The High Tatras (Slovak: Vysoké Tatry, Polish Tatry Wysokie, German Hohe Tatra, Hungarian Magas-Tátra) is the smallest big mountain range in Europe. They are situated on the border between Slovakia and Poland, although majority of the peaks and valleys lie in Slovakia. Vysoké Tatry are located between latitudes 49-49.20, and longitudes 19.55-20.25. Main ridge starts on the west by pass Ľaliové sedlo (1952 m) and ends up on the east by pass Kopské sedlo (1756 m).

Vysoké Tatry continue on the west with Západné Tatry (Liptovské hole, Rohace), whereas on the east with Belianské Tatry, whose main ridge is almost perpendicular to the main ridge of Vysoké Tatry. Direction of the main ridge is south-east from pass Ľaliové sedlo, approximately in the middle there is a turn to north-east. Length of the main ridge of Vysoké Tatry is about 26 km and width about 17 km. The whole area is about 260 square kilometers.

Out of the main ridge lead a lot of extra ridges forming valleys, on step terraces many mountain lakes (tarns) can be found. The three biggest are located on the Polish side: Wielki Staw (in Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich - Five Polish Lakes Valley), Morskie Oko and Czarny Staw (in Dolina Rybiego Potoku - Fish Creek Valley), with an area of 34.4 ha, 34 ha and 20.5 ha, respectively. Wielki Staw is also the deepest of all: 79 m. The biggest and deepest tarn on the Slovakian side is Veľké Hincovo pleso: 18.19 ha and 53.7 m. The highest located tarn is Modré pleso (2180 m, in Malá Studená dolina, above chalet Téryho chata), followed by Vyšné Wahlenbergovo pleso (2154 m, in Furkotská dolina). SP album about High Tatra Tarns.

Wielki Staw
photo: stjepan

Morskie Oko
photo: stjepan

Czarny Staw pod Rysami
photo: peterbud

Veľké Hincovo pleso
photo: stjepan

Modré pleso
photo: mcc

Vyšné Wahlenbergovo pl.
photo: Tomas Kristofory

North walls are steeper in comparison with south ones, however the higher peaks are on the south. There are about 300 peaks and spires in Vysoké Tatry and only several of them is accessible by marked tourist paths (see Allowed Peaks section).

Vysoké Tatry was formed by dilivual glaciers and consists of granite, gneiss, and crystalline shale. There are not any glaciers today, just several all year long firn snow fields.

Getting There

With help from SP members dynercia and peterbud

By air

The main international airports in the broader area are: Bratislava (SK), Wien/Vienna (AT), Budapest (HU) and Praha/Prague (CZ). There are two further airports much closer, although with less connections: Poprad (SK) and Kraków/Cracow (PL).
From the airports you shall take train, bus or car to get further.

By train and bus

Slovak side: There are direct trains and buses to Poprad from all major cities of Slovakia (direct trains are also available from Budapest and Prague). Up-to-date international train search can be easily done on the DB website. From Poprad you can get to all major southern entry points (Tatranská Lomnica, Starý Smokovec, Tatranská Polianka, Štrbské pleso, Podbanské) by rail or bus. If coming by train, it is also possible to get off at the station of Štrba, which is connected with Štrbské pleso by a cog railway. The Tatra electric railway (Tatranská elektrická železnica), a separate system from the national railway that connects Poprad with Štrbské pleso through Starý Smokovec and Tatranská Polianka, is an obvious choice of public transportation along the southern side of the mountains.

roads sketch by dynercia

Polish side: From Cracow, you shall get to Zakopane. There are a lot of buses, operated by PKS (time table) and also private companies: Frey (time table) and Szwagropol (time table). By train the road is much longer and expensive (train search: Polish Railways or DB website).

By car

The most convenient way to plan your trip is to use a route planner like ViaMichelin or similar. There are parking opportunities on both the Slovak and the Polish side (fees will be charged). Slovak motorways are toll roads (vignettes can be bought at border crossings and petrol stations), however the ordinary highways (toll-free) are pretty good and the traffic is usually far from unbearable.

Scaleable map of Slovakia.

Red Tape

Source: Information for visitors of TANAP

Members of any of UIAA member can climb, ski, etc. in specified areas, see below. Non-UIAA members are permitted to use ONLY MARKED TOURIST TRAILS or to be accompanied by TATRA' MOUNTAIN GUIDE.

