with chains on limestone. 8.8 km, 5 h 50 min. Closed 1 Nov – 31 May.

Difficulty: moderate (chains, exposure)

Skrajne Solisko (Predné Solisko)

Predné Solisko (2117 m) on foot from Štrbské Pleso: 10 km, 4 h 27 min, +855 m, no chains. The chairlift option is in the table. Closed 1 Nov – 31 May.

Difficulty: moderate (steep red)

Sławkowski Szczyt (Slavkovský štít)

Slavkovský štít (2452 m) from Hrebienok: 12.5 km, 7 h 27 min, +1256 m, no chains, but long and steep over loose stones. Closed 1 Nov – 31 May.

Difficulty: difficult (physically)

Široké sedlo (Szeroka Przełęcz Bielska)

Široké sedlo (Szeroka Przełęcz Bielska, 1826 m) from Ždiar via the Monkova Valley to Tatranská Kotlina: 16 km, 7 h 30 min. Few crowds. Closed 1 Nov – 31 May.

Difficulty: moderate / difficult (fitness)

Wielka Świstówka (Veľká Svišťovka)

Veľká Svišťovka from Biela Voda via Zelené pleso and Skalnaté pleso: 21.5 km, 8 h 41 min, chains. Cable car option down. Closed 1 Nov – 31 May.

Difficulty: difficult (chains)

Zelené pleso (Chata pri Zelenom plese)

Zelené pleso (Zielony Staw Kieżmarski) from Biela Voda to the lakeside hut: 15.4 km, 6 h 14 min, no chains. Hut open all year, peaks above closed in winter.

Difficulty: moderate

Do you need insurance in Slovakia? Mountain rescue guide

Find out whether you need insurance in Slovakia. The EHIC covers basic healthcare, but will not cover HZS mountain rescue or helicopter costs after an accident.

When are trails closed in the Tatras? The dates

Check when trails close in the Tatras, which routes the limits cover, and how to plan a day so you do not hit a closed valley in season.

Fees for Slovak trails: what do you actually pay?

Fees for Slovak trails: check when you pay for parking, a cable car and a night, and why a rescue can cost more than the whole Tatra trip.

New rules for entering the Slovak Tatras

New rules for entering the Slovak Tatras: what to check before you go, where restrictions apply, and how not to bounce off a closed trail without the nerves.

Want the High Tatras but scared of chains? The easiest rocky summits

Do you dream of “real”, sharp, rocky mountains, but the thought of exposure and chains makes your legs shake? Here’s a list of summits you’ll reach like climbing stairs — without climbing gear.

Poland vs Slovakia: Where to go in the Tatras? A big clash between neighbours

Crowds on Giewont or empty slopes (and high prices) in Slovakia? Kwaśnica or Vyprážaný syr? We’re finding out which side of the Tatras to choose so you won’t regret your holiday.