Rysy: Poland
General Information
Height: 8,212 ft or 2503 m
Difficulty: 3/4
Best Time To Climb: September; there are less tourists on the trail and the weather is stable, with a low chance of snow.
Length of Time to Climb: Approximately 6h 30min
Accomodation: There are many Hotels and Homestays in Zakopane, Poland.
Overview
Rysy is a mountain (and the highest point in Poland) found in the Tatra Mountains, which is located between the borders of both Poland and Slovakia.
Rysy actually has a total of three summits: the middle standing at 2,503 m (8,212 ft); the north-western at 2,499 m (8,199 ft); and the south-eastern at 2,473 m (8,114 ft). Even though the north-western summit is not the highest, it is actually the highest point in Poland as the other two summits are found on the Slovak side of the Mountain.
Due to this, there are 2 approaches to the summit of Rysy. The first, from Zakopane, Poland. During this hike, you will pass the wonderful Morskie Oko lake and is quite a challenging route; some previous hiking experience is needed.
The other route starts in Slovakia and is easier than its counterpart. You will hike from Štrbské Pleso and will never need to step on polish soil.
How to get there
Zakopane is the most convenient town to stay in when climbing Rysy and is easily accessible by plane, train, bus and car. It is an extremely popular town in Poland with tourists, especially during the summer months.
From Zakopane, it is fairly easy to reach the Rysy trail. You must get to the car park at Palenica Bialczanska, which is approximately a 30 minute drive. Please note: if traffic is bad this drive can take up to 2 hours.
The Route
Palenica to Morskie Oko: Approximately 2 hours
The first part of the hike takes you from Palenica to Morskie Oko. It is approximately 10km long with the occasional shortcut through the forest.
Earlier in the morning, this part of the hike is much more pleasant due to its emptiness. As you draw closer to Morskie Oko, the crowds begin to gather due to its popularity. The lake is simply stunning and it is easy to see why it’s been given its title as the most beautiful lake in Poland.
Morskie Oko to Czarny Staw pod Rysami: Approximately 50 minutes
On the way to Czarny Staw pod from Morskie Oko, you will meet Rysami; another mountain lake. This part of the hike is truly beautiful. You will meet some rocky stairs that are difficulty, but rewarded with some stunning views.
Czarny Staw pod Rysami to Bula pod Rysami: Approximately 1.5 hours
After continuing nearly 500m further up the Ricky stairs, you will meet a monumental part of the hike, the boulder, Bula pod Rysami. This boulder looks over both Morskie Oko and Rysami and is a stunning part of the hike to take advantage of getting that perfect instagram snap!
From here you continue up the steep path and you’ll begin to notice a drop in temperature. In the colder months, you may meet some snow here.
You should reach Bula pod Rysami at 2054 metres.
Bula pod Rysami to Rysy: Approximately 2 hours
The last part of the hike is the most challenging, due to the uneven and rocky trail. You will have to do some scrambling to get up successfully! There are some chains now installed, which helps make the climb a little easier. You may encounter some crowds at this point, depending upon the time of year you’re hiking.
You will have now reached the summit of Rysy. Congratulations!
What to pack
It is important you pack the necessary equipment to make the climb as easy and comfortable as possible. Please find our recommended kit-list below.
Clothing
- Hiking Socks
- Double Boots/HikingBoots
- Comfortable Underwear
- Base Layer (Bottoms and Tops)
- Midlayer Top (Hoodies/Jackets)
- Softshell Jacket
- Softshell Pants
- Hardshell Pants
- Hardshell Jacket
- Insulated Jacket
- Lightwear Gloves
- Insulated Mits
- Wool/Synthetic Hat
- Sunhat
Gear
- Water Bottle
- Trekking Poles
- Backpack
- Headlamp
- Sun Glasses
- UV Buff
Additional
- Power Adaptor
- Camera
- Sun Protection (Sunscreen and Lip Screen)
- Snacks and Drinks
- Small First Aid Kit
