We knew hiking in Slovakia was going to be amazing but we had no idea that it was going to blow us away the way it did. You’ll see some of the most beautiful nature imaginable. From alpine lakes, waterfalls, streams, and crazy rocky mountains the High Tatras have it all.
In this post, we want to share three hiking trails that will give you a feel for what Slovakia has to offer.
These are 3 hikes we did that we absolutely recommend and want to share with you. From the hiking trails, how to get there, distance, time, and anything else related to these hikes in the High Tatras we got you covered.
You may also like…
- A beautiful Hike to Cascading Waterfalls in Slovakia’s High Tatras
- A Wonderful Alpine Lake Hike in Slovakia’s High Tatras
- A Stunning Hike to a Beautiful Cottage in Slovakia’s High Tatras
- The Ultimate Hiking Checklist for Beginners
3 hikes in the High Tatras that will make your jaw drop
Hiking in the High Tatras is very similar to hiking in the Canadian Rockies. The only difference is that most of the hiking trails in the High Tatras are accessible by public transport. This is great for someone taking the train to Poprad and doing a weekend trip exploring the Tatras. Now, let’s get to it!
#1 Sliezsky Dom Trail
Practical information about Sliezsky Dom in the High Tatras
Distance: 12.3 km return / 7.64 miles return
Elevation: 646 m / 2120 ft. elevation gain
Type: Out and back
Length: 4-6 hours return
Difficulty: Moderate (Because of the length and elevation)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Click here to see a map of the beginning of Sliezsky Dom Trail
Sliezsky Dom was the first hike we did in the High Tatras and maybe our favorite. If you’re looking for some epic nature then this is your hike. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a full afternoon hike where you can spend time taking pictures and enjoy the top where the famous alpine lake next to Sliezsky Dom lies!
Located in the High Tatras, Sliezsky Dom trailhead is easily accessible if you can take the train to Stary Smokovec which you can see here. One of the things we loved about hiking in the High Tatras was that you could take the train to all these little mountain towns where the hikes start.
The trickiest part about this hike is actually finding the hike since the signs and everything are in Slovakian. But once you get on the trail you’ll just follow the yellow marks for the majority of the hike and it will have “Sliezsky Dom” on all the signs.
How to get to Sliezsky Dom trailhead from Poprad
- If you’re in Poprad then it will be about a 25-minutes train ride to Stary Smokovec. You can see more information on the train to Stary Smokovec here.
- Here’s a map of where to go from Stary Smokovec to the Sliezsky Dom Trailhead.
- Here’s a Google Map version in case you don’t have MapyCZ.
How to get from the train to the trailhead
- Make sure you get off at the Stary Smokovec train stop.
- Head west (left) as soon as you get off the train.
- You will follow the main road west for a few minutes.
- You will turn right after Penzion Vila Jedla.
- You’ll continue on this road for a few minutes until you see a path.
- There will be a little pipe that looks like a tiny waterfall.
- Once you’ve found that, you’ll be on the right track and then you can follow the signs.
- You can follow MapyCZ or Google Maps directions as well! =)
Once you’re on the trail you’ll get a feel for how most hikes in the High Tatras look. Since most hikes don’t actually start at the foot of the mountains you will have some trails through the forest for the first hour or so before you start getting really exposed to the mountains and out of the trees.
Once you get out of the trees the real beauty of Slovakia’s gorgeous mountains starts to come to life. You’ll see the sheer magnitude of the mountains around you.
The main reason we chose Sliezsky Dom was because of the gorgeous alpine lake that lays in the valley next to Sliezsky Dom hotel. Up next to the lake you can get some awesome pictures with the waterfall in the background!
We spent some time walking around the lake and taking cool pictures with the mountains and lake. It was a no brainer to choose this hike. The views at the top were simply amazing and we hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we did.
#2 Zelene Pleso Trail
Practical information about Zelene Pleso in the High Tatras
Distance: 21.2 km return / 13.17 miles return
Elevation: 718 m / 2356 ft. elevation gain
Type: Out and back or loop
Length: 7-9 hours return
Difficulty: Hard (It’s long and can get very exhausting)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Click here to see a map of the beginning of the Zelene Pleso Trail
Zelene Pleso was the longest hike we did in the High Tatras. This is a long full day hike so plan for Zelene Pleso if you have a full day that you can devote to hiking.
We recommend doing this hike on a warm sunny day because it is a long hike and much more pleasant when the weather is better. The weather can change quite quickly in the High Tatras and you don’t want to be stuck a few hours from town when it’s pooring.
Located in the High Tatras, the Zelene Pleso trailhead is easily accessible if you take the bus to Tatranska Lomnica which you can find here. It’s awesome how convenient it is to get to all these towns from Poprad. You can also take the train but the bus was 25 minutes instead of the train which was 50 minutes.
Once you’re in Tatranska Lomnica the trailhead isn’t too hard to find. As long as you find the signs and get on the right trail then you’ll have no problems getting to the trailhead. It is quite close to the bus stop which is nice. You’ll be in the forest in no time!
How to get to Zelene Pleso trailhead from Poprad
- If you’re in Poprad then it will be about a 20 minutes bus ride to Tatranska Lomnica. You can see more information on the bus to Tatranska Lomnica here.
- Here’s a MacyCZ map of where to go from Tatranska Lomnica to the Zelene Pleso Trailhead.
- Here’s a Google Map version in case you don’t have MapyCz.
How to get from the station to the trailhead
- Make sure you get off at the Tatranska Lomnica train stop.
- Head north (up the hill) as soon as you get off the train.
- You will get to a main road where you’ll see a park.
- At the park, there will be a sign with different trails and hikes.
