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OPTION
1 Morskie Oko & Czarny Staw pod Rysami Start: Włosienica, 4,298 ft Destination: Czarny Staw pod Rysami End: Włosienica, 4,298 ft Estimated time: 3-4 hours, round trip Elevation gain: Gain of 886 feet; loss of 886 feet Highest point: Czarny Staw, 5,184 ft Total distance: About 4 miles, round trip « Along the shores of Morskie Oko en route to Czarny Staw. |
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| Morskie Oko is one of the most beautiful high country lakes in the Tatras. At one time, it was possible to drive to within a stone’s throw of the lake, but national park officials have, for a variety of reasons, closed the road to general traffic at a place called Palenica Białczańska, about 5.5 miles from the lake. From Palenica Białczańska, a horse-drawn wagon will carry you up the Dolina Rybiego Potoku, or “Fish Brook Valley,” to Włosienica. The valley is beautiful and green, and you’ll enjoy occasional views of the surrounding high peaks. From Włosienica, where the wagons turn around, continue on foot up the paved road for about one mile to the lake. At the north end of Morskie Oko is the Schronisko Morskie Oko. This mountain refuge is run by the PTTK (Polskie Towarzystwo Turystyczno Krajoznawcze), which translates as the Polish Tourism and Nature Lovers’ Association. Refreshments can be obtained here, but the refuge is often very crowded. From the Schronisko Morskie Oko, descend the steps to the lakeshore and turn left along the red-blazed trail. A stone-paved path leads along the shore to the south end of the lake where the trail begins its ascent to Czarny Staw pod Rysami, which lies in a basin above Morskie Oko. In about 50 minutes to 1 hour from the Schronisko Morskie Oko, you’ll reach Czarny Staw from where you’ll enjoy wonderful views over Morskie Oko. Retrace your steps and descend to Morskie Oko. Once you reach the shores of the lake you can turn right to return to the schronisko the way you came, or turn left to complete a circumnavigation of Morskie Oko—it’s about the same distance either way. | |||
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OPTION 2 Valley of the Five Polish Lakes (Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich) Start: Włosienica, 4,298 feet Destination: Loop hike into the Valley of the Five Polish Lakes End: Palenica Białczańska, 3,215 ft Estimated time: About 6-7 hours Elevation gain: Gain of 1,673 feet; loss of 2,756 feet Highest point: 5,971 ft (Ridge above Morskie Oko) Total distance: About 8.1 miles « View of Przedni Staw and Wielki Staw in the Five Lake basin. |
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| This long, but supremely scenic hike takes you into the finest high alpine lake basin in the Polish Tatras—a never-to-be-forgotten hike! Follow the description for Option 1 until a point about half a kilometer from Morskie Oko. At this point, the blue-blazed trail leaves the paved road on the west side and begins a steady ascent to the ridge crest dividing the Fish Brook Valley (Dolina Rybiego Potoku) from the Valley of the Five Polish Lakes (Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich). The route ascends through more or less open slopes and through groves of dwarf pines. The trail is frequently paved with large stones fashioned into steps on steeper portions of the trail. The trail crosses the ridge high on the southeast slope of the Valley of the Five Polish Lakes, and the view of the lakes from this vantage point is stunning. The trail descends to the Schronisko Pieciu Stawów on the shores of Przedni Staw (“Front Lake”). Refreshments are sometimes available here. An almost level, one kilometer walk up-valley from the schronisko brings you to Wielki Staw (“Great Lake”) at 5,463 feet (1,665 m), the largest of the several tarns in the valley. From here, descend via the green trail past the Wielka Siklawa which at 230 feet is the highest waterfall in the Tatras. The green trail continues down the Dolina Roztoki striking the route to Morskie Oko at the Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza (“Mickiewicz’s water thunderclap”), a series of waterfalls only some of which can be seen from the path. From here, it’s about 2 miles to the parking lot at Palenica Białczańska. | |||
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Hiking Holidays, Inc. |
Valley
of the Five Polish Lakes, Polish Tatras. 
