The 2096m high Małołączniak (Little Meadow'er), which takes its name from the valley at its foot, named the Little Meadow, is one of the four summits of the massif of Czerwone Wierchy (Red Peaks). The uppermost part of the side ridge bearing N from the top of Małołączniak is called Czerwony Grzbiet/Wierch (Red Ridge/Peak).

So much red in these toponyms is connected with the local rock type, however, indirectly. To your surprise, this time the red names are believed not to derive from the usual suspect - rusty iron compounds - although iron used to be mined in the sides of the massif. The geological make-up of Małołączniak is really interesting as on the limestone and dolomite rocks that form the bulk of the mountain, as well as the summits of its western neighbours, lies a crystalline cap, which yields poor, acidic soil, good enough only for some hardy grasses, such as highland rush and the endemic Oreochloa disticha, which turn red easily and early, already in July.

Czerwone Wierchy from the North: The summit of Małołączniak and the craggy bluffs of the Red Ridge in front of it are just to the right of the centre of this fabulous photo by Visentin.

Above
Red Ridge/Peak against the other Red Peaks - left to right:
Kopa Kondracka (2005m: left of centre; right of Giewont), Małołączniak (2096m), Krzesanica (2122m) & Ciemniak (2096m)

Below
Red Ridge/Peak (2096m) against the other Red Peaks: Ciemniak 2096m, Krzesanica 2122m, and Kopa Kondracka 2005m

Wielka Świstówka

Kopa Kondracka (left)
& Małołączniak (right)

The walls of Wielka Turnia, literally Great Crag (right), plunge into Dolina Małej Łąki (Valley of Little Meadow) from the NE edge of the Red Ridge, whose top gently rises towards the summit of Małołączniak. Wielka Turnia is 1847m high, approx. 350m tall, and offers fun climbing.

Little Meadow
& Great Crag (centre)

Besides, Małołączniak's bowels contain the largest cave system in the Tatras.

Getting There

Zakopane sits at the foot of the Tatra Mountains about 100 km south of Kraków, where there's an international airport. BTW Talking of Europe's medieval architecture, the city of Kraków certainly boasts one of the most interesting old towns in Central-Eastern Europe. Hopefully: all you need to know about Kraków.

It should take less than two hours to drive from Kraków to Zakopane, but at the weekend or in high season, it can take much more than 3.5 hours, which is how long a journey by train lasts. Here's the bus timetable (The station adjoins the central railway station "Kraków Główny")

From the outskirts of the town of Zakopane - the Polish, bigger version of Chamonix - a few marked trails lead to the top of the Red Peaks. In my view, the most interesting – scenic and with relatively little traffic – is the blue trail. The best way to get a rewarding day hike is to combine it with either the yellow trail running through the beautiful, compact glacial trough of the Little Meadow, i.e. Dolina (Valley) Małej Łąki (this option is perfect for those who have come to the trailhead by car), or the green and red trails, partly through Dolina Kościeliska, then over the other summits of Czerwone Wierchy. (There are two variants – see the map – the longer route is a bit more interesting; I'd recommend it for the first half of the hike whereas the shorter route is fine for a quick descent.)
Access from Slovakia doesn't make much sense, although it is possible. The marked route was designed in order to discourage you from crossing the border with Poland (now no problem any more) and takes a terribly long detour.

Małołączniak seen from the yellow trail, near the pass between Czerwone Wierchy and Giewont.

W face of Red Ridge seen from red trail

Southern, Slovak slopes of Krzesanica and Małołączniak, the latter on the right

To quickly find the trails on an excellent online map, click hľadaj bod on the bar in its top right-hand corner, then select the lower section and paste/typethese coordinates:
N: 49.25
E: 19.92
Finally click hľadaj just below them.

Blue Trail to Red Ridge

Małołaczniak on the left, the craggy cirque of Mułowa Dolina on the right.

While in Zakopane, you get on any of the frequently running buses or minibuses heading for Dolina Kościeliska/Chochołowska and get off at the stop called Gronik. The trailhead is a few hundred metres back towards Zakopane from the bus stop. If you come by car, you can park it right at the trailhead.
The trail leads you rather gently up the stream until after about 20 minutes you get to the junction with the yellow trail. Then a steeper part follows, which takes you to a broad pass named Przysłop Miętusi, where several trails intersect. That's a good spot to have a snack and admire a dramatic view of the Red Peaks.

