The most beautiful trails in the Tatra Mountains for beginners

Zakopane. The most beautiful trails of the Polish Tatra Mountains for beginners

If we had to sum up this article in one sentence, it would be: "everywhere above the city". However, we wanted to create a list of places that are easily accessible, safe, and most importantly, take your breath away – mainly because of the magnificent views, not the strenuous climb.

Of course, it would be difficult to create a list of places that can be reached without any effort (although some will appear here), but you will not find very dangerous trails requiring professional equipment and mountain experience.

We have prepared a diverse set of places – from those that require no effort, through those where you will sweat a little, to places where the road may cause muscle soreness – but they are definitely worth visiting.

Tatra Mountains. Trails accessible to everyone

Difficulty level: just walk forward for a certain amount of time... or take a cable car up the mountain.

• Kasprowy Wierch – despite the peak being close to 2000 meters above sea level, there is an option to reach the top using a cable car. The lower station is located in Kuźnice (a district of Zakopane). You can get there by public transport or leave your car in one of the numerous (expensive) car parks. The cable car ride itself takes around 12 minutes. Choosing a "there and back" ticket option allows you to spend an hour and 40 minutes on the mountain. From the peak, there is a beautiful view of the mighty Tatra Mountains. It is the highest point of the Polish Carpathians that can be reached without any effort. From Kasprowy Wierch, you can go trekking – there are trails of varying difficulty levels. At the top, you will find the highest restaurant in Poland, a terrace with sun loungers, and the highest meteorological station in Poland. In winter, a ski resort and chairlift operate, inviting ski enthusiasts. It is worth trying to book tickets in advance as queues to the ticket office can be incredibly long, and the season on Kasprowy Wierch lasts all year round.

• Gubałówka – you can reach the peak by a funicular from Zakopane or take an undemanding walk. From the top, there is a view of the panorama of the Tatra Mountains and Zakopane. There are quite a few stands with local snacks, souvenirs, and several attractions for younger tourists, including a rope park and a gravity train. In winter, a ski slope operates (with a T-bar lift), and the youngest visitors can use well-prepared sledging slopes.

• Morskie Oko – the trail takes about two hours one way, but it does not require any particular skills. The trail from the Palenica Białczańska car park to the lake itself leads along an asphalt road (the last few dozen meters are a gravel road). Along the way, there are several places worth stopping to rest and admire, for example, the Mięguszowieckie Peaks or the Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza waterfall. From Morskie Oko, you can take a mountain path to Czarny Staw pod Rysami (about 45 minutes) – the path is quite steep and rocky but not very demanding. Experienced hikers can then continue to the highest peak in Poland – Rysy. There is a Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society (PTTK) mountain hut near Morskie Oko. In 2020, the Tatra National Park (TPN) introduced the possibility of booking parking spaces at the Palenica Białczańska car park – we recommend using this solution for tourists traveling by car. It is not worth leaving the car on the access road, as it may result in an unpleasant surprise when returning from a walk – cars are gradually towed away from there. It is worth going to Morskie Oko as early as possible – in the summer season, traffic jams can form there as early as eight in the morning, and walking in a crowd of people takes away the joy of admiring the views.

• Dolina Kościeliska – this is one of the most popular Tatra valleys known mainly for its picturesque views, but also because it is easily accessible for every tourist. The entrance to the trail is located in the Kiry part of Kościeliska. After an hour and 20 minutes of walking on a wide path, you can reach the Ornak mountain hut. Along the way, you pass the Wyżnia Kira Miętusia clearing, where crocuses bloom in spring and sheep are grazed in summer – you can buy regional products at the shepherd's hut. There are five caves accessible to visitors along the trail: Raptawicka, Obłazkowa, Mroźna, Mylna, and Smocza Jama. Tourists with better fitness and more experience can choose to hike towards the Czerwone Wierchy, which also provides breathtaking views, especially in autumn. Near the Ornak mountain hut, there is the Smreczyński Pond.

• Rusinowa Polana – provides a stunning panorama of the Tatra Mountains, which we can admire after an hour of pleasant walk from the Wierch Poroniec car park. In summer, a cultural sheep grazing is conducted on the clearing, and there is also the possibility of buying fresh oscypek cheese. From the clearing, you can take a 40-minute walk to Gęsia Szyja or go to the Marian sanctuary on Wiktorówki. For those craving a longer hike, we recommend taking the red trail to Morskie Oko.

• Dolina Chochołowska – a charming valley in the western part of the Tatras that is worth visiting in early spring during the crocus bloom. The one-way hike takes about 2 hours, and there are no difficulties on the trail. The journey begins at the Siwa clearing, where sheep are grazed in summer. There is a mountain hut in the valley known for the best apple pie in Zakopane.

Slightly more strenuous:

Level of difficulty: a bit steeper and you need to watch your step, but with a little determination you will definitely reach the summit.

