Tatra Mountains – Advice for trekking and huts in Slovakia and Poland

[Danny Milks]

Hey All – Our family (2 adults, 3 kids) is heading to Eastern Europe this summer and we plan on hiking in the Tatra Mountains. I’d appreciate any info from our BPL community on best hikes or huts to visit for 7-10 days in June. We are experienced ultralight backpackers and travelers. There are a few mentions of the Tatra Mountains in BPL, but no real info and nothing recent.  I’ll obviously be researching books, websites and blogs, but would also love to hear from you! TIA >

[Fredrick B]

Hi Danny, can’t speak comprehensively about each and it has been years, but the trail from the ski resort north of Poprad (Slovakia) to Chata Pod Rysmi (my favorite hut in the Tatras) allows you to summit Rysi, drop down to the chata in Morskie Oko (in Poland) then to the town of Zakopane. When I was there I made sure I had my passport but I’m not sure these days. Lots of exposure and those cool chains near the summits. Tons of trails with huts in those mountains.

[Danny Milks]

Fredrick – Thank you for the info. Yes, the Chata Pod Rysmi is one of the huts we were looking at. Ideally, we would do something similar – hike from Poland to Slovakia, staying at several huts along the way though, and then take public bus to the nearest town with rail service. What was your experience with the chains? Was it only on the route to the summit? I’m asking because we’ll have our three kids. They are very experienced hikers and travelers, but those chains might be too much for them (and me!). I can’t quite tell if we are able to avoid the summit if we’re merely hiking to the huts, and not looking to summit. Thanks for any additional info.

[Fredrick B]

Hi Danny, I don’t want to underestimate the exposure, but my recollection tells me it’s more like steep stairstep stuff, and almost primarily on the descent into Poland on that one. After Chata Pod Rysmi you summit Rysi, then the chains are just on the other side on the way down. They are not along routes cut into a cliff as much as they are jumbles of rock with exposure at select places. If it is any help we hiked it one time on a religious holiday and nuns in full regalia were going to the top! Rysi, the summit, is certainly optional unless you want to drop into Poland and get into Morskie Oko. Once on the Poland side there are many huts lower, not necessarily on the spine of the Tatras.

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