FATMAP by Strava

HIKE: Kuźnice - Murowaniec - Zawrat - 5 Stawów - Świstówka - Morskie Oko - Palenica

Tatra National Park

Glorious full day route visiting 3 iconic mountain huts in the Polish Tatras and passing 3 different ridges

Also in Prešov, Slovakia

Hiking Moderate

Distance
26 km
Ascent
1.6 km
Descent
1.5 km
Duration
1 day +
Low Point
912 m
High Point
2.2 km
Gradient
28˚
HIKE: Kuźnice - Murowaniec - Zawrat - 5 Stawów - Świstówka - Morskie Oko - Palenica Map

If you have a perfect weather and enough stamina to push through 25 km of route and 1600 m of ascent this is a perfect choice for a full day Tatra excursion. Starting in Kuźnice, next to the bottom cable car station you ascend through the Tatra forest and across the Kopas ridge reaching the Gąsienicowa high mountain vast meadow and valley, where you can visit the Murowaniec mountain hut. From there you ascend mildly to the Black Gąsienicowy Pond with a wonderful vista of the main Polish High Tatras ridge. You walk around the big pond and start ascending more steeply to a smaller 'Frozen' Pond and further up, towards the Zawrat Pass on a section that gets ever steeper and ends in a 45-1h long secured section that requires surefootedness and some rock scrambling. The Zawrat PAss is iconic and opens routes on Orla Perć secured trail, however this trek descends into the 5 Polish Lakes valley, where you can marvel at the high mountains in the calm surroundings and visit the mountain hut located there. From the mountain hut you climb again up to Świstowa Pass on easy but rocky and steep steps. The boulder fields near the top of the ridge are easily passed and then you descend steeply to the Morskie Oko lake and the final hut of the trek. From there you take the asphalt Oskar Balzer road down to Mickiewicz cascade and further down to Palenica Białczańska parking lot, where you can take public transportation back to Zakopane.

Difficulty

Moderate

Hiking along trails with some uneven terrain and small hills. Small rocks and roots may be present.

Medium Exposure

2 out of 4

The trail contains some obstacles such as outcroppings and rock which could cause injury.

Remoteness

2 out of 4

Away from help but easily accessed.

Best time to visit

between June and September

Features

  • Alpine
  • Wildlife
  • Picturesque
  • Wild flowers
  • Water features
  • Family friendly
  • Forestry or heavy vegetation