Rysy has finally been conquered!
Last year, we failed to reach Poland’s highest peak—Rysy at 2,499 meters above sea level—as warnings about dangerous lingering snow on the Tatra National Park’s website dissuaded us (me and my Son) from taking the risk. However, this year, I cleverly planned our trip to ensure no snow would impede our path.
The route was spectacular, taking just 11 hours and 13 minutes from entering to exiting the Tatra National Park at Łysa Polana. The weather was tailor-made; calm and sunny in the morning and cooler clouds arrived later in the day to temper our excitement and save us from getting sunburned. Seriously though, the weather was perfect—cool in the morning (we started at 6:20 AM) and mostly shaded as we ascended, making the climb quite pleasant.
This is not a tourist trail; it demands significant physical preparation as the path is challenging, predominantly consisting of stair-like ascents followed by sections with chains.
The path is narrow, and waiting in line for descending hikers was common. There were more people than I expected—pleasing on one hand, showing so many people’s love for the mountains, but surprisingly crowded for such a narrow, two-way trail on the other. Nonetheless, it was a leisurely hike for us; we took our time, enjoyed the stunning views, and watched our step. We met many wonderful fellow hikers along the way, enhancing our journey with good conversations.
I invite you to check out the gallery and the detailed route description below the photos for those interested in such an adventure!
We parked at Łysa Polana, on the Slovak side of the parking areas. The parking spots on the Polish side in the Tatra National Park (TPN) had been booked two days earlier. I couldn’t purchase a ticket because I didn’t know the registration number of the rental car. I paid 80 PLN for a full day of parking. A bus that charged 5 PLN took us to the TPN entrance at Łysa Polana; from there to the exit, the whole excursion lasted 11 hours and 13 minutes.
From the entrance to TPN to Morskie Oko, there’s a paved road about 7.5 km long—it takes roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes at a good pace. When you reach Morskie Oko, you turn left, and the red trail leads you to the stone steps up to Czarny Staw pod Rysami, which takes about 30 minutes. Here again, you turn left, circling the lake approximately halfway, and from there, the real ascent to Rysy begins—according to the signs, it’s about 3 hours and 50 minutes upward, via stone steps and then chains. The chains start a few dozen meters above the so-called “Bula pod Rysami” (2054 m above sea level) and will accompany you intermittently to the very peak. The Bula is a great spot for a rest and a snack, after which it gets crowded with people. At the very top—or rather, the peaks (Polish Rysy – 2499 m above sea level and Slovak Rysy – 2501 m above sea level)—there is not much space: quick photos, a video, and then a slow descent, often queuing at the chains. The descent can be quite exhausting for people with knee issues as the joints can be painful, so it’s worth stopping occasionally to fully breathe in the landscapes! For me, it’s always magical! It’s a pity that the photos are flat and do not convey this three-dimensional sense of space 🙁 Nevertheless, they are an unforgettable memento 🙂
until next time – my mountains … 🙂
