Zawrat Pass (from Hala Gąsienicowa)

Zawrat (2,158 m above sea level) is one of the most important passes in the High Tatras. It is the “gate” connecting Gąsienicowa Valley with the Valley of Five Polish Lakes, and at the same time the historic start of the hardest trail in the Tatras - Orla Perć.

A trip to Zawrat is the essence of high-mountain hiking: there are lakes, rocks, chains and incredible satisfaction at the top.

Trail description: “The road to hell, return through heaven”

The most interesting variant is the approach from Hala Gąsienicowa (harder) and the descent to the Valley of Five Lakes (easier).

1. Warm-up: From Kuźnice we walk to Murowaniec and then continue to Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy.
2. Zmarzły Staw: From Czarny Staw, the blue trail climbs steeply, passing the small Zmarzły Staw, which is often frozen even in summer. We enter a raw, rocky world.
3. Zawrat Gully (key difficulties): This is where the real climb begins. The trail (known as the “New Zawrat”) leads up a rocky gully.
   • There are many chains and rungs here.
   • The ascent is steep, tiring and requires the use of hands.
   • Watch out for falling stones!

On the pass

Zawrat is a narrow notch in the ridge. You will find the famous figure of the Virgin Mary of Zawrat (patron of Tatra climbers) attached to the rock. The view is a striking contrast:

• North (where we came from): Dark drop, raw rocks, the shade of Gąsienicowa Valley.
• South (where we are going): Sun, space and blue lakes in the Valley of Five Lakes.

Descent to the “Five Lakes”

From Zawrat we descend to the Valley of Five Lakes (blue trail).

• Compared to the ascent, the descent is relaxing.
• In the past it was a comfortable path; today it is a bit rockier, but there are no technical difficulties.
• It is the ideal scenic route that takes us straight to the mountain hut for apple pie and then through Roztoka Valley back to the car park.

Warning: snow in the gully

Zawrat Gully (on the Gąsienicowa side) faces north and is very deep.

• Snow stays here for a very long time, often until July and sometimes all summer.
• Stepping onto a hard patch of snow in summer shoes, without crampons, is a deadly risk (it can lead to an uncontrolled slide into the abyss). Always ask at the mountain hut about conditions in the gully!

Where next?

Zawrat is an important trail junction:

• Left: Orla Perć towards Kozi Wierch (one-way, extremely difficult!).
• Right: The ridge to Świnica (difficult, with chains, two-way).
• Down: To the Valley of Five Lakes (described above).