Skier just near the summit of Maly Ľadový štít (2606 m).
On the left is the second highest High Tatra peak - Lomnický štít (2632 m)
photo: palic

The National Park is the heritage of all mankind. Mount Kriváň (2495 m) is the national symbol of the Slovak people. Since 1993 the mountain range Tatras, together with the Polish part of the National Park, has been identified as natural, biospheric, reserve of UNESCO. Whilst enjoying your visit in the National Park, please help us to protect its natural beauty. Information notice boards about the National Park serve you, the visitor - please do not damage them.

1. In order to enjoy your visit please use marked hiking tracks, footpaths and cycling tracks as well as Tourist Information Centres.
Cycling tracks
2. 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.
3. 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.
Closure of hiking paths
4. Enjoy your hiking in the daytime, between an hour after sunrise and hour before sunset.
5. Hiking away from marked tracks, under the supervision of experienced guides, is available between 16 June and 31 October.
Hiking away from the marked tracks
6. In order to protect endangered species of birds of prey, paragliding and using rogallo is permitted only in specifically designated areas.
Gliders and paragliders
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. The National Park provides also for winter sports such as alpine and cross-country skiing on designated slopes and tracks as well as mountain and rock climbing, and ski-alpinism in purposely built facilities where picnic areas are set aside for an open fire barbecues.
Alpine skiing
Cross country skiing
Ski-alpinism
Climbing and rock-climbing
11. Please do not pollute the environment. Take your rubbish home with you. To avoid fires please refrain from smoking during dry periods.
12. Protect the underground beauty of the nature. Do not try to enter inaccessible caves and gullies.

It is IMPORTANT to note that some areas are closed even to UIAA members:

Map of closed areas (encircled by purple dashed lines) linked from this external source (SVTS - Slovak mountaineering club).

Please also note that despite both Slovakia and Poland have joined the Schengen zone in December 2007, regulations have not changed in the High Tatras. The only point where border-crossing is legal in the nature conservation area is through the peak of Rysy.

Other climbing regulations are at SP page for Gerlachovský stít

Peaks of High Tatras

Table with the highest peaks adapted by peterbud

The rest of High Tatras' peaks viewn from Kriváň - photo: peterbud

The following table presents the highest peaks of the range. Polish, German and Hungarian toponimes are listed in italic below the official Slovak names. The nomenclature of Tatra Mountains is actually very complicated (and sometimes chaotic) - not just because there are names in four languages, but also because often there are (were) different variants within one or more of the languages. Tatra toponimes have a long and intricate history. Several times an expression of one language got used in an ill-traslated form in the other language. Occasionally, names were mistakenly recorded or mixed up in some of the basic publications. And last, but not least, a handful of peaks were attempted to be renamed for different reasons (honour, politics). All this created considerable confusion (partly present on SP as well). A very good and extensive online Tatra-toponimes dictionary is available for speakers of Slovak, Polish, German and Hungarian to ease the situation.

Rank

Photo

Name of the peak
(slo-pol-ger-hun)

Height

First ascent

Gerlachovský štít
Gierlach
Gerlsdorfer Spitze
Gerlachfalvi-csúcs

2655 m

Reportedly in 1834 J. Still, J. Gellhof and M. Spitzkopf.
Probably in 6th decade of 19th century by M. Urban.
First ladies - P. Knerr and J. Fillunger (July 28, 1877)
In 1896 the peak was renamed after Franz Joseph Austrian emperor until WW-I.
Between 1949-1956 it was named after J.V. Stalin.

Zadný Gerlachovský štít
Zadni Gierlach
Hintere Gerlsdorfer Spitze
Hátsó-Gerlachfalvi-csúcs

2638 m

J. Stolarczyk, with guides from Zakopane (around 1870)

Lomnický štít
Łomnica
Lomnitzer Spitze
Lomnici-csúcs

2634 m

Robert Townson (August 7, 1793)
For long time this peak was thought to be the highest of the High Tatras.

