Tatra hiking trails in Slovakia – follow four colour marks not to get lost
Not to get lost, there are approximately 600 km of marked hiking trails in the national park High Tatras, TANAP, Slovakia. Trails have been chosen to guide to the most beautiful and interesting natural phenomena and still be safe.
They head to beautiful places such as Tatra chalets, waterfalls, tarns, several peaks and saddles though Tatra valleys so do not sit at home and go hike! You will certainly love it!
We bring you also some vocabulary because you can find it useful while hiking and it will help you to understand the guideposts:
- chalet – chata – [khata]
- valley – dolina – [doleena]
- tarn, lake – pleso – [plaeso]
- stream – potok – [potock]
- waterfall – vodopád – [vodopaed]
- ridge – hrebeň – [hraebaegn]
- saddle – sedlo – [saedlo]
- peak – štít – [shteet]
As a tourist you must strictly follow the rules of the Tatra national park. Also you must follow trails with marks on rocks and trees. These marks have a square shape (10 cm x 10 cm). It consists of three horizontal lines.
The middle one is colourful (yellow, red, blue, green) and the bottom and upper one is white. You always follow the same colour on your route.
Red Mark
Red mark is used for ridges. The longest and the most famous red marked hiking trail is called Tatranská magistrála, the main hiking trail.
It crosses whole High Tatras in approximately the same altitude and starts in Podbanské in the west and ends in Veľké Biele pleso in the east. Its length is 46.25 km and it is divided into five sections:
- Podbanské – Tri Studničky – Jamské pleso – Štrbské pleso (3.45 h)
- Štrbské pleso – Popradské pleso – sedlo pod Ostrvou – Batizovské pleso – Sliezsky dom (4.45)
- Sliezsky dom – Hrebienok (1.15, way back 2.05)
- Hrebienok – Obrovský vodopád – Zamkovského chata – Skalnaté pleso (2.15)
- Skalnaté pleso – sedlo pod Svišťovkou – Chata pri zelenom plese – Veľké Biele pleso (3.15)
Blue Mark
Blue mark is used for long-distance trails. These include e.g.:
trails to: Kriváň
Popradské pleso
Slavkovský štít
Green Mark
Green mark is used for trails that guide you to other trails. They are used for accessing the upper parts and include e.g.:
To: Kriváň
Hrebienok and Téryho chata
Chata Plesnivec and Veľké Biele pleso
Yellow Mark
Yellow marked trails connect trails of different colours and include e.g.:
from:
– Mlynická dolina to Furkotská dolina, though saddle Bystrá lávka
– Téryho chata to Zbojnícka chata though saddle Priečne sedlo
– Jahňací štít
There are also guideposts with approximate times to another guideposts or final destinations. Way up is more difficult and longer, way down is quicker and it can also differ from your own tempo. Times do not include time for breaks or taking pictures.
Moreover, there are several informational boards on the trails, they present information about fauna, flora, geology and history of the park. You can stop by and learn new information.
Trails itself
There are two types of trails. Ones are from asphalt for cyclists and serve for easier supply by car. However, no cars, except TANAP ones or with the permission of The State forests of TANAP are allowed on the area of the park the other trails are natural – from rocks, roots with streams and small bridges above bigger ones.
Tatry bez bariér
Lately, a project Tatry bez bariér (Tatras without barriers) has made Tatras accessible also for disabled. More than 30 km in 8 trails are prepared. These are suitable also for families with prams, e.g.:
- Popradské pleso from station of tatra electric railway Popradské pleso
- Hrebienok from Starý Smokovec
- to gamekeeper’s lodge in Bielovodská dolina
Some trails are easier thanks to funicular or cable car.
funicular – Starý Smokovec – Hrebienok
cable cars: – Tatranská Lomnica – Štart – Skalnaté pleso
– Skalnaté pleso – Lomnický štít
– Skalnaté pleso – Lomnické sedlo
Rocks have been organized to paths or stairs to help you walk. Some places are too steep and equipped with chains to help you go up and down. Therefore, some saddles or narrow crossings are possible, recommended to pass only one way. Do not be afraid because you will be informed before reaching them.
Beware because some trails are closed from the 1st November to 15th June cause of your safety in winter (ice and avalanches) and for safety of animal offspring and protection of nature.
List:
- Tichá dolina from hut Tábor – yellow marked trail
- Kôprová dolina from Kmeťov vodopád – blue marked trail
- Kriváň from gamekeeper’s lodge Tri studničky – green marked trail
- Kriváň from crossing near Jamské pleso – blue marked trail
- Furkotská dolina from Chata pod Soliskom – blue marked trail
- Furkotská dolina from crossing on Tatranská magistrála – yellow marked trail
- Mlynická dolina from waterfall Skok – yellow marked trail
- Mengusovská dolina from crossing above Žabí potok – blue marked trail
- Rysy from crossing above Žabí potok – red marked trail
- Velická dolina from Velické pleso – green marked trail
- Veľká Studená dolina from Zbojnícka chata – blue and yellow marked trail
- Malá Studená dolina from Téryho chata – green and yellow marked trail
- Veľká Svišťovka from Huncovská vyhliadka – red marked trail
- Veľká Svišťovka from Zelené pleso – red marked trail
- Jahňací štít from Zelené pleso – yellow marked trail
- Kopské sedlo from Biele sedlo – blue marked trail
- Zadné Meďodoly from gamekeeper’s lodge Pod Muráňom – blue marked trail
- Javorová dolina from crossing Pod Muráňom – green marked trail
- Bielovodská dolina from Biela voda – blue marked trail
- Symbolic cemetery below Ostrva – yellow marked trail
In this period, winter marks are used – tall posts marked with colours, you can hike only up to the level of Tatra chalets, except the Chata pod Rysmi (Chalet below the peak Rysy).
All accessible trails are marked with colours. Ways to other upper destinations and peaks are accessible only with a booked mountain guide or if you are a climber. The most famous one is probably to Gerlachovský štít.
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