- You’ll follow the green trail for about 5 minutes through the park until you get to a parking lot.
- From there you will follow the trail for Zelene Pleso which is the green trail.
- You can follow MapyCZ or Google Maps directions as well! =)
If you’re looking for a full day hike in the High Tatras then Zelene Pleso is your hike! This hike has it all and you will find yourself deep in the High Tatra mountains but be prepared for the distance of this hike. The hike itself is 21km / 13 miles long so just by that, you can tell it will be a long day.
Even though it’s a long and gruelling, hike the views from Zelene Pleso are well worth it.
It feels like hours that you will be hiking in the forest but as soon as you come out you’ll be welcomed to this beautiful landscape. From there Zelene Pleso is only a short walk away and the beautiful crystal clear lake awaits you.
The cool thing about Zelene Pleso is that there’s this awesome little cottage right next to the lake where you can get drinks and even food to eat. The main floor is a little restaurant and the upstairs is an accommodation for guests who stay the night at Zelene Pleso.
We enjoyed a nice lunch at the lake and then walked around and admired the landscape. The mountains around the lake are so extreme and feel so powerful.
It’s such a cool spot and you’re just going to have to feel it for yourself. It’s simply magical. So even though it feels like a long hike it’s 100% worth it.
#3 Hrebienok Waterfall Trail
Practical information about Hrebienok and the waterfalls
Distance: 6.6 km return / 4.1 miles return
Elevation: 349 m / 1145 ft. elevation gain
Type: In and out
Length: 2.5-3 hours return (We took 4 hours including a picture and lunch break)
Difficulty: Moderate
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Click here to see a map of the beginning of the Hrebienok Trail
If you’re looking for a waterfall hike where you can get up and close to a cascading waterfall then Hrebienok is your hike to do in the High Tatras.
Hiking up to Hrebienok and the waterfalls is the shortest out of the three hikes and is doable in around 3 hours if you don’t stop for lunch. The waterfalls are beautiful and it’s worth hiking up to Hrebienok if you have a few hours in your day to explore the mountains.
Located in the High Tatras, Hrebienok is actually a ski hill during the winter. During the summer it makes up for some amazing hiking. It was the easiest hike out of the three and still offered beautiful nature throughout the hike.
The hike starts from the same town as Sliezsky Dom (the first hike mentioned in the post.) So you can take the train to Stary Smokovec which you can see here. From there you can follow the directions to the trailhead below.
How to get to Hrebienok trailhead from Poprad
- If you’re in Poprad then it will be about a 25 minutes train ride to Stary Smokovec (the same train stop as the hike to Sliezsky Dom). You can see more information on the train to Stary Smokovec here.
- Here’s a map of where to go from Stary Smokovec to Hrebienok and the waterfalls.
- Here’s a Google Map version in case you don’t have MapyCZ.
How to get from the train station to the trailhead
- Make sure you get off at the Stary Smokovec train stop.
- Head north (up the hill) as soon as you get off the train.
- You will get to a main road where you’ll see some signs.
- Look for Hrebienok. It will have a green trail sign next to it.
- Follow the green trail from there parallel to the train going up the mountain.
- You can follow MapyCZ or Google Maps directions as well! =)
The first part of the hike to Hrebienok is not too long. You will walk parallel to a train that goes up towards Hrebienok for most of the hike and once you’re up at the top you’ll see a little restaurant and a few small stands where you can buy food and drinks if you’re hungry.
From Hrebienok it’s only about 10-15 minutes to the beautiful cascading waterfalls. It’s the best part of the hike and we really wanted to get up close to some cool falls so that’s why we chose to do this quick and moderate hike. The first two hikes also have waterfalls but far in the distance.
Enjoy the views from the top and then hike the extra few minutes down towards the lookout where you will get even more great views of the cascading waterfalls.
Before you go hiking in the High Tatras
Always check the weather forecast before you go. We figured out that one of the most dangerous things about hiking in the High Tatras is that the weather can change quickly…Especially on the longer hikes.
The weather was calm and sunny but then it ended up raining. We ended up getting soaked and Dom forgot his rain jacket. So don’t be like Dom! 😉
- Here is the weather forecast for Stary Smokovec.
- Here is the weather forecast for Tatranska Lomnica.
What to bring on the hikes
Even though the trails are really well maintained in the High Tatras we would recommend hiking boots for all three of these hikes. Some of the trails have big rocks all over them and it’s a lot more comfortable having a nice pair of hiking shoes instead of running shoes.
With that being said a small backpack with water, snacks, and some food should suffice. All three of these hikes do have places you can buy food if you need to. We also recommend you bring some extra layers and a rain jacket if there’s even the slightest chance of rain.
If there’s anything else you may be missing you can find it on this complete hiking checklist guide!
You may also like…
- A beautiful Hike to Cascading Waterfallsin Slovakia’s High Tatras
- A Wonderful Alpine Lake Hike in Slovakia’s High Tatras
- A Stunning Hike to a Beautiful Cottage in Slovakia’s High Tatras
- The Ultimate Hiking Checklist for Beginners
Enjoy these stunning hikes in the High Tatras
Well there you have it! Three very different hikes in terms of length and difficulty but all located in the same area in the High Tatras. They’re all great day hikes if you’re staying in Poprad or one of the local towns at the foot of the mountains.
We found a place in Poprad on Airbnb and found it super convenient to get to all the hikes from there. The public transport is great between Poprad and all the mountain towns where the hikes start.
So with all that we hope you enjoy these beautiful hikes in the High Tatras and just enjoy Slovakia’s beauty. For being such a small country it has remarkable nature.
Let us know which out of the three ends up being your favorite hike!
Have fun!
Dom & Jo
Red White Adventures
Love it? Share it!