Ľadový štít
Lodowy Szczyt
Eistaler Spitze
Jég-völgyi-csúcs

2627 m

summer - J. Ball and W. Richter with hunters (August 31, 1843)
winter - T. Wundt and J. Horvay (December 28, 1891)
(probably already in the 18th century by hunters)

Pyšný štít
Durny Szczyt
Schwalbenturm
Fecske-torony

2621 m

summer - Ö. Téry, M. Spitzkopf (August 8, 1877)
winter - E. Hruby, O. Jordán, R. Komarnicki and J. Serényi (1910)

Malý Ľadový štít
Lodowa Kopa
Markasitturm
Markazit-torony

2603 m

J. H. Blasius, G. Hartlaub and A. Keyserling with hunters (September 22, 1835)

Malý Pyšný štít
Mały Durny Szczyt
Téry-Spitze
Téry-csúcs

2592 m

Gy. Dőri (July 17, 1901)

Kežmarský štít
Kieżmarski Szczyt
Kesmarker Spitze
Késmárki-csúcs

2556 m

first thoroughly documented - E. Wołoszczak (August 9, 1858)
before that probably by D. Fröhlich (June, 1615) and D. Speer (1654)
(Fröhlich reports the peak has been climbed even before him)
winter - G. O. Dyhrenfurth and A. Martin (1906)

Vysoká
Wysoka
Hochberg
Tátra-csúcs

2547 m

M. Déchy, J. Ruman and U. M. Spitzkorf (September 3, 1874)

10.

Končistá
Kończysta
Hochkammspitze
Koncsiszta

2538 m

A. Münnich and his fellows (around 1874)

11.

Baranie rohy
Baranie Rogi
Grünseespitze
Zöld-tavi-csúcs

2526 m

summer - J. Stolarczyk and A. Trausyl with four guides (September 17, 1867)
winter - T. Kregczy, L. Rokfalusy and Z. Votisky (1911)

12.

Draci štít
Smoczy Szczyt
Déchy-Spitze
Déchy-csúcs

2523 m

A. Martin and J. Breuer (August 13, 1905)

13.

Veľká Vidlová veža
Widły
Grosse Gabelspitze
Nagy-Villa-csúcs

2522 m

M. Szontagh junior and J. Hunsdorfer (August, 1903)

14.

Malý Kežmarský štít
Mały Kieżmarski Szczyt
Weber-spitze
Wéber-csúcs

2514 m

summer - A. Gábriel, F. Koromzay, Gy. Koromzay, A. Nikázy and S. Wéber (August 21, 1889)
winter - G. O. Dyhrenfurth and A. Martin (March 8, 1906)
(earlier probably together with Kežmarský štít in June, 1617)

15.

Zadný Ľadový štít
Lodowy Zwornik
Eistaler Schulter
Jég-völgyi-váll

2507 m

K. Englisch with guide J. Hunsdorfer senior (July 16 or 17, 1902)
(probably earlier by mapping surveyors)

16.

Rysy
Rysy
Meeraugspitze
Tengerszem-csúcs

2503 m

summer - E. Blasy and J. Ruman (August 20, 1840)
winter - T. Wundt and J. Horvay (April 10, 1884)

17.

Ťažký štít (Český štít)
Ciężki Szczyt
Martin Roth-Spitze
Róth Márton-csúcs

2500 m

E. Dubke and J. Francz (July 7, 1904)

18.

Kriváň
Krywań
Ochsenhorn/Krummhorn
Kriván

2495 m

first known - J. A. Czirbesz (August 8, 1773)
(probably earlier by miners - gold mines were in the upper region between the 15th-18th cent.)

...

XX.

Slavkovský štít
Sławkowski Szczyt
Schlagendorfer Spitze
Nagyszalóki-csúcs

2453 m

G. Buchholtz senior and others (July 16, 1664)

High Tatras' peaks from the Low Tatras - photo and text: Gorzi

SP pages image map

Prepared by peterbud

The following image map gives an overview of the High Tatras and its current SP pages:

Move the mouse over the yellow triangles (peaks) and orange dots (huts) to see their names.
Click the peaks to open their SP page in a new window.
Names of peaks appear according to which country they belong to (on the border: Polish / Slovak).
Underlay image is a vintage tourist map from 1910.

