Czarny Staw pod Rysami

Czarny Staw pod Rysami (1,583 m above sea level) is Morskie Oko’s wilder brother. Almost 200 metres higher, hidden in a deep glacial cirque, it offers scenery straight out of Alaska.

If you reach Morskie Oko and wonder, “Is it worth going any further?”, the answer is: Absolutely yes. This is where you will take the most famous Tatra photo (Morskie Oko seen from above) and feel the chill coming from the highest walls in Poland.

Trail description: a step into the high mountains

We split the hike into two stages: the approach to the mountain hut (on tarmac) and the actual mountain ascent.

1. Stage 1: Warm-up (Morskie Oko): From Palenica Białczańska we reach the mountain hut. We bypass the crowd eating apple pie and set off along the left side of the lake (following the red trail). It is a pleasant walk along the shore, lasting about 20 minutes, until we reach “Szeroki Piarg”.
2. Stage 2: Ascent (stone steps): At the end of the lake, the trail begins to climb.
   • This ascent has an elevation gain of around 190 metres.
   • We walk up comfortable stone steps. A stream rushes beside us, forming small cascades (Czarnostawiańska Siklawa).
   • Tip: Look back every few minutes! With every step, Morskie Oko changes from a vast lake into a small, turquoise “puddle”. It is the best motivation.
3. Finale: Czarny Staw: After about 30-40 minutes of climbing, we emerge at the rim of the cirque. We stand on the shore of the second-deepest lake in the Tatra Mountains (over 76 metres deep!).

Why “Black”?

The name is no coincidence. The water in the lake appears deep blue, or even black. This is due to two factors:

1. Shade: The lake is surrounded by the vertical, 500-metre-high walls of Kazalnica and the Mięguszowieckie Peaks, which cast a shadow for most of the day.
2. Cyanobacteria: The stones in the water are covered in a dark sediment (pleurocapsa), which enhances the sombre effect.

Where next?

Czarny Staw is a junction for the ambitious:

• Left: Trail to Rysy (for experienced hikers only!).
• Right: Trail to Mięguszowiecka Pass below Chłopek (very difficult!).

Practical information

• Temperature: There is a fridge-like microclimate here. Even if it is hot at Morskie Oko, a cool breeze blows in from Rysy at Czarny Staw. Bring a warm layer!
• For families: Older children (7-8 years old) will easily manage the ascent. You will need to leave your pushchair at the mountain hut (or secure it by the trail at the bottom of the ascent), as the stone steps are impassable.
• Descent: Remember that descending on slippery rocks can be more difficult than the ascent. Watch your knees and watch out for loose stones.