Winter Hiking in Tatra Mountains: Walking Routes, Park Rules & Safety

Tatra National Park

Tatra National Park was established only in 1954 by the Communist Government, based on the plans made during the interwar period. The park is a good historical what of what building nations tried to do with the recreational areas. The clash between environmental protection and technological modernization unveils two different visions of how a modern society should look like in the 20th century.

Having in mind that even though some parts of the park are completely modernized, some parts are totally remote. It is important to follow all the rules in order to protect this wonder of nature Tatra Mountains are and to keep yourself together with your friends safe.

In this short guide, you’ll find all the essential information required for winter hiking in the Tatra Mountains of Tatra National Park including marking color meanings, recommended routes, closed routes, rules of the park, risks of avalanche & useful URLs.

Tatra National Park Details

• Location: Poland & Slovakia
• Established: 1954
• Area: 785 km² / 303 mi²
• Lat/Lon: 49°10′N 20°08′E
• Highest point: Gerlach (2,655m / 8,711ft)
• Good accomondation: Zakopane, Tatranská Lomnica, Starý Smokovec, Štrbské Pleso, Ždiar, & Poprad
• Hiking: 4-day Winter hiking itinerary for beginners
• Weather: Tatra Mountains Forecast
• Safety: Avalanche Danger Levels
• Polish emergency number: 985
• Slovak emergency number: 18300

The Meaning of Route Marking Colors

One of the most important things to understand in Tatra National Park before any hike is that route marking doesn’t mean difficulty, thus your judgment should not be based on the color, or at least in this manner. The marking is there for the type of the route:

Red – used for the most important and long-distance routes.

Blue – used for the routes connecting important places.

Yellow – used for short connections between other routes.

Green – basically for everything else.

Recommended Winter Hiking Routes

The High Tatras is one of those places you worth returning again and again. The majestic silence and absolute beauty of winter mountains keep amazed anyone willing to challenge themselves. While most parts of Tatra National Park has a really good infrastructure, like anywhere else in the mountains during the winter – moderate chunks of the park is closed to the public. Due to the nature of the coldest time of the year, even the opened parts require a good preparation. Be sure to check if you have all the recommended equipment for winter hiking in the mountains.

Too bad it is impossible to see High Tatras all at once, thus good research is recommended before setting your foot on any of the routes. Most of the routes listed below, I walked myself therefore I didn’t chose them randomly. It is a result of hours and hours of research to make sure I’m getting most of my time in Tatra National Park. If you don’t have time to do the research yourself, I recommend checking this 4-day winter hiking itinerary.

For Beginners:

• Nosal Mountain: Kuźnicka Polana (975m / 3,199ft) – Nosal (1,103m / 3,619ft) – Kuźnice (1,025m / 3,363ft) – 1h15 – Hike map – Green marking.
• Siklawica Waterfall: Dolina Strążyska (902m / 2,959ft) – Siklawica Waterfall (1,123m / 3,684ft) – 1h00 – Hike map – Red marking.
• Skalnata Chata (Cable car): Tatranska Lomnica (848m / 2,782ft) – Skalnata chata (1,725m / 5,659ft), or even Lomnicky Peak (2,634m / 8,642ft).

Intermediate:

• Morskie Oko: Palenica Białczańska (984m / 3,228ft) – Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza (1,100m / 3,609ft) – Morskie Oko (1,406m / 4,613ft) – 3h00 – Hike map – Red marking.
• Vodospad Skok: Štrbské Pleso (1,327m / 4,354ft) – Vodospád Skok (1,782m / 5,846ft) – 2h30 – Hike map – Yellow marking.
• Popradske Pleso: Štrbské Pleso (1,327m / 4,354ft) – Popradske Pleso (1,500m / 4,921ft) – 2h00 – Hike map – Red marking.
• Zamkovského chata: Starý Smokovec (1,023m / 3,356ft) – Hrebienok (1,285m / 4,216ft) – Rainerova Chata (1,321m / 4,334ft) – Zamkovského chata (1,475m / 4,839ft) – 2h00 – Hike map – Green marking.

Hard:

• Kasprowy Wierch: Kuźnice (1,025m / 3,363ft) – Myślenickie Turnie (1,360m / 4,462ft) – Kasprowy Wierch (1,987m / 6,519ft) – 4h00+ – Hike map – Green marking.
• Téryho chata: Starý Smokovec (1,023m / 3,356ft) – Hrebienok (1,285m / 4,216ft) – Rainerova Chata (1,321m / 4,334ft) – Zamkovského chata (1,475m / 4,839ft) – Téryho Chata (2,015m / 6,611ft) – 4h00 – Hike map – Green marking.