Allowed peaks

Prepared by peterbud

For non-UIAA members, only the peaks listed below are allowed to be climbed without permission (on marked tourist routes):

from the Slovak side (only in the summer period, from 15/Jun until 1/Nov):

Name (slo)	Height	Name (pol-ger-hun)
Kriváň	2495 m	Krywań, Krivan, Kriván
Predné Solisko	2093 m	Skrajne Solisko, Vorderer Salzberg, Elülső-Szoliszkó-kúp/Mellső Sóhegy
Kôprovsky štít	2363 m	Koprowy Wierch, Koprovaspitze, Kapor-csúcs
Rysy	2503 m	Rysy, Meeraugspitze, Tengerszem-csúcs
Východná Vysoká	2428 m	Mała Wysoka, Kleine Visoka, Kis-Viszoka
Slavkovský štít	2452 m	Sławkowski Szczyt, Schlagendorfer Spitze, Nagyszalóki-csúcs
Veľká Svišťovka	2037 m	Rakuska Czuba, Grosser Ratzenberg, Nagy-Morgás
Jahňačí štít	2229 m	Jagnięcy Szczyt, Weisseespitze, Fehér-tavi-csúcs

from the Polish side (throughout the year):

Name (pol)	Height	Name (slo-ger-hun)
Kozi Wierch	2291 m	Kozi Vrch, - , Zerge-hegy
Świnica	2428 m	Svinica, Seealmspitze, Svinica
Szpiglasowy Wierch	2172 m	Hrubý štít, Liptauer Grenzberg, Liptói-határhegy
Rysy	2503 m	Rysy, Meeraugspitze, Tengerszem-csúcs

When To Climb

Hiking and climbing in Vysoké Tatry is available all over year, but there are several regulations - see the Red Tape section.

Morning east view from Rysy in August - photo: peterbud

Camping, Mountain Chalets and Hotels

Compiled with help from SP members dynercia and peterbud

Camping

On the Slovak side camping is not permitted in the area of National Park Vysoké Tatry. Public camp is only in Tatranská Lomnica, otherwise you must sleep at Mountain Chalets or Hotels. In the touristic season the High Tatras get quite crowded, so it is highly advisable to book beds in advance.

On the Polish side there is a camping in Zakopane. If you are a member of any climbing club you can camp in 3 places in mountain, too:

horolezecke taborisko in Bielovodská (Białej Wody) Valley (by blue marked route) - ordering in advance
obozowisko taternickie PZA “Szalasiska” in Rybiego Potoku Valley (not far from Morskie Oko)
obozowisko taternickie PZA in Suchej Wody Valley (by black marked route)

Mountain chalets - Slovakia

Chata pod Rysmi (2250 m)

Chata pod Rysmi is the highest located chalet in Vysoké Tatry, opened only during the summer season from May till October, as a result of a series of huge avalanches that fell down from the wall of Ťažký štít (Český štít) and destroyed chalet several times since 2000. Chalet was opened for winter climbing and ski-alpinism from the end of January till the end of March up to year 1999. It is located bellow the pass Váha under Rysy (2503 m). The stone one floor chalet was built in 1932. The second floor was added in 1977 and was got off to the valley by the first huge avalanche in January 2000. The chalet has been rebuilt since then, but there are plans to build a new one at a little higher elevation, safer from avalanches. Accommodation was 420 SKK per night in 2007 (the price includes breakfast as well). The toilet is located outside the hut - it takes about 1 minute walk to get there (the view compensates for the effort).

Access from:
1. Chata pri Popradskom plese - red/blue marked trail, 2 h 20 min
2. Schronisko przy Morskim Oku - red marked trail, crossing the Polish-Slovak border (since both countries joined the Schengen zone in Dec/2007, this is just a formality now), 5 h

Contact:
Chata pod Rysmi, Štrbské Pleso, 059 85, Slovakia
Telephone: +421/(0)52/4422314

Chata pod Rysmi
photo: peterbud

Chata pri Zelenom plese (Brncalova chata) (1551 m)

Chata pri Zelenom plese is situated on the eastern bank of the Zelené pleso (Green Tarn). The first small cottage, Egidova /Egyed/ Chalet (named after Egyed Berzeviczy, contemporary president of the Hungarian Carpath Association), arose in Rakúska poľana in 1876. The former Friedrich's Cottage (named after Friedrich archduke) on the northern bank was opened in 1897. After renovation in 1924 the current design was gained. The chalet was called Brncalova chata after 1950 to commemorate the name of Albert Brncal (1919-1950), the professor of physical education and at the same time a member of Tatra's Mountain-climbers Committee (IAMES), who tragically died under pass Jastrabie sedlo in valley Malá Zmrzlá Dolina as a climbing instructor. Nowadays, both names are used, although officially in maps the first one can be found. Open all year around.

