The High Tatras Mountains are unquestionably the natural jewel of Slovakia, and one of Eastern Europe’s most breathtaking retreats for nature and hiking. Hidden within their imposing peaks is a world of untouched scenery and awe-inspiring views.
The High Tatras are a part of the Carpathians, a mountain range that sweeps primarily through Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, and Romania. Breaching the southern boarder of Poland, the High Tatras Mountains are the tallest segment of the Carpathians with elevations that reach to 2,655 meters at their highest peak, Gerlachovský štít.
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Hiking The High Tatras Mountains
During our recent visit to Slovakia, Sven and I did a bit of hiking in the Tatra National Park. Even in the beginning of October, we were still met with plenty of snow and ice on the trail. Our hike began at Štrbské Pleso, a beautiful glacial lake in the region of Vysoké Tatry with clear waters that reflect the sailing mountains beyond. There are many opportunity for hiking in in this area, and we decided to take the trail to Vodopád Skok, a 30 m tall waterfall that cascades between the rocky granite of Mlynická Valley. The trail, which is marked in yellow, continues past the waterfall and leads to a second glacial lake, Pleso nad Skokom. Hikers who are up for a bit more mountaineering can continue further to discover four more glimmering lakes on the trail – Nižné Kozie, Capie, Vyšné Wahlenbergovo, and Nižné Wahlenbergovo. After we reached the base of Vodopád Skok, Sven and I decided to hike back since the weather conditions were becoming ever-more difficult and neither of us were really equipped with proper ice trekking gear. I certainty would have liked to hike further if we had been better prepared – the scenery was other-worldly stunning! Having started out on the opposite side of Štrbské Pleso at the Grand Hotel Kempinski, the round-trip hike to Vodopád Skok took us about 4 hours in total.
Check out this link for info on other hiking trails in the area – Top 5 Best Hikes in The High Tatras.
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Vysoké Tatry
The Vysoké Tatry region is at the feet of the High Tatras Mountains, offering the best accessibility to hiking, outdoor sports, lodging, and major resorts in the area. In Vysoké Tatry, you can access everything you need for your time in the mountains while enjoying some breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks. From the country’s capital, Bratislava, it take around 4 hours to reach Vysoké Tatry by auto.
Visit Slovakia’s High Tatras Mountains
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