• Nosal – a scenic peak directly accessible from Zakopane (you can reach the start of the hike at the dam below Nosal from Krupówki in about 30 minutes). With good fitness, we can reach the peak in 45 minutes from the entrance to the TPN area. The trail is not technically difficult, but we should be careful on the ridge and not approach the cliffs, especially when the rocks are wet.
  
• Sarnia Skała – the trail through the Drogą pod Reglami and the Biały or Strążyska valley (possibility of making a loop) should take from 4 to 5 hours. Both trails lead through paths that can be described as easy walks – only the ascent to the rocky dome of Sarnia Skała requires caution. From the top, we can enjoy an excellent view of the northern wall of Giewont, as well as the panorama of Zakopane and its surroundings. The Drogą pod Reglami runs from Wielka Krokiew, which visiting (there is a possibility of a chairlift ride to the top) will be an excellent attraction, especially for ski jumping fans.

Trails for more experienced hikers

Difficulty level: Watch your step and breathe, and you'll be fine.

• Hala Gąsienicowa – the most picturesque mountain pasture located in the heart of the High Tatras. The trail itself is not demanding. From Kuźnice (at the cable car to Kasprowy Wierch), you can reach it by two trails - through the Jaworzynka Valley or through Boczań - both routes take about 2 hours and are not technically difficult, but you will find several steep ascents on them. Another option is to descend to Hala Gąsienicowa by the trail from Kasprowy Wierch (which can be reached by cable car), which takes half an hour and allows you to admire the view of the charming Gąsienicowe ponds against the background of the Orlej Perci massif (where some of the most dangerous trails in the Tatras are located). From Hala Gąsienicowa, you can go to Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy (it takes 30 minutes). More experienced hikers can go to Karb Pass to admire the amazing view of Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy and Kościelec. The latter is a challenge for people who are very agile in the mountains. There is a Murowaniec mountain hut on Hala Gąsienicowa, where you can eat and rest.

• Five Polish Lakes Valley – a place straight out of a fairytale. The easiest trail leading to the valley departs from the road to Morskie Oko – after the waterfall Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza, turn right. The round trip without rest should take about 5 hours for a person in good condition. In addition to the lakes themselves, there is also the Great Siklawa – the largest waterfall in Poland. More experienced hikers can take a steep trail to the Krzyżne Pass, which offers a magnificent view of all five lakes, or go to Morskie Oko via the Świstówka trail. There is a mountain hut in the Five Polish Lakes Valley. As the trail starts from Palenica Białczańska, it is worth booking a parking space in advance.

• Giewot this list would not be complete without the most famous peak in the Tatra Mountains. While the two previous entries fell between the categories of "a bit uphill" and "watch your step," here the hike is decidedly more challenging, despite the crowds we encounter along the way. There are several trails that allow you to reach the "sleeping knight," but the most popular one leads from the aforementioned Strążyska Valley. The round trip should take around 7 hours. The peak of Giewont is secured with chains, which greatly facilitate the last section of the climb. It's worth noting that there is one-way traffic on the chains.

Despite its great popularity and easy accessibility, Giewont should not be underestimated, especially the steep ascent towards the end. Attempting to descend the north face of the mountain can be an exceptionally ill-advised idea, as tempting as it may be to get a quick return to Zakopane. It is a path to a precipice.

It's worth heading to Giewont early in the morning to avoid the crowds at the top and the queues at the chains. You should also pay special attention to weather conditions because, due to the metal chains and cross, a thunderstorm on Giewont can be particularly dangerous and potentially tragic.

Warning

Artykuł opisuje góry i szlaki w warunkach letnich. Należy pamiętać, że zimą nawet pozornie łatwe trasy mogą stać się niebezpieczne. W dolinach konieczne jest używanie raczków, natomiast w wyższe partie gór można udawać się tylko z odpowiednim sprzętem, wiedzą i przygotowaniem. Zwracaj uwagę na ostrzeżenia lawinowe i miej na uwadze, że zmrok zapada szybciej w okresie zimowym.

Przed wyruszeniem w góry, zarówno zimą, jak i latem, zawsze sprawdzaj prognozę pogody i dostosowuj swoje plany do warunków atmosferycznych. Bezpieczeństwo na szlaku jest najważniejsze, dlatego należy zawsze zachować ostrożność i odpowiednio się przygotować.

Admire the mountains without leaving Zakopane

Finally, it is worth adding that Cafe Tygodnik Podhalański Kosciuszki 3 street) andGóralski Browar (Krupówki 40 street) are places where you can admire excellent views while enjoying your favorite drink or snack. Other places that combine landscape and relaxation are numerous thermal pools located in the Podhale region. Beautiful views of the Tatra Mountains can also be seen in neighboring towns - Bukowina Tatrzańska, Gliczarów Górny, Zębie or on Bachledówka.

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