Access from:
1. Tatranské Matliare - yellow/blue marked path, 3 h 30 min
2. Skalnate pleso - red marked trail, 2 h 45 min

Contact:
Chata pri Zelenom plese, 059 60 Tatranská Lomnica, Slovakia
Telephone: +421-52-4467420, +421/(0)903/467420
E-mail: zelenepleso(at)zelenepleso.sk

Chata pri Zelenom plese
photo: julesblaidd

Téryho chata (2015 m)

Téryho chata is situated in the Malá Studená dolina by the Päť Spišských plies (Five Spiš Tarns). The chalet was opened on the 21st of August, 1899. Since the beginning it has been named after Ödön Téry (1856-1917), one of the most remarkable pioneers of Hungarian alpinism and hiking, first ascender of Prostredný hrot, Pyšný štít, Posledná/Jordánova veža and Lomnická vežička. Open all year long for hiking, climbing and ski mountaineering.

Access from:
1. Zamkovského chata - green marked trail, 2 hours
2. Skalnate pleso - red marked trail, 2 h 50 min
3. Hrebienok - red/green marked trails, approx. 3 h
4. Zbojnícka chata, via Veľká Studená dolina and pass Priečne sedlo - yellow marked trail - PROHIBITED direction - 3 h
5. Tatranská Javorina - via Javorová dolina and pass Sedielko, green marked trail, 6 h

Contact:
Téryho chata, 062 01 Starý Smokovec, Slovakia
Telephone: +421/(0)52/4425245
E-mail: teryhochata(at)szm.sk

Téryho chata
photo: julesblaidd

Zbojnícka chata (1960 m)

Zbojnícka chata is located in Veľká Studená dolina (the first shelter was built here 100 years ago). Chalet is opened all the year for hiking, climbing and ski mountaineering. Marked turist path to Východná Vysoká (2428 m). Map of Veľká Studená dolina with Zbojnícka chata.

Access from:
1. Hrebienok, via the classic route - red/blue marked trail
2. Téryho chata, via Malá Studená dolina, over pass Priečne sedlo - yellow marked trail, 3 h.
3. Sliezsky dom, via Velická dolina, over pass Poľský hrebeň and pass Prielom - blue/green marked trail, 3 h 45 min.
4. Lysá Poľana, via Bielovodská dolina - blue marked trail, 6 h 15 min.

Contact:
Zbojnícka chata, 062 01 Starý Smokovec, Vysoké Tatry, Slovakia
Telephone: +421/(0)903/638000 (preferred), +421/(0)903/619000 (if the previous doesn't work)
E-mail: info(at)zbojnickachata.sk

Zbojnícka chata
photo: peterbud

Chata pod Soliskom (1840 m)

Chata pod Soliskom is located on the southern end of the Solisko ridge, at the head of the Solisko ski run. The first hut was built in 1944, it was rebuilt in 2003. Open all year around, accommodation costs 300 SKK per night (2007).

Access from:
Štrbské pleso, along the ski lift - blue marked trail, 1 h 30 min

Contact:
Telephone: +421/(0)905/652036, +421/(0)907/949442
E-mail: info(at)chatasolisko.sk

Chata pod Soliskom
photo: Tomáš Krištofóry

Mountain hotels - Slovakia

Chata pri Popradskom plese (1494 m)

The first shelter by the Poprad Lake was built in 1871, which repeatedly burned down and reconstructed several times. Today's mountain hotel Chata pri Popradskom plese is situated in the picturesque surroundings of Mengusovská Valley on the bank of mountain lake Popradské Pleso. A memorial of victims of the High Tatras mountains Symbolický cintorín is located on the other side of the lake.