How to get to Tatra National Park

Tatra National Park is located on the border of Poland and Slovakia. As a matter of fact, these mountains are the natural border between the two countries. It could be reached from various directions by various means, but the main bases are: Zakopane in Poland; Resort town lined up on road 537 by the Tatra Mountains.

By Car

Zakopane could be reached from Krakow by the S7 highway with an exit to the road 47 by town Rabka. Navigating around Tatra National park from the Slovakian side should be done on roads 66 and 18, both have plenty connections with road 537, which is as close as you can get to the High Tatras by the road.

By Public Transport

The best and the only way to reach Tatra National Park from the Polish side is by bus. You can find a suitable option on busradar.com. There are more options to reach the High Tatras from the Slovakian side. See the train timetables here, the buses navigate as well but finding decent information online might be a bit tricky.

By Private Transfer

Given the rather complicated transportation in this mountainous region, a private transfer might be the best way to get here if you are not an experienced driver in these conditions.

• From Krakow to Zakopane – (2h00 | from € 91.33 per car up to 3 people).
• From Balice Airport to Zakopane – (~2h00 | from € 87 per car up to 3 people).
• From Katowice Airport to Zakopane – (valid 1 day | from € 91.33 per car up to 7 people).

These transfer options were selected by GetYourGuide platform. It guarantees the quality of service and offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the transfer date.

Map of the Tatra National Park

Rules of Tatra National Park

These are the official rules of TANAP (Tatra National Park) taken from the park’s website. More information could be found in the sources segment at the bottom of the article together with locations for special activities like paragliding.

1. Information notice boards about the National Park serve you, the visitor – please do not damage them. In order to enjoy your visit please use marked hiking tracks, footpaths and cycling tracks as well as Tourist Information Centres. In order to protect the nature and to ensure your safety, hiking tracks in the mountains are not accessible to public between 1 November and 15 June. Enjoy your hiking in the daytime, between an hour after sunrise and hour before sunset.

2. Hiking away from marked tracks, under the supervision of experienced guides, is available between 16 June and 31 October. (paragraph 4, item 5 of the Visitor’s Charter)

3. Picked flowers will wither, captive butterflies will die, chicks of an eagle could fall from their nest if disturbed. Therefore touch the nature by your heart only.

4. It is not permitted to camp or bivouac anywhere in the National Park. It is prohibited to light fires anywhere in the National Park other than in designated sites in tourists villages.

5. If you are enjoying your stay in the National Park with your pet dog then the dog should always be on a lead and muzzled. In specifically designated nature reserves dogs are not permitted to enter at all.

6. Peacefulness of nature is there for you to enjoy. It should not be polluted either by lights effects or loud music, or any other noises.

7. Please do not pollute the environment. Take your rubbish home with you. To avoid fires please refrain from smoking during dry periods.

8. Protect the underground beauty of the nature. Do not try to enter inaccessible caves and gullies.

Encounters with Bears Rules

What every visitor of Tatra National park must keep in mind that he/she might encounter bears. Never forget that bear is a large predator which may be very dangerous. The way behave will be crucial for your life and the future of the bear. In order to stay safe – keep in mind these important rules:

• Plan your trip to avoid walking in dark;
• Do not take risks by leaving the marked trail;
• Take your rubbish with you – if left behind, its smell will attract wild animals;
• Never approach a bear if you see one;
• Do not feed bears – they will demand more and the next snack could be you;
• Do not panic – bears do not hunt for people. Just calmly walk away;
• Personal tip: Carry a ring bell and let bears know that you are here. They usually attack people only when caught in suprise.

List of Closed Routes in Winter (11.01 – 05.15)

Due to safety reasons, the following routes are closed for tourists from 1^st November to 15^th June. Respecting these prohibitions could save you your life, or at least a lot of trouble to park rangers. If you still want to do any of these routes, you are required to hire an experienced guide.

