Difficulty: HardWestern Tatras (Západné Tatry)
Banówka (Baníkov)
Start: Mouth of the Žiarska Valley (car park) · via Highest point of the Western Tatras main ridge and Plačlivý Roháč
- 9:50 h
- Time
- 20.6 km
- Distance
- +1745 m
- Ascent
Tatra trails
Pick a trail
Four starter lists. Everything else is in the catalogue, with search.
Easy Tatra trails
No chains, no exposure. Valleys and meadows where you can shorten the plan when someone in the group is done after an hour. Morskie Oko is here because it is technically an asphalt walk — not because it is short.
| Trail | Difficulty | Time | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dolina Strążyska i Wodospad Siklawica (The Strążyska Valley and Siklawica Waterfall) | very easy | 1 h 41 min | Zakopane (Strążyska street) |
| Rusinowa Polana and Wiktorówki | very easy | 2 h 19 min | Wierch Poroniec |
| Dolina Białego (The Biały Valley) | easy | 2 h 10 min | Dolina Białego |
| Dolina Małej Łąki (The Mała Łąka Valley) | easy | 1 h 47 min | Gronik |
| Dolina Kościeliska (The Kościeliska Valley) | easy | 2 h 59 min | Kiry |
| Dolina Chochołowska (The Chochołowska Valley) | easy | 3 h 45 min | Siwa Polana |
| Morskie Oko | easy | 4 h 14 min | Palenica Białczańska |
| Nosal | easy | 58 min | Kuźnice |
| Gęsia Szyja | easy | 2 h 55 min | Wierch Poroniec |
| Smreczyński Staw | easy | 3 h 52 min | Kiry (Kościeliska Valley) |
| Grześ | easy | 6 h 50 min | Siwa Polana (Chochołów Valley) |
| Wielki Kopieniec | easy | 1 h 50 min | Toporowa Cyrhla |
| Kalatówki and Hala Kondratowa | easy | 3 h 20 min | Kuźnice |
| Popradské pleso and the Symbolic Cemetery | easy | 3 h | Popradské Pleso, TEŽ stop |
Moderate trails — fitness, little technique
Elevation and hours in the legs matter here, but you still do not need a chain. Walking Kasprowy and crossing Czerwone Wierchy are “moderate” only on paper. In heat and without water they get long.
| Trail | Difficulty | Time | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hala Gąsienicowa and Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy | medium | 5 h 13 min | Kuźnice |
| Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich (The Valley of the Five Polish Lakes) | average | 5 h 45 min | Palenica Białczańska |
| Kasprowy Wierch | medium | 5 h 31 min | Kuźnice |
| Sarnia Skała | medium | 2 h 48 min | Zakopane (Dolina Strążyska) |
| Czerwone Wierchy (Red Peaks) | average | 8 h 27 min | Kiry |
| Kopa Kondracka | medium (fitness-wise) | 6 h 07 min | Kuźnice |
| Czarny Staw pod Rysami | medium | 5 h 54 min | Palenica Białczańska |
| Szpiglasowy Wierch (via Ceprostrada) | medium | 9 h 03 min | Palenica Białczańska |
| Kozi Wierch | difficult (fitness-wise) | 8 h 55 min | Palenica Białczańska |
| Roháčske plesá (Rohackie Stawy) | moderate | 5 h 50 min | Pod Spálenou car park (Roháče) |
| Zelené pleso (Chata pri Zelenom plese) | moderate | 6 h 14 min | Biela voda (SAD bus stop) |
| Świstówka Roztocka | moderate (long, exposed descent) | 7 h 15 min | Palenica Białczańska |
| Široké sedlo (Szeroka Przełęcz Bielska) | moderate / difficult (fitness) | 7 h 30 min | Ždiar, Tatra |
| Dolina Siedmich prameňov (Chata Plesnivec) | moderate (short, steep) | 3 h 26 min | Tatranská Kotlina, Čarda |
Trails with chains and exposure
Giewont, Rysy, Zawrat, Kościelec, Orla Perć. “They have never used chains but they go to the gym” is not an argument. Strength does not replace comfort with height and wet rock.
| Trail | Difficulty | Time | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giewont | medium / difficult | 5 h 57 min | Kuźnice |
| Rysy (from the Polish side) | very difficult | 11 h 44 min | Palenica Białczańska |
| Rysy (from the Slovak side) | difficult (fitness-wise) | 9 h 12 min | Štrbské Pleso / Popradské Pleso |
| Kościelec (The Polish Matterhorn) | very difficult (no chains!) | 7 h 29 min | Kuźnice |
| Zawrat Pass (from Hala Gąsienicowa) | difficult | 8 h 34 min | Kuźnice |
| Orla Perć (Zawrat - Krzyżne) | very difficult (for advanced hikers only) | 6 h 25 min | Zawrat Pass |
| Bystrá lávka (Bystra Ławka) | difficult (chains) | 7 h 51 min | Štrbské Pleso |
| Priečne sedlo (Czerwona Ławka) | very difficult (chains, exposure) | 8 h 11 min | Hrebienok (funicular from Starý Smokovec) |
| Granaty | very difficult | 8 h 30 min | Kuźnice |
| Kozia Przełęcz | very difficult (chains, rungs) | 7 h 20 min | Kuźnice |
Slovak Tatra trails
Different ticket, different closures, usually less of a queue under a summit cross. Rysy from Štrbské Pleso is the more sensible line for many people than the Polish side from Palenica. From November to June TANAP closes trails above the huts.