Access from:
1. Štrbské pleso, via the Tatranská Magistrála trail - red marked trail, about 1 h
2. Hotel Sliezsky dom, via the Tatranská Magistrála trail - red marked trail, 3 h 30 min

Contact:
Horský hotel Popradské Pleso, P.O.Box 12, 059 85 Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia
Telephone: +421/(0)908/761403, +421/(0)910/948160
E-mail: recepcia(at)popradskepleso.sk

Chata pri Popradskom plese
photo: peterbud

Hotel Sliezsky dom (1680 m)

Hotel Sliezsky dom is situated at the threshold of the valley Velická dolina, on the bank of mountain lake Velické pleso. The first stone chalet was on the eastern end of the lake (1871). A snow avalanche destroyed it in march 1874. Four years later another small wooden shelter was built on the southeastern bank of the lake. This was rebuilt several times (especially between the years 1957 - 1960), but it completely burned down in 1962. Since 1968 at the same place, there is a modern mountain hotel with the same name.

Access from:
1. Tatranská Polianka - green marked trail, 2 h
2. Chata pri Popradskom plese - red marked trail, 3 h 30 min
3. Štrbské pleso - red marked trail, 4 h 45 min
4. Starý Smokovec - yellow marked trail, 2 h 25 min
5. Zbojnícka chata, via passes Prielom and Poľský hrebeň - blue marked trail, 3 h 45 min

Contact:
Sliezsky dom, 059 82 Tatranská Polianka, Slovakia
Telephone: +421-52-4425261
E-mail: mail(at)sliezskydom.sk

Sliezsky dom
photo: Lenka.H

Mountain chalets - Poland

Schronisko przy Morskim Oku (1410 m)

Schronisko przy Morskim Oku is situated in the Rybiego Potoku Valley by the Morskie Oko (Sea’ Eye). Chalet is opened all the year for hiking, climbing and ski mountaineering. There are two options the new hut (rather mountain hotel) and the old hut (this is cheaper). Hot shower is available. In the new building there's a restaurant, in the old there's a kitchen where you can cook your own food.

Access from:
1. Polana Palenica przed Morskim Okiem - red marked trail, 3 h
(in high season there are a lot of buses from Zakopane to Palenica, but in low season you can only depend on PKS - time table)
2. Schronisko w Dolinie Pięciu Stawów Polskich (Hut in Five Polish Lakes Valley)
- blue marked trail (by Swistówka), 1 h 40 min
- blue/yellow marked trail (by Szpiglasowa pass), 2 h 45 min
3. Chata pod Rysmi - red marked trail, crossing the Polish-Slovak border (since both countries joined the Schengen zone in Dec/2007, this is just a formality now), 4 h

Contact:
Schronisko przy Morskim Oku, skr. poczt. 201, 34-500 Zakopane, Poland
Telephone: +48/18/2077609

Morskie Oko Chalet
photo: Tomek Lodowy

Schronisko w Dolinie Roztoki (1031 m)

Schronisko w Dolinie Roztoki is situated by mouth Roztoki Valley to Białej Wody (Bielovodská) Valley. Chalet is opened all the year for hiking, climbing and ski mountaineering, but in winter time it’s better to phone earlier.

Access from:
1. Polana Palenica przed Morskim Okiem – red/green marked trail, 1 h
(in high season there are a lot of buses from Zakopane to Palenica, but in low season you can only depend on PKS - time table)
2. Schronisko w Dolinie Pięciu Stawów Polskich (Hut in Five Polish Lakes Valley) - green marked trail, 2 h
3. Schronisko przy Morskim Oku - red marked trails, 1 h 30 min

Contact:
Schronisko w Dolinie Roztoki, skr. poczt. 200, 34-500 Zakopane, Poland
Telephone: +48/18/2077442

Schronisko w Dolinie Pięciu Stawów Polskich (1670 m)

Schronisko w Dolinie Pięciu Stawów Polskich (in the Five Polish Lakes Valley) is opened all the year for hiking, climbing and ski mountaineering. Rooms for 4-10 persons per room. Shower (cold) and toilet (standing) is inside the building. There's a busy kitchen with good food for reasonable prices, hot water is available from here. For cooking you own meal there's a separate tourist kitchen.

