Hiking in High Tatras

Day trip from Poprad

• Hrebienok to Zamkovského Chata
• Other hikes in High Tatras

There are several beautiful hikes in the High Tatras, located about a 20-minute drive from Poprad. We chose to hike the Hrebienok to Zamkovského Chata trail. Chata translates to mountain hut. Here are a few things to know about this hike:

• The trail starts at Hrebienok, which can be reached via the funicular from Starý Smokovec. The funicular runs every 30 minutes, and a round-trip ticket costs €14. The last ride down from Hrebienok is at 6:30 p.m. If you’d rather skip the funicular, you can also hike up to Hrebienok from Starý Smokovec.
• From Hrebienok, the hike to Zamkovského Chata is 2.2 miles (3.5 km) one way, with an elevation gain of approximately 1,024 feet (312 m). We found it to be moderately challenging. Much of the trail is covered with uneven stones, so you’ll need to watch your footing to avoid twisting an ankle. We had to keep looking down at the trail, which slowed us down a bit.
• The hike takes you past three gorgeous waterfalls and 2 cute Chatas or mountain huts along the route. It took us a little over two hours to reach Zamkovského Chata because we stopped at each waterfall and took several additional breaks to admire the stunning High Tatras scenery.
• Chata is the Slovak word for a mountain hut. At Zamkovského Chata, you can enjoy a variety of hot meals and soups. We had the vegan lentil soup, which was especially satisfying after the hike.

Finding the funicular station wasn’t very straightforward as it cannot be seen from the road, and it took us a while to locate it. After driving up and down the road a few times, we finally found it. The funicular station is located across from the Grand Hotel and near the Church of the Immaculate Conception (Kostol Nepoškvrneného Počatia Panny Márie). This beautiful neo-Gothic wooden church was built in 1888 in an Alpine style and features distinctive half-timbered construction and intricate carved wooden details. Although it is an active Roman Catholic parish and is often closed to visitors outside of service hours, you can usually admire its beautiful interior through the door windows.

We took the funicular to Hrebienok, where you’ll find a restaurant, café, gift shop, and restrooms. The area was not crowded, and we began our hike right away. Just a few minutes along the trail, you’ll reach Bilíkova Chata, the first mountain hut on the route.

As you continue along the trail, you’ll reach the first of several cascading waterfalls Dlhý vodopád in about 15 minutes or less. Reaching it requires a short three-minute detour from the main trail, but the beautiful views make the extra walk well worth the effort. Approximately 8 minutes later, you’ll come to the second waterfall, Veľký vodopád.

We reached the bridge and spent some time soaking in the breathtaking views of the valley and the powerful Obrovský vodopád (Giant Waterfall). As we continued along the trail, we passed Malé vodopády, a series of smaller cascading waterfalls, before finally reaching Zamkovského Chata.

At the mountain hut, we enjoyed a warm bowl of vegan lentil soup with fresh bread. It was flavorful, hearty, and exactly what we needed after the climb. Refueled and refreshed, we began our return hike. Since we retraced the same route and didn’t stop for photos or breaks, the hike back to Hrebienok took us about 90 minutes.

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Other hikes in High Tatras –

• Štrbské Pleso to Vodopád Skok Waterfall (3.5 hrs return) – A moderate, scenic trail leading to a dramatic waterfall in Mlynická Valley.
• Strbské Pleso Lake Loop – An easy, leisurely walk around the beautiful glacial lake at Štrbské Pleso, offering stunning mountain views and plenty of photo opportunities.
• Štrbské Pleso to Veľké Hincovo Pleso (approximately 3 hours one way) – A longer hike through beautiful forests and rugged alpine terrain to the largest and deepest mountain lake in the High Tatras. Along the way, you can stop at Chata pri Popradskom Plese for snacks, drinks, or a warm meal before continuing the climb.

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