Having left Przysłop Miętusi the blue trail turns into a narrow path, which sticks to the eastern slopes of the Miętusia Valley running along the contour line of 1200m, through the forest with lots of wind-felled conifers and fireweed.

Through fireweed under crags.

It is now hard to imagine but in the 19th century this part of the trail served the miners who excavated iron ore in the tunnels dug into the rock below your feet. The iron was then smelted where today the cable car station stands. The alternate name of our blue trail is the Miner Track…
Now our route climbs up the slope a little, still less than a hundred metres, then again continues almost horizontally. Spectacular views open up towards the huge, glacially moulded steps of the Litworowa and Mułowa valleys, which form the headwall of the Miętusia Valley that is called Wielka Świstówka. All the three cirques are devoid of tarns as it's karst terrain.

But our trail, unfortunately, doesn't go up the steps leading to the cirques (that would be up to US 5.3) but turns left to enter a wide couloir named Kobylarz, just like the rib and the crag on its left. There's lots of scree, some interesting flora in the early summer, and even about a dozen metres of steel chain to secure your passage by the only one class 3 point en route. Having hiked around 3 hours, you finally reach the gently sloping top of Red Ridge. Another nice place to have a little rest, an interesting view of Giewont,

Actual ascent starts near here.

Upper reaches of the couloir

Giewont seen from Red Ridge

after 5 p.m. chamois highly likely. (Once I was lucky to encounter a bold young buck that barred the trail, hissing at me and kicking the ground with his front hoof, so that I wouldn't dare get closer to his two female companions.) The last - rather gentle although about 250 m up - section of the trail will take you to the summit of Małołączniak in less than half an hour. When you have finally made it (around 3.5 hours and 1170m up altogether; a descent takes about 2.5 hours) hours, you'll enjoy the following views from the top, weather permitting :)

Glance back: Giewont

Towards the High Tatras

Towards the highest summit of Czerwone Wierchy, Slovak Tatras in the background.

Danger & Red Tape

The Red Ridge seems to be incapable of creating any problems but about a dozen people have perished nearby, most of them in wintry conditions, but a few in the summer fog, by falling down the craggy walls, after taking the wrong turn while descending.
Mountain Rescue Service Phone Numbers: (+48) 601100300

Southernmost bluff of
Red Ridge

Małołączniak on the right

Małołączniak on the left

In Poland, you have to pay for entry to the Tatra Mountains National Park – the fee is currently about €1 per day (a weekly pass: €4). The park rules are quite strict. In a nutshell, you are only allowed to walk along the marked trails.

In Slovakia, you don't pay an entry fee but you're not allowed to roam the park in winter/spring. Here are the detailed regulations for various fun activities.

Accommodation

in Zakopane

Glossary for the above link:

Noclegi/Kwatery/Zakwaterowanie - Accommodation
Apartamenty – self-catering flats/apartments
Domki - chalets
Ośrodki wypoczynkowe – lower standard hotels/guesthouses/holiday camps
Pola namiotowe – rudimentary campsites/campgrounds
Wille – B&B/guesthouses
Campingi - campsites/campgrounds
Motele – motels
Pensjonaty – B&B/guesthouses
Wynajem pokoi – guesthouses
Hotele – hotels (of varied standard)

Considering the crowds and prices in Zakopane, especially if you happen to have to go in peak season, it may be a better idea to stay in one of the numerous villages in the Podhale area, just north of the Tatras.

Weather

Current view of Giewont (centre) and Małołączniak (right)

6-day forecast for Zakopane

avalanches?

Maps

Besides the online map I recommend in chapter 2, there's another very good online map, which has info on the times needed to walk the trails.

You can purchase its paper version online

External links not included above

A good photo TR: the Blue Trail

Pix (West to East) from a ski-touring trip along the main ridge of the Red Peaks.

Images



[ View Gallery - 19 More Images ]