• Bielovodska dolina from the clearing Biela voda – blue marking.
• Javorova dolina from the crossroad under Muran – green marking.
• Zadne Medodoly from the chalet under Muran – blue marking.
• Monkova dolina – Siroke sedlo – Kopske sedlo – green marking (educational track).
• Kopske sedlo from Bielovodske pleso – blue marking.
• Jahnaci stit from Zelene pleso – yellow marking.
• Velka Svistovka from Zelene pleso – red marking.
• Velka Svistovka from Huncovska vyhliadka – red marking.
• Mala Studena dolina from Teryho chalet – green and yellow marking.
• Velka Studena dolina from Zbojnicka chalet – blue and yellow marking.
• Slavkovsky stit from Slavkovska clearing during snow cover – blue marking.
• Velicka dolina from Velicke pleso – green marking.
• Rysy from the crossroad above Zabi potok – red marking.
• Mengusovska dolina from the crossroad above Zabi potok – blue marking.
• Magistrala from Sliezsky dom to Popradske pleso during snow cover – red marking.
• Mlynicka dolina from the waterfall Skok – yellow marking.
• Furkotska dolina from the tourist track Magistrala – yellow marking.
• Furkotska dolina from the chalet at Solisko – blue marking.
• Krivan from the crossroad at Jamske pleso – blue marking.
• Krivan from the chalet at Tri Studnicky – green marking.
• Koprova dolina from Kmetovy waterfall – blue marking.
• Ticha dolina from the chalet Tabor – yellow marking.
• Kamenista dolina from the shepherd’s cabin towards Pysne sedlo – blue marking.
• Bystra dolina from the clearing under Kotlova towards Bystra – yellow marking.
• Rackova dolina from either Prostredne towards Rackove sedlo – yellow marking, or Gaborovo sedlo – green marking, or Bystre sedlo – blue marking.
• Jamnicka dolina towards Otrhance – green marking, and towards Jamnicke sedlo – blue marking.
• Baranec from the map’s elevation Klinovate – green marking.
• Ziarska dolina from the top side of the forest towards Baranec – yellow marking.
• Ziarska dolina from either Ziarska chalet towards Ziarske sedlo – green marking, or towards Smutne sedlo – blue marking, or towards Jalovecke sedlo – green marking.
• Jalovecka dolina from the crossroad towards Salatin – green marking and towards Banikovske sedlo – blue marking.
• The main ridge of Zapadne Tatry from Hutianske sedlo up to Pysne sedlo – red marking.
• Smutna dolina from Tatliakove pliesko towards Smutne sedlo – blue marking and towards sedlo Zabrat – green marking.
• Spaleny Zlab from the the ski-track towards the map’s elavation Brestova – blue marking.
• Spalena dolina from the crossroad above the waterfall towards Rohacske plesa – blue marking and towards Banikovske sedlo – yellow marking. 
• Latana dolina from the crossroad towards Lucna – green marking and towards sedlo Zabrat – yellow marking.
• Bobrovecka dolina from the crossroad under Umrla – blue marking towards Bobrovecke sedlo, and towards sedlo Prislop – green marking.
• Hruby vrch and Bobrovecke sedlo from Juranova dolina – red marking.

Best Tours to Tatra National Park

There are quite a lot of things to do in Tatra National Park. Everyone will find activities to fit their wishes and expertise. These majestic mountains have plenty of things to do even for the most experienced of us but if you don’t have any experience in this kind of terrain, it might be a wise idea to hire a guide to kickstart your journey into Tatra National Park.

• From Krakow: Zakopane Tour with Hot Bath Pools – (10h00 | from € 65.53/person). The price covers a hotel pickup in Krakow; Transportation; Ticket for Gubałówka; Krupówki sightseeing tour; Ticket for the thermal baths; Refreshments on board & English-speaking guide.
• From Krakow: Zakopane Full-Day Trip with Cable Car Ride to Kasprowy Wierch – (9h00 | from € 129.97/person). The price covers a hotel pickup in Krakow; Transportation with live commentary on board in English-speaking guide; Ticket for Kasprowy Wierch cable car and Krupówki sightseeing tour in Zakopane.
• From Krakow: Morskie Oko Lake Tour in the Tatra Mountains – (8-9h00 | from € 76.45/person). The price covers a hotel pickup and drop-off; Transportation with an English-speaking driver; Entrance tickets to Morskie Oko Lake and Tatra National Park and a small gift: free traditional cottage cheeses.

This list of guided tours is coordinated with the partnership of GetYourGuide. The platform guarantees the quality of every tour and offers a possibility to cancel any tour up to 24 hours before the tour date.

Useful Websites

• Polish Rescue Service
• Slovak Rescue Service
• Rescue Service Android App
• Rescue Service iOS App
• Hiking Routes in Poland Map
• Hiking Routes in Tatra Mountains Map
• Weather Forecast
• Avalanche Danger Level
• Activities Requirements
• TANAP – Tatra National Park

Sources

TANAP.org – the official Tatra National Park website.