An In-Depth Look at the Five Polish Ponds Valley

22nd August 2024

Fully-booked car parks, a touch of mass tourism, and the enchanting beauty of the mountains—join us on our early morning hike to the Five Polish Ponds Valley. The journey brought some conflicting feelings: while the scenery is truly breathtaking, the trail suffers from its own popularity, and the crowds along the trail can take away from the peace we hope to find in nature. Still, it remains one of the best hikes in the area and is definitely worth checking out. Come along as we navigate the ups and downs of this memorable trip.

General Info

The trail

Length: 15.8km
Elevation gain: 792m
Route type: Out & back

The hike to the Five Polish Ponds Valley takes you through the heart of the Tatra Mountains. The area is located in Southern Poland, near the Slovakian border.

The Five Polish Ponds, known as “Pięć Stawów Polskich” in Polish, consist of five glacial lakes. These lakes are:

1. Staw Polski: The largest and most well-known of the five lakes.
2. Staw Biały: Known for its distinctive blue-green color.
3. Staw Czarny: The smallest of the lakes, named for its darker waters.
4. Staw Wysoki: Located at a higher elevation, offering stunning views.
5. Staw Niżni: The lowest of the five, providing a more tranquil setting.

The Tatra Mountains are also home to the famous Morskie Oko Lake. While we skipped this destination, it’s definitely possible to include it in your hike to the Five Polish Ponds. Here’s an example of a route that encompasses both.

Parking options

The main parking area is located in in Palenica Białczańskan. You can buy tickets online here, which is highly recommended especially during peak season. The price for a car is 36 PLN (~8,10€), but may vary. Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis, so even if you have purchased a ticket in advance it’s advisable to arrive early in the morning, especially during peak tourist seasons. For the record, when we arrived at 6.15 am in August, the parking already looked like this…

Another option is to park in Łysa Polana, located about 1,5km before Palenica Białczańska. There are shuttle buses (that typically charge a small fee, so have some cash ready) to Palenica Białczańska from here.

Entrance fee

Like most Polish national parks, Tatra National Park charges an admission fee. The fee is 8PLN (approximately 1.80€) per adult and 4PLN (0.90€) for students, children and seniors.

Best time to visit

For hiking to the Five Ponds Valley, the best times to visit are late spring or early autumn. These seasons help you avoid the summer crowds and offer a more peaceful experience. Just be sure to check the weather for snow conditions, as snow on the path could make hiking conditions more challenging.

About the hike

Starting the hike

This hike is definitely for early birds – especially during summer! The popularity of the trail is immense, and we mean immense. Expect full parking lots before 7 AM and a sense of joining a hiking group for the first few kilometers, as you’ll be surrounded by many fellow hikers.

We spent the night at the picturesque Leharo camping in Slovakia, and were awakened by the alarm at 5 AM. After a quick breakfast and a 40-minute drive, we arrived at the parking area around 6:15 AM. We were far from the first to arrive; the vast parking lot was already more than half full. There was an excited and bustling atmosphere as people of all ages and fitness levels set off for their day’s adventure.

The first 3 kilometers are along an asphalt road and are relatively uneventful. You’ll share this stretch with many hikers heading to Morskie Oko. However, once you pass the waterfall, the paths diverge. Those continuing to Morskie Oko will stay on the asphalt, while the route to the Five Ponds Valley veers off into the forest, finally leaving the paved road behind.

Leaving the crowds behind

From this point on, the trail began to climb gradually. With so many people around, we decided to slow down and let the crowds pass us. As they moved on, the scene became much quieter, allowing us to truly appreciate our surroundings – the rivers, the purple flowers, the way the mist danced around the mountains, their peaks teasingly playing hike and seek with us. And the light! The early morning rays filtered through the trees, gently warming our skin and casting gorgeous colours on the trees, mountains and rivers around us. This alone made the early wake-up worth it!

Stop at the Siklawa Waterfall

The trail is generally well-marked. Around 6.5 kilometers in, the path is splitting: a black trail veers to the left, while a green trail continues straight. The black trail is shorter but steeper. We chose the green trail, which took us past the impressive Siklawa Waterfall, the largest waterfall in Poland. You can also opt to complete the hike in a loop, descending via a different path than the one you used to ascend.

Trail conditions

For the most part, the path is relatively well-maintained, but it does vary in difficulty. Some sections are steep and rocky, particularly around the Siklawa Waterfall and the final stretch before reaching the valley. These areas require careful footing, especially in wet or icy conditions. We found the descent more challenging than the ascent, and often had to use our hands to navigate the rocky terrain. Once you reach the Five Ponds Valley, the terrain becomes much less steep, offering more open views of the surrounding peaks. The trail winds along the valley floor, allowing you to explore the lakes and enjoy the alpine scenery. There is also a small café/restaurant here, though we didn’t check it out. From previous researches, they don’t offer vegan food, but you can always sit down for a drink.

Little friend we encountered on our way down

Use of horse-drawn carriages

On the trail, horse-drawn carriages taking visitors up to Morskie Oko are unfortunately a frequent sight. It saddened us to see so many people eagerly waiting in line for their turn, seemingly unaware or uncaring about the consequences for the well-being of the horses.

Conclusion

Would we recommend this hike? Yes, but if possible, try to avoid the peak season around July and August! The trail is really enjoyable, varied and offers beautiful viewpoints (hence its popularity). However, the large crowds can somewhat diminish the experience. We also saw pictures of the hike covered in snow, and it looked absolutely stunning! If you have the chance to visit in early spring (or even winter, if you’re up for it) and are experienced enough to handle snow and ice on a steep trail, it could be an unforgettable adventure!