High Tatras Hiking: The Greatest Hut To Hut trek No One Knows About

When it comes to mountain adventures, Europe has a lot more to offer than just the Alps. Obviously we love the Alps, but sometimes it’s nice to do something different. One of those mountain gems is the High Tatras. Straddling the border of Poland and Slovakia, this small but spicy mountain range is one of the best kept secrets in Europe. In terms of altitude it’s fairly modest, with the highest peak Gerlachovský štít at 2655m. But if you look at these mountains they seem much higher due to their alpine characteristics. The bare, spiky peaks are plastered in snow most of the year and are a true climber’s paradise. Small lakes with crystal clear water can be found all over the range and the lower slopes are covered in thick forest.

The High Tatras have been an outdoor playground for the region since the early 20th century and trails and huts were built to accommodate outdoor enthusiasts. Not much has changed and the Tatras are gaining popularity each year. These days the huts are modernized, trails have been improved in terms of safety and in some places cable cars can take you higher up the mountain. The High Tatras are compact and easy to reach, which adds to the lure to go for a hut to hut trek in these stunning mountains.

The High Tatras is located in Central Europe. It is part of the Carpathian Mountains that stretches from Serbia to Czechia and forms the very western edge of this vast mountain range. The High Tatra mountains are shared by the countries Poland and Slovakia. Our focus is the Slovakian side of the Tatras. The main town of the High Tatras in Slovakia is Poprad, which sits right at the southern base of the mountains. It is close to a number of cities, of which Krakow (Poland) and Košice (Slovakia) are the closest. Both cities have well-served airports and it’s easy to get to Poprad by public transport and car.

By car

From Košice it’s only 113 km (1 hour) driving on a motorway. From Krakow it takes over 2 hours and 30 minutes, as the (scenic) road crosses the mountains and the international border.

By public transport

A direct train leaves Košice several times a day for Poprad and only takes 1 hour and 20 minutes. From Krakow you take the direct Flixbus that takes 3 and a half hours.

Whether you go hut-to-hut trekking in the Alps or in the mountain ranges of Central Europe, the season generally falls within the same months. Between mid-June and the end of September, the trails are mostly snow-free and you can reach the huts well. Because Ryse is a relatively high peak, snow can be found here for longer. As this is a return hike from the Popradské Pleso hut, you may be hindered by snow up to the end of June and you may have to return without reaching the summit.

Summers in Slovakia are generally warm with pleasant temperatures at altitude and plenty of sunshine. However, like most mountain ranges, the High Tatras are unpredictable and the weather can easily change. One day you can enjoy a sunny day, the next day you may get torrential rains. Usually, the weather builds up in the afternoon, so if you start your stage early, you may be able to avoid bad weather. Do make sure you bring your waterproofs!

If you’re into snow shoeing and mountaineering, the High Tatras are excellent and some of the huts stay open for winter.

The terrain in the upper parts of the High Tatras is considered a high alpine environment. This doesn’t mean you need mountaineering equipment, but you will encounter steep trail sections and rocky paths. If you would have to make a comparison, you could compare it to the Palaronda Trek in the Dolomites and the Tour des Muverans in the Swiss Alps. These are all classified as T3, and may not be ideal as your first hut to hut trek. Having said this, the distances and vertical gain and loss are very manageable, so you can take your time for the harder parts. It’s usually short difficult sections rather than continuous hard terrain. If you’re up for a challenge, then this trek is definitely worth going for.