A look into the Mengusovská Dolina valley from the red trail to the Popradské Pleso mountain lake. (source: TASR)
Pick any of the high-altitude mountain huts, or peaks such as Východná Vysoká, Kôprovský Štít or Rysy. There are many challenging and several hour-long hikes to be had in the High Tatras for any mountain aficionados. The last travel guides have been a testament to that.
Tatras travel guide: A fresh take on the stunning soul of Slovakia. CLICK TO BUY ONE. (source: Spectacular Slovakia)
But what if you wanted a hike that can take up to three hours and is suitable for children in a stroller?
Enter Popradské Pleso mountain lake. Located in the beautiful Mengusovská Dolina valley, there are several trails leading to the body of water open all year long. Once at the lake, it offers beautiful vistas of the surrounding mountains, as well as several options for those wishing to head on to more demanding trails.
If you want to be deep in the mountains, sit near a lake and sip from a cup of nice tea, this is as good a spot as any.
There are generally two ways to directly reach Popradské Pleso mountain lake (well, four if you count the trail through an almost 2,500-metre peak from the Polish side and the several-hour trail from the distant Sliezsky Dom mountain hotel, but that's neither here nor there).
The shorter trail
One starts at the Popradské Plesto tram station (the penultimate one before Štrbské Pleso) with a parking lot right beside it. When you exit the tram, go to the parking lot and turn right to find the blue marker. This is a very easy trail on an asphalt road suitable even for families with children in strollers. I followed the path in late February this year when there was still snow on the road and saw two such families.
All it takes is just following the blue marker and the road to get to the lake. This path takes around an hour. Although one may scoff at the idea of a hike on a road, it still twists and turns through a dense evergreen forest with trees towering above you. At one section you'll go across a bridge over Krupa Stream. If you like observing river currents, this is a good place to stay awhile and listen and watch.
Once you pass a shelter and a stone wall on the left side, the forest slowly makes way for vistas of the mountains surrounding the valley. On your left you will be able to see Patria peak, on your right will be the part of the ridge with the Ostrva peak. In good weather this is really a nice opportunity to slow down and let the sight sink in.
A few minutes ahead you will get the opportunity to follow the yellow trail leading to the Symbolic Cemetery. However, this section is closed during the winter season. In the cemetery you will find commemorative plaques with the names of people who lost their lives in the High Tatras and other mountain ranges of the world. The yellow trail leads to the lake.
Either way, push on and you'll be at the lake in no time.
The longer trail
The second one starts in Štrbské Pleso right behind the first batch of souvenir stands. Look for the red marker (the yellow one leads to Skok waterfall, another quite easy hike, you can learn more about it here). This trail isn't overly difficult, and is suitable even for children or older people.
This one takes longer, about an hour and a half, leading mostly through a forest. At the beginning you'll face a slight ascent, but nothing challenging. There is also an education trail in the early section, allowing you to learn more about the local flora and fauna.
After maybe half an hour you'll come to the Rázcestie Trigán signpost. In the winter season, the next section of the red trