Sławkowski Szczyt (Slavkovský štít)

Sławkowski Szczyt stands at 2,452 m above sea level. It is a massive, broad massif dominating Stary Smokovec. It is one of the highest peaks in the Tatras that can be reached by a marked tourist trail without chains or rungs.

This is a hike for hikers with “iron lungs” and strong legs. You will not find adrenaline from precipices here, but you will face your own fatigue.

Trail description: the road to heaven (and back)

We start from Stary Smokowiec.

• Tip: To save your knees and time (about 45 minutes), we recommend taking the terrain funicular up to Hrebienok. This is where the real hike begins.

1. Stage 1: Forest and dwarf pine (warm-up): From Hrebienok we set off on the red trail (the Main Trail), then quickly turn onto the blue trail.
   • The first hour is a pleasant traverse of the slope. We pass Sławkowska Kazalnica (Slavkovská vyhliadka) - a brilliant viewpoint over the Cold Water Valley and Lomnica. It is the last place to turn back if you start feeling weak.
2. Stage 2: Stone desert: The trail emerges above dwarf pine and the “endlessness” begins.
   • We walk across a wide, stony slope. The path winds between boulders.
   • Mirage effect: Sławkowski is famous for its “false summits”. You will repeatedly think: “This must be it!” only to top a rise and see that the summit is still another hour away. It is a psychological trap of this mountain.
3. Summit: When you finally reach the top (2,452 m), you forget the pain in your legs. You are higher than Rysy from the Polish side!

Panorama: a one-act theatre

Sławkowski Szczyt is a VIP box for watching Gerlach (2,655 m a.s.l.). The highest peak in the Carpathians is right next door, separated only by the deep Wielicka Valley. You can see every gully and every pinnacle of the massif.

On the other side, below us, the abyss of Staroleśna Valley (Veľká Studená dolina) opens up with Zbojnicka Chata, which from this perspective looks like a matchbox.

Practical information

• Water (critical!): There is not a single water source along the entire route from Hrebienok to the summit. This is a sunny southern slope. In summer it is a “stone frying pan”. You need at least 2-3 litres of water per person. Dehydration is the most common problem on this trail.
• TANAP: The trail is closed in winter (1.11 - 15.06).
• Insurance: Remember Slovak mountain insurance!
• Descent: Remember that you still have to go down the same way. Descending the rocky debris is hard on the knees. Trekking poles are a blessing here.