| Trail | Difficulty | Time | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rysy (from the Slovak side) | difficult (fitness-wise) | 9 h 12 min | Štrbské Pleso / Popradské Pleso |
| Krywań (Kriváň) | difficult (physically) | 8 h 55 min | Štrbské Pleso |
| Sławkowski Szczyt (Slavkovský štít) | difficult (physically) | 7 h 27 min | Hrebienok |
| Dolina Białej Wody (Bielovodská dolina) | moderate (long) | 7 h 38 min | Łysa Polana |
| Skrajne Solisko (Predné Solisko) | moderate (steep red) | 4 h 27 min | Štrbské Pleso |
| Koprowy Wierch (Kôprovský štít) | difficult (physically) | 8 h 37 min | Štrbské Pleso |
| Bystrá lávka (Bystra Ławka) | difficult (chains) | 7 h 51 min | Štrbské Pleso |
| Priečne sedlo (Czerwona Ławka) | very difficult (chains, exposure) | 8 h 11 min | Hrebienok (funicular from Starý Smokovec) |
| Roháčske plesá (Rohackie Stawy) | moderate | 5 h 50 min | Pod Spálenou car park (Roháče) |
| Zelené pleso (Chata pri Zelenom plese) | moderate | 6 h 14 min | Biela voda (SAD bus stop) |
| Popradské pleso and the Symbolic Cemetery | easy | 3 h | Popradské Pleso, TEŽ stop |
| Široké sedlo (Szeroka Przełęcz Bielska) | moderate / difficult (fitness) | 7 h 30 min | Ždiar, Tatra |
| Dolina Siedmich prameňov (Chata Plesnivec) | moderate (short, steep) | 3 h 26 min | Tatranská Kotlina, Čarda |
Full trail catalogue
Search by name or filter by tag. Times are map walking time, not a day that includes the queue at the cross.
Difficulty:
Topics
Showing 16 of 78
Difficulty: EasyWestern TatrasDolina Białego (The Biały Valley)
Start: Dolina Białego · via White Stream and Uranium Adits
- 2:10 h
- Time
- 5.1 km
- Distance
- +305 m
- Ascent
- Difficulty: EasyWestern Tatras
Dolina Chochołowska (The Chochołowska Valley)
Start: Siwa Polana · via Chochołowska Glade and The mountain hut at Chochołowska Glade
- 3:45 h
- Time
- 12.6 km
- Distance
- +321 m
- Ascent
Difficulty: EasyWestern TatrasDolina Kościeliska (The Kościeliska Valley)
Start: Kiry · via Mroźna and Mylna Caves and Kraków Gorge
- 2:59 h
- Time
- 11.1 km
- Distance
- +355 m
- Ascent
- Difficulty: Easy
Dolina Małej Łąki (The Mała Łąka Valley)
Start: Gronik · via Wielka Polana Małołącka and View of Giewont
- 1:47 h
- Time
- 4.2 km
- Distance
- +250 m
- Ascent
Difficulty: EasyDolina Strążyska i Wodospad Siklawica (The Strążyska Valley and Siklawica Waterfall)
Start: Zakopane (Strążyska street) · via Siklawica Waterfall and View of Giewont
- 1:41 h
- Time
- 4.8 km
- Distance
- +196 m
- Ascent
Difficulty: EasyGęsia Szyja
Start: Wierch Poroniec · via Rusinowa Polana and Panorama of the High Tatras
- 2:55 h
- Time
- 9 km
- Distance
- +453 m
- Ascent
Difficulty: EasyWestern TatrasGrześ
Start: Siwa Polana (Chochołów Valley) · via Panorama of the Slovak Roháče and The mountain hut at Chochołów Glade
- 6:50 h
- Time
- 18.1 km
- Distance
- +830 m
- Ascent
- Difficulty: Moderate
Hala Gąsienicowa and Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy
Start: Kuźnice · via Murowaniec mountain hut and Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy
- 5:13 h
- Time
- 12.6 km
- Distance
- +788 m
- Ascent
Difficulty: EasyWestern TatrasKalatówki and Hala Kondratowa
Start: Kuźnice · via Hotel Górski Kalatówki and Albertine convent
- 3:20 h
- Time
- 7.2 km
- Distance
- +327 m
- Ascent
Difficulty: EasyMorskie Oko
Start: Palenica Białczańska · via Morskie Oko lake and Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza
- 4:14 h
- Time
- 15.5 km
- Distance
- +556 m
- Ascent
- Difficulty: Easy
Nosal
Start: Kuźnice · via Panorama of the High Tatras and Rocky cliffs
- 0:58 h
- Time
- 2.5 km
- Distance
- +208 m
- Ascent
- Difficulty: EasyHigh Tatras (Vysoké Tatry)
Popradské pleso and the Symbolic Cemetery
Start: Popradské Pleso, TEŽ stop · via Popradské pleso and Symbolic Cemetery under Ostrva
