Five Lakes Valley Trail

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Five Lakes Valley Trail: High Tatra Lakes Day Hike

Published 17 July 2025 Updated 5 June 2026

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Ranked #503 of 974

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HikeList Score

Five Lakes Valley Trail scored 80/100 on HikeList's trail-quality metrics.

Very Good

See score breakdownHide breakdown

Ideal length 55
Balanced challenge 100
Scenery & wildness 88
Varied terrain 94
Accommodation 66
Food & support 81
Path quality 80
Season flexibility 76

Computed from length, challenge, scenery & wildness, terrain variety, accommodation, food & support, path quality and season flexibility.

The Five Lakes Valley Trail is a 14 km moderate out-and-back day hike in Tatra National Park, southern Poland. Starting at Palenica Białczańska, the route climbs the Roztoka Valley to Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich, its five glacial tarns and the PTTK mountain hut at 1,670 m. Expect a sustained mountain ascent, rocky paths and stone steps near Siklawa waterfall. It suits fit hikers wanting a classic High Tatras lake walk that is generally quieter than the neighbouring Morskie Oko path.

Route Overview

The standard route starts and finishes at the Palenica Białczańska car park, around 30 minutes by road from Zakopane. From the trailhead, walk the tarmac access road used by the Morskie Oko horse-carts to Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza, where the green trail branches into the Roztoka Valley. The path climbs past the Roztoka PTTK hut approach and steepens on rocky steps beside Siklawa waterfall before reaching the Valley of the Five Polish Lakes and the PTTK hut. The listed route returns the same way. A popular longer variant continues towards Morskie Oko via the Świstówka path, but this page uses the basic 14 km out-and-back. Walkers based in Zakopane often pair it with other High Tatras classics such as the Giewont Summit Trail or the steeper Kościelec Trail.

Glacial landscape and Tatra walking history

Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich is a post-glacial High Tatras valley: its tarns fill basins carved into the granite massif by Ice Age glaciers. The valley sits above the Roztoka Valley, between the Orla Perć ridge to the north and Miedziane to the south. It lies within Tatra National Park, established in 1954 to protect this part of the range. The PTTK hut in the valley has long served hikers and climbers heading for the lakes, Zawrat, Krzyżne and the surrounding ridges.

Notable highlights

The five glacial tarns: Wielki Staw Polski, Przedni Staw Polski, Czarny Staw Polski, Mały Staw Polski and Zadni Staw Polski give the valley its name. They sit in a granite amphitheatre shaped by Ice Age glaciers.
Wielki Staw Polski (1,665 m): The Great Polish Lake is the deepest and longest tarn in the Tatra range, reaching about 79 m deep. It is the main lake reached by many walkers on the standard hike.
Siklawa waterfall: Poland’s largest waterfall drops around 70 m from the Five Lakes valley into the Roztoka Valley. The steep final climb passes close to it on stone and rocky sections.
PTTK mountain hut (1,670 m): Schronisko w Dolinie Pięciu Stawów is the highest tourist hut in the Polish Tatras. It offers meals, bunks by advance booking and access to routes towards Orla Perć, Zawrat and Krzyżne.
Roztoka Valley approach: Dolina Roztoki gives a quieter-feeling mountain approach after leaving the busy Morskie Oko road at Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza. Forest, cascades and rocky tread define the climb.

Challenges to expect

This is non-technical but not casual: the route gains about 700 m and includes a long, steady climb on rock, dirt, boulders and stone steps. The tarmac start can feel busy near Palenica Białczańska, while the upper valley is exposed to fast-changing High Tatras weather. Snow and ice can linger into early summer and return in autumn. Stay on marked trails; wild camping is not allowed in Tatra National Park. For more Polish mountain walking beyond the Tatras, the Karkonosze Ridge Trail in the Sudetes makes a contrasting high-level day out.

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Ranked #503 of 974

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