Morskie Oko is a beautiful lake, located in the Tatra Mountains. The Tatra Mountains belong to Tatra National Park. The breathtaking National Park travels through two countries: Poland and Slovakia. Morskie Oko sits on the Polish side of Tatra National Park.
There are many different hikes you can do in Tatra National Park. However, the hike to Morskie Oko is easily the most popular choice! Why? Probably down to its accessibility! The walk to Morskie Oko is on a paved road. Therefore, you don’t particularly need good hiking footwear, navigation skills, or mountaineering experience. That being said, I do recommend you wear comfortable footwear and take the appropriate clothing. The walk isn’t a short hike, it’s long and it’s uphill all the way to the lake! The full route, out and back, is 11 miles long……unless you catch the horse and carriage up!
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By Horse and Carriage
If you do not fancy hiking the full route to Morskie Oko, you can hop on the horse and carriage. It’s about a 1-hour ride up, and a 40-minute ride down. The ride will not take you all the way to the lake, just part of the distance. From where they drop you off, you will still have about a 20-minute walk to do.
At the time we visited, a ride up would cost you about 50 PLN, and 30 PLN to come back down. However, I have read you can barter the price.
The Hike
If you choose to hike all the way, allow yourself 5 hours to do the route. The full hike is around 11 miles long. It’s an easy, steady climb up to the lake. It can be done all year round. We hiked the route at the end of March and everywhere looked like a winter wonderland. It was beautiful!
If you are feeling adventurous, you can extend the walk from Morskie Oko. You can walk around the lake, or head up to the second lake, Czarny Staw Pod Rysami.
National Park Fees
To walk to Morskie Oko, you have to pay to enter Tatra National Park. You pay at the booth in the car park, where the walk starts from.
At the time we visited, a day ticket cost us 5 PLN each. Children under 7s go free. If you know you are going to be spending more time in the National Park, you can purchase a 7-day pass for 25 PLN.
Bears
The Tatra Mountains are home to the Brown Bear. The chances of you meeting one on this trail are very low. However, it is important to stay alert and aware of your surroundings. If you have a bear bell, it is recommended you carry one. This is just so you don’t accidentally startle one! But honestly, on this trail, you probably don’t need one! It is that busy with people! A bear bell is recommended more for the quieter trails.
Here’s an affiliate link to the bear bells I use: https://amzn.to/3MZmIqP
The bears aren’t aggressive here in the Tatra Mountains. They only attack if they feel threatened. If you do encounter one, act human! I know it may sound like a daft thing to say. Your natural instinct is to run, but by doing this, the bear will think you are prey. Instead, talk to the bear, stand still, and do anything that shows you are human. Once the bear understands you are a human, they should just walk away. Bears don’t have any interest in acting humans!
Food
You can either pack yourself some food or stop off at one of the two mountain huts for a bite to eat.
Please note, both mountain huts only take cash!
Toilettes
There are portacabins in the car park and about 2 miles into the trail. There are proper toilets at both mountain huts. However, they cost to use, so you need some cash on you!
Parking
For the Morskie Oko hike, park in the Palenica Bialczanska Car Park. When we visited, it cost us 39 PLN to park for the day.
During the peak summer season, this car park does get full! So I recommend getting there early to get a spot!
SatNav: 7443+C3 Åysa Polana
The Route
Follow this map, as you walk the route, you shouldnât get lost! Make sure your location is turned on and you should be able to see exactly where you are, on this map. Or if you prefer, download the GPX file and use it on your choice of route tracker.
We walked the trail anticlockwise!
1.
Starting in the Palenica Bialczanska Car Park, head south out of the car park, to the National Park ticket office. Here is where you purchase your National Park tickets.
2.
Once you have purchased your tickets, head past the safety boards, reading them as you walk by. You should then see the horse and carriages in front of you. Turn to your left-hand side, and follow the paved road.
3.
2-miles into your hike, still following the paved road, you should pass a beautiful waterfall on your right-hand side.
4.
Continue following the paved road as it winds up toward Morskio Oko. Shortly, you will see a footpath, signposted Morskio Oko, going steeply up through the trees. There are a few of these paths, which you can take, instead of going along the road. The paths miss out on small stretches of the road, making the distance of the hike a little shorter. It’s completely up to you which path you take!
5.
Eventually, you will see a mountain hut on your right-hand side selling food and drinks. This is where the horse and carriage stop. From here it’s a 20-minute walk to Morskio Oko.
6.
Continue along the paved road, until you reach Morskio Oko.
7.
If you are visiting in the winter months, there is a very high chance the lake will be frozen over, with a thick layer of snow on top. If it is safe to do so, you will be able to walk on Morskio Oko! What an experience it is to do so!
If you are visiting in the summer months, a walk around the edge of the lake is recommended for some great views!
8.
Once you have finished enjoying your time at Morskio Oko, head back down the paved road. Retrace your steps all the back down to the Palenica Bialczanska Car Park.
For more information on the Tatra Mountains and where to stay, please visit their website: https://www.zakopane.pl/en/tourist-area/tourism/tatra-mountains
Want to see what else there is to do in the area? Please check out some of my other blogs: Poland
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