Difficulty: Very hardHigh Tatras
Rysy (from the Polish side)
Start: Palenica Białczańska · via The highest point in Poland and A panorama of 100 peaks
- 11:44 h
- Time
- 25.5 km
- Distance
- +1844 m
- Ascent
Difficulty: Very hardHigh Tatrashigh tatrasorla perćchainsexposure
Żleb Kulczyńskiego
2240 m a.s.l. · trail yellow / blue / black / green / red · start: Kuźnice
High-altitude conditionsBulletin as of 18 października 2026
Official TPN bulletinSnow and ice reported in upper Tatras. Crampons, ice axe, helmet and winter mountaineering experience required.
Bulletin details
Warunki do uprawiania turystyki w Tatrach Wysokich są bardzo trudne.
PolecanyKuźnice – Żleb – Zadni Granat
- Wysokość
- 2240 m a.s.l.
- Dystans
- 18.6 km
- Czas przejścia
- 9 h 24 min
- Suma podejść
- 1499 m
- Start
- Kuźnice
- Meta
- Kuźnice
Czas i dystans dla całej wycieczki, z powrotem do startu.
Tempo
9 h 24 minSzacunek od czasu z opisu, bez kolejek i postojów.
- very difficult
- yellow
- blue
- black
- green
- red
- High Tatras
- Dla rodzin: Nie
- Z psem: Nie
- Ślad GPX (.gpx)
Warianty wejścia
Polecany jest na tej stronie. Inny start ma osobną kartę — własny opis i mapę.
| Wariant | Start | Czas przejścia | Łańcuchy | Kolor szlaku |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kuźnice – Żleb – Zadni GranatPolecany The pasture, Zmarzły, black into the gully, Orla to Granat and back. The figures at the top of the page show this route. | Kuźnice | 9 h 24 min | TakChains in the gully chute and on the red to Granat. |
|
Żleb Kulczyńskiego only To the gully exit onto Orla and back. No Granat. The chains stay. | Kuźnice | 8 h 19 min | TakChains in the chute. No red to Granat. |
|
Orla Perć From Zawrat to Krzyżne. A separate page: Orla Perć. The gully joins it at the Granaty. Zobacz ten szlak → | Zawrat Pass | 6 h 25 min | TakChains on the whole of Orla. The gully is only the approach. |
|
Polecany
Kuźnice – Żleb – Zadni Granat
The pasture, Zmarzły, black into the gully, Orla to Granat and back. The figures at the top of the page show this route.
Mapa i profil trasy
Kuźnice – Żleb – Zadni Granat
Profil wysokościowy trasy
Wykres podejść wygenerowany ze śladu GPX. Przesuń kursor lub palec po wykresie, aby sprawdzić profil podejścia i punkty kulminacyjne.
GPX · 18.05 km
Punkt kulminacyjny
2240m n.p.m.
przy 9.12 km
Najniższy punkt
1015m n.p.m.
Podejścia (suma)
+1510m
Zejścia (suma)
-1510m
Dystans profilu
18.05km
Ślad GPX do nawigacji
Wgraj trasę do zegarka sportowego (Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Apple Watch) lub aplikacji nawigacyjnej (Mapy.cz, Komoot, Locus Map, Strava) i nawiguj po szlaku w trybie offline bez zasięgu.
Kompatybilność:GarminCorosSuuntoApple WatchMapy.czKomootStrava
Jak wgrać plik GPX?
- Kliknij przycisk „Pobierz ślad GPX”, aby zapisać plik .gpx na telefonie lub komputerze.
- Otwórz plik w aplikacji Garmin Connect, Coros, Suunto, Mapy.cz, Komoot lub wyślij na zegarek GPS.
- Zapisz trasę w trybie offline, aby w Tatrach nawigować pewnie i bez obaw o brak zasięgu sieci komórkowej.
Żleb Kulczyńskiego is one of the most difficult and darkest approach trails to Orla Perć. It leads tourists to the area of Zadni Granat (2,240 m a.s.l.). This is a route for advanced mountaineers, full of loose rock, steep chutes and chains.
💡 In a nutshell – Żleb Kulczyńskiego:
- Dark and steep: This is a very difficult approach trail to Orla Perć. It requires climbing in a steep, often damp chute secured with chains.
- Helmet is mandatory: The gully is extremely loose. Every step can knock a stone down onto people below.
- Upwards only: The trail is two-way, but descending it is very dangerous. It is best to ascend the gully to Orla Perć and descend via another trail (e.g. green from Zadni Granat).
- Watch out for snow: Hard snow can linger in the shaded chute even until mid-summer.
This gully is famous for being extremely loose. Every step can knock a stone down onto people walking below, which is why a helmet is absolutely mandatory here.
Trail description: A dark chute to Orla Perć
The figures at the top of the page show the full trip from Kuźnice, through Żleb Kulczyńskiego, to Zadni Granat and back.
Stage 1: Through Hala Gąsienicowa to Zmarzły Staw
We start from Kuźnice (yellow or blue trail) and walk to Hala Gąsienicowa.
- From the Murowaniec hut we set off on the blue trail to Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy, and then steeply up to Zmarzły Staw.
- Here we enter the raw Kozia Dolinka. The high-mountain scenery begins.
Stage 2: Approach to the Gully (Black Trail)
In Kozia Dolinka we turn onto the black trail.
- Initially, the path climbs laboriously over huge boulders and crumbling scree.
- The approach to the very mouth of the gully is tiring and requires caution – the terrain is very crumbly.
Stage 3: The chute with chains
We enter a narrow, steep rock chute. This is the heart of Żleb Kulczyńskiego.
- Almost vertical walls secured with a sequence of chains await us here. They require strength in the arms and pulling oneself up.
