Route to Morskie Oko
Town: 艁ysa Polana Nearby: Zakopane
stroller Route for stroller (small wheels)
restaurant Restaurant or bar nearby
accessible_forward The route is adapted to the needs of disabled people
warning No dogs allowed
Morskie Oko is the largest and most beautiful lake in the Polish Tatra Mountains, located in the upper part of the Rybi Potok Valley, at an altitude of 1,395 meters above sea level.
Morskie Oko - Trail, Access, and Parking
- The road to the lake is entirely asphalted and suitable for strollers.
- The entire trail is 8 km long with a 470 m elevation difference, and it takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes to reach the lake.
- The trail to Morskie Oko starts 20 km from Zakopane, near 艁ysa Polana.
- There is a paid parking lot (price: 30 PLN) at the beginning of the trail at 艁ysa Polana. During the season, it is necessary to purchase a ticket online. [Buy ticket here](https://tpn.pl/zwiedzaj/e-bilety)
- You can take a bus from the PKS station in Zakopane or from Krup贸wki street. [Bus schedule here](https://z-ne.pl/s,menu,1319,busy.html)
- The road is not illuminated, and it gets completely dark after sunset. The area is inhabited by wild animals!
Trail to Morskie Oko
The trail to Morskie Oko is a comfortable, wide, asphalt road with a gentle incline. It is the most popular tourist route in Poland! The entire trail is approximately 8 km long. You can also use horse-drawn carriages called 'g贸ralskie fasi膮gi' to reach W艂osienica, from where it takes about 20 minutes to walk to Morskie Oko.
Mickiewicz Waterfalls
On the trail (after about 50 minutes of walking), you will come across the Mickiewicz Waterfalls. The name of the waterfall comes from the sound of water hitting the rocky boulders. The waterfall is formed by the Roztoka stream flowing from the Five Lakes Valley.
Morskie Oko
In the past, all mountain lakes were supposedly called 'Morskie Oko' because it was believed that they were connected to the sea! People mistook the large tree trunks and branches floating in the lake for masts of sunken ships. Only when tourism in the Tatra Mountains developed further, each lake received its 'private name.' According to legends, 'Morskie Oko' had no bottom and was connected to the Adriatic Sea! It was also called 'Rybi Staw' (Fish Pond) because of the trout swimming in it. The water in the lake is clear, and you can easily see through it. Morskie Oko is one of the few Tatra ponds that is naturally stocked with fish.
There is a mountain hut and benches by the lake where you can rest after the hike and enjoy a warm meal. Especially during the summer season, due to the popularity of this place, it is advisable to make accommodation reservations well in advance.
Trail around Morskie Oko
You can go all the way around Morskie Oko! There is a trail that leads around the lake, and it takes about 50 minutes to complete. The path is rocky and not suitable for strollers but does not have steep inclines. From Morskie Oko, you can also hike to Czarny Staw pod Rysami, which is only 150 meters higher. There is a red trail that leads to it from the opposite shore of the lake. The ascent, although short, becomes steep and icy in autumn.
Medium
Trasa wok贸艂 Morskiego Oka
Deer and Cuckoos at Morskie Oko
The deer, accustomed to tourists, is not afraid of crowds and proudly poses for photos. Cuckoos are attracted to the people sitting on the benches near the mountain hut, enticed by bread crumbs. Please do not feed them or leave any food scraps!
Adventure to Morskie Oko - Children's App
Join us on a virtual trip to Morskie Oko and learn many interesting facts about the lake and the Tatra Mountains! Click and explore these extraordinary mountains through tasks and puzzles. [Adventure to Morskie Oko](https://szpiedzywiedzy.pl/morskie_oko)
Morskie Oko from Above
If you still have some energy and want to see Morskie Oko from above, it is worth hiking a bit higher on the trail towards Dolina pod Mnichem. The trail is rocky and not suitable for strollers, but it ascends gently, and the views are stunning! The yellow trail leading to Dolina pod Mnichem starts just before the mountain hut.
Lunch at the Hut in Dolina Roztoki
Right next to the Mickiewicz Waterfalls, there is a descent to the hut in Dolina Roztoki via a green trail (about 10 minutes from the main trail). You can stop by for a meal either on your way there or back. The mountain hut near Morskie Oko is usually crowded and has long waiting times, but it is much calmer here.
From Morskie Oko to Dolina Pi臋ciu Staw贸w
This is a more challenging but incredibly scenic hike! You will climb 500 meters uphill and then descend 300 meters to Dolina Pi臋ciu Staw贸w (Valley of Five Lakes). The trail itself does not present major difficulties. From Dolina Pi臋ciu Staw贸w, you can return to the asphalt trail leading to Morskie Oko via the exit near the Mickiewicz Waterfalls.
Difficult
From the Five Lakes Valley to Morskie Oko
Publish Date: 2021-08-02
Last Updated: 2022-05-22
More in the Region Zakopane (Zakopane)
Total Length 152 km
