Tatra Mountains · Hard · Circular

Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich and Morskie Oko from Palenica Białczańska

The classic Tatra round: up the Roztoka valley to Wielka Siklawa and the Five Polish Lakes, over Świstówka to Morskie Oko and down the road.

Distance
20.3 km (12.6 mi)
Ascent
862 m
Time
About 7 h 30 min
High point
1,855 m
Grade
Hard

Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.

0 km5 km10 km15 km20 km1,830 m982 m
Move along the height chart to see each point on the map.
Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich and Morskie Oko from Palenica Białczańska
Olga Wierszko-Hoffmann · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The walk

From the car park at Palenica Białczańska, walk up the Morskie Oko road to Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza and turn right on the green path up the Dolina Roztoki, past the meadow of Nowa Roztoka. At the head of the valley the path climbs beside Wielka Siklawa, the highest waterfall in Poland, to Wielki Staw in the Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich (Valley of the Five Polish Lakes). Pass the PTTK hostel and take the blue path east, high over Świstówka Roztocka and down past Wolarnia to Morskie Oko. Return down the road.

It is 20.3 km with 862 m of ascent; allow about 7½ hours. The grade is Hard: a long day with steep, rocky climbs and descents.

The park closes the path over Świstówka Roztocka every year from 1 December to 15 May, and snow can lie on it before and after; the rocks by the waterfall are often wet. All Tatra paths are closed from dusk to dawn between 1 March and 30 November. Dogs are not allowed.

The car parks at Palenica Białczańska and Łysa Polana must be booked online: in 2026 a day cost 36 to 75 zł. The park entry ticket is 11 zł.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.

Good to know

  • Up the Roztoka valley to Wielka Siklawa, at about 70 m the highest waterfall in Poland, and the Five Polish Lakes
  • The hostel in the valley, at 1,671 m, is the highest in Poland
  • The path over Świstówka Roztocka to Morskie Oko is closed every year from 1 December to 15 May
  • The car park at Palenica Białczańska must be booked in advance

Summits on the way

  • Świstowa Czuba 1,763 m · passed close by
  • Świstowa Kopa 1,875 m · passed close by
  • Kępa 1,683 m · passed close by

Getting there

Start: Palenica Białczańska car park · Pay and display. 49.25600, 20.10305

Directions to the start

Places to stay nearby

Rooms in and around Tatra Mountains: Booking.com → Expedia →

Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.

Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.