- 3:00 h
- Time
- 9.6 km
- Distance
- +280 m
- Ascent
Difficulty: EasyRusinowa Polana and Wiktorówki
Start: Wierch Poroniec · via Panorama of the High Tatras and Wiktorówki sanctuary
- 2:19 h
- Time
- 7.5 km
- Distance
- +240 m
- Ascent
Difficulty: ModerateSarnia Skała
Start: Zakopane (Dolina Strążyska) · via Siklawica Waterfall and View of the Giewont wall
- 2:48 h
- Time
- 6.7 km
- Distance
- +478 m
- Ascent
Difficulty: EasySmreczyński Staw
Start: Kiry (Kościeliska Valley) · via The mountain hut on Hala Ornak and The viewing platform above the lake
- 3:52 h
- Time
- 13.5 km
- Distance
- +480 m
- Ascent
- Difficulty: EasyWestern Tatras
Wielki Kopieniec
Start: Toporowa Cyrhla · via Panorama from Osobitá to Havran and Polana Kopieniec and huts
- 1:50 h
- Time
- 4.8 km
- Distance
- +333 m
- Ascent
Questions and answers
Does trail colour in the Tatras mean difficulty?
No. Red, blue, green, yellow and black only mark the line, not how hard it is. The red trail to Morskie Oko is asphalt. The red trail on Orla Perć is exposure, chains and rungs. Read the terrain, not the paint.
Where should I go on a first day in the Tatras?
Pick a valley or a short meadow: Strążyska with Siklawica, Kościeliska, Rusinowa Polana, or Hala Gąsienicowa without attacking Kościelec. Leave Giewont, walking Kasprowy, and Rysy for a day when you already know how the group climbs and how they handle queues.
Do I have to pay to hike Tatra trails?
Yes, inside Tatra National Park. Buy the ticket online or at the booth at the trailhead. Parking is separate. Palenica Białczańska (Morskie Oko, Five Lakes) is entry-only with an e-ticket. The Slovak side has TANAP fees, not a TPN ticket.
How many trails are there in the Tatras?
On the Polish side TPN lists about 275 km of waymarked walking trails. The Slovak side is larger. This page does not describe every map segment. It describes day hikes: where to start, how long they take, and when to turn around.
Can I take a dog on Tatra trails?
Dogs are banned on most TPN trails. The exceptions are few and mainly cover Dolina Chochołowska and Droga pod Reglami. Giewont, Kasprowy, Morskie Oko and the Five Lakes are out. Check the current list on the park site before you pack a lead — the rules are often specific to a section.
Which Tatra trails stay open in winter?
Valleys usually stay open, but they ice up. TPN seasonally closes Świstówka Roztocka, Tomanowa, and the Grzybowiec approach to Giewont, among others. In Slovakia, trails above the huts are closed from 1 November to 15 June. Microspikes from November, and a TOPR avalanche bulletin before any ridge.
Which Tatra trails have chains?
The Giewont dome, Rysy, Zawrat from Hala Gąsienicowa, Orla Perć, and Żleb Kulczyńskiego. Walking Czerwone Wierchy and Kasprowy does not. A gym does not replace comfort on wet rock. The chained list is in the tab above; in the catalogue filter `#chains`.
Can I take a pushchair on Tatra trails?
Only on wide gravel or asphalt: Morskie Oko, Chochołowska roughly to the hut, Rusinowa Polana from Wierch Poroniec. Dolina Białego and Strążyska run out of pushchair terrain too soon. Nosal, Giewont and any ridge are out.
Polish or Slovak trails — which should I pick?
On the Polish side TOPR is free, Palenica is e-ticket only, and queues under a summit cross are common. On the Slovak side you pay TANAP, trails above the huts close from November to June, and HZS rescue is billed. For Rysy many people take Štrbské Pleso instead of Palenica.
What time should I start a Tatra trail?
For Giewont, Kasprowy and Morskie Oko, count on dawn if you do not want a queue. Summer storms like the afternoon — on a ridge at 11:00 it can already be too late. Catalogue times are map walking time. A holiday day with breaks and a jam under the chains is longer.