- This place is shaded, often damp and slippery, and snow can linger here until mid-summer.
- After overcoming the chute, the trail leads us to Przełączka nad Buczynową Dolinką – we step onto the red Orla Perć.
Stage 4: To Zadni Granat
From the pass we turn right onto the red trail.
- After 25 minutes of climbing (also using chains) we stand on the summit of Zadni Granat.
- We suggest returning to Kuźnice via the green trail from Zadni Granat (this is the fastest and safest descent option in this area).
Logistics and warnings
- Helmet: In Żleb Kulczyńskiego a helmet saves lives. Falling stones (knocked down by tourists or chamois) are the norm here.
- Direction: The trail through the gully is two-way, but we strongly advise against descending it! Descending a steep, slippery chute is much more difficult and dangerous than ascending.
- Snow: In the gully chute, patches of hard, icy snow can lie even in July. Without crampons and an ice axe, entering such snow is suicide.
Who is this absolutely NOT for?
Do not attempt Żleb Kulczyńskiego if you do not have experience on difficult trails with chains (e.g. on Zawrat or Kościelec). Do not go there without a helmet. Do not take people with a fear of heights there. If you are looking for an easier ascent to Orla Perć in the Granaty area, choose the yellow trail to Skrajny Granat. If you want to walk the whole of Orla, Orla Perć starts at Zawrat.
Getting there, parking & buses
Trailhead logistics – reach the start smoothly without parking hassle.
Trailhead:Kuźnice
Parking & car access
No private car access – bus or walk only
Car parks near Rondo Jana Pawła II / Bronisława Czecha St.
Parking fee: 30–45 PLN / day (private & municipal car parks near Rondo JP2)
From Rondo Jana Pawła II, private cars are strictly prohibited. Reach Kuźnice only by local bus (5 min) or on foot via Aleja Przewodników Tatrzańskich (20–25 min).
Bus & transit access
Buses from Main Station & Rondo JP2 to Kuźnice
Route & bus stop: Main Station (Transport Hub) ➔ Rondo Jana Pawła II ➔ Kuźnice (cableway station)
Fare: ~5–6 PLN (cash payment to driver)
Buses shuttle every 5–10 minutes from dawn till dusk. Prepare exact change.
Local buses and transit help bypass morning traffic and parking hassles.
Transport guide in the Tips section
Complete guide to Tatra car parks, buses, and TPN reservations.
Tool
🎒 What to pack? Interactive checklist
Check off items as you pack, switch between summer/winter and clear the list before your next trip. Progress is saved automatically.
What you will see
- Zmarzły Staw
- The chained chute
- Zadni Granat
Questions
Are there chains in Żleb Kulczyńskiego?
Yes. In the chute. Then red to Zadni Granat is already Orla. The route on this page goes onto Granat — 2,240 m, not the gully alone.
Does 9 h 24 min finish in the gully?
No. The map counts Kuźnice – gully – Zadni Granat – Kuźnice. Turning around before Granat is in the table.
Is a helmet needed?
Yes. The gully sheds stone. People above you do too. This is not Giewont with a handrail.
Can I bring a dog?
No. TPN. The chute and Orla are not for a dog.
Żleb Kulczyńskiego: how long does it take?
Start: Kuźnice, finish in the same place. The whole route is 18.6 km and takes 9 h 24 min of walking without breaks, with about 1499 m of ascent. Add time for rests and photos.
Newsletter
Tatras in your inbox
A few times a year: trail conditions, closures, the best time to go and new routes. No weekly spam.
Next trail in this area
Planning your next hike? From the same starting point and area, we recommend:
#high tatras#orla perć#chains
Granaty
Granaty from Kuźnice: Skrajny, Pośredni and Zadni Granat, down Żleb Kulczyńskiego. 17.5 km, 8 h 30 min, chains and exposure. A section of Orla Perć, not a stroll.
⏱️ 8 h 30 min📏 17.5 km🎯 very difficult
View trailSimilar trails
- Difficulty: Very hardHigh Tatras
Mięguszowiecka Pass below Chłopek
Start: Palenica Białczańska · via The Gallery ledge and Morskie Oko from above
- 10:49 h
- Time
- 23.2 km
- Distance
- +1589 m
- Ascent
- Difficulty: Very hardHigh Tatras
Kozia Przełęcz
Start: Kuźnice · via Narrow rocky notch of Kozia Przełęcz and Kozia Dolinka and Zmarzły Staw
- 7:20 h
- Time
- 14.2 km
- Distance
- +1250 m
- Ascent
Read also
planningHow to plan a trip up Rysy without stupid mistakes
How to plan a trip up Rysy: the route, the weather, the kit, the fitness and the decisions that let you enjoy the summit without needless risk in the Polish Tatras.
easy routesWant 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.
winterAvalanches in the Tatras: the rules that save lives
Avalanches in the Tatras do not forgive a rush. Check the bulletin, the weather, the ground and the decisions that help you get back safely from a ski tour or a hike.
Plan your trip
Where to stay - ZakopaneThe closest base for this trail. Check availability and prices in Zakopane.Find a place to stay →Tickets and activitiesCable cars, thermal baths, transfers and guided trips nearby.Browse offers →
These are affiliate links. If you book a stay or a ticket through them, we earn a small commission, for coffee :), at no extra cost to you.
Before you head to the mountains
- Check the weather forecast, mountain weather changes dynamically
- Match the trail to your abilities, don't overestimate your strength
- Take appropriate equipment: comfortable hiking boots, rain jacket, warm clothing, map, charged phone, first aid kit, power bank, food and water
- Inform someone about your plans, provide the route and expected return time
- Save the emergency number GOPR/TOPR, 601 100 300 or 985
- Buy a ticket to the Tatra National Park