Access from:
1. Polana Palenica przed Morskim Okiem – red/green marked trail, 3 hours
(in high season there are a lot of buses from Zakopane to Palenica, but in low season you can only depend on PKS - time table)
2. from Gąsienicowa Valley – there are a lot of trails and variants (check on map)
3. Schronisko przy Morskim Oku:
- blue marked trail (by Swistówka), 1 h 40 min
- yellow/blue marked trail (by Szpiglasowa pass), 4 h

Contact:
Schronisko w Dolinie Pięciu Stawów Polskich, skr. poczt. 196, 34-500 Zakopane, Poland
Telephone: +48/18/2077607

Five Polish Lakes' Chalet
photo: peterbud

Schronisko Murowaniec (1500 m)

Schronisko Murowaniec is situated in Gąsienicowa Valley. Chalet is opened all the year for hiking, climbing and ski mountaineering, but in winter time it’s better to phone earlier and reserve place – it’s very popular ski area.

Access from:
1. Kuźnice (there are a lot of buses from Zakopane to Kuźnice)
- blue marked trail (by Boczań), 2 h
- yellow/blue marked trail (by Jaworzynka Valley), 2 h
2. Schronisko w Dolinie Pięciu Stawów Polskich (Hut in Five Polish Lakes Valley) - there are a lot of trails and variants (check on map)

Contact:
Schronisko Murowaniec, skr. poczt. 193, 34-500 Zakopane, Poland
Telephone: +48/18/2012633, +48/18/8016176
E-mail: murowaniec(at)e-tatry.pl

Murowaniec Chalet
photo: Tomek Lodowy

Maps

Compiled by peterbud with help from jck and palic

Slovak: VKÚ Harmanec produces high quality maps in scales 1:25 000 and 1:50 000 that are available at all chalets and shops in cities under Vysoké Tatry (most of them are only with Slovakian description, although legends are also in English and German)

Polish #1: PPWK-Copernicus' Tatry Wysokie in scale 1:20 000 (ISBN 978-83-7329-992-44) - description in 4 languages

Polish #2: Sygnatura-Polkart's Tatry Wysokie in scale 1:25 000 (ISBN 83-87873-26-8) - description in 6 languages, available in all shops in Zakopane, also has an online version

Online map with tourist paths in Slovakia in coopearation with VKÚ Harmanec

Hungarian: Szarvas-Faragó's Magas Tátra in scale 1:30 000 (ISBN: 9789632148120) - Hungarian toponimes also presented besides the Slovak and Polish ones, hiking trails are classified according to difficulty

Online map with Slovak and Hungarian toponimes

Online sketches of several areas in the High Tatras

Ortophoto map (1:15 000) by the Czech firm Geodis

Very detailed online sketch of the High Tatras - recommended to look at

If you like vintage maps, several of those are accessible at this site, along with a dozen of panoramic maps

Mountain Rescue

Slovakia

On the Slovak side acts HZS:

Horská Záchranná Služba
Starý Smokovec 23, 059 60 Vysoké Tatry
tel.: 052/4422820, fax: 052/4422855, mobil: 0903624869
e-mail: vtatry(at)hzs.sk
www.hzs.sk

Poland

On the Polish side acts TOPR:

Tatrzanskie Ochotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe
adress: 34-500 Zakopane, ul.Pilsudskiego 63a
tel.: (+48)(18) 2014731 fax : (+48)(18) 2015560
e-mail: topr(at)topr.pl
www.topr.pl
rescue phone: (+48) 601-100-300

Avalanche danger

Avalanche forecast Slovakia

Avalanche forecast Poland (in English)

Avalanche by Popradský hrebeň, February 2005.
photo: peterbud

A frequent place of rescue actions: Orla Perć ferrata
photo: Gorzi

Weather

Actual weather

Online weather information from AccuWeather (idea borrowed from Nanuls):

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar | Hurricane Center

Please note that these are data for villages at the feet of the mountains, they're good to get a general feeling of what's around. In the high regions the situation may be quite different.

Actual weather on the Slovak side (situation at this moment) from HZS website.

Web forecast

On the Slovak side: on HZS website and from Slovak meteorological office

On the Polish side: English version (fancy, with charts) and Polish version (ordinary forecast table)

Publications

Compiled by peterbud with help from Tomáš Krištofóry and jck

The following list introduces some of the most important publications about the High Tatras (in chronological order), but it is far from complete. A more in-depth essay of the High Tatra's literature can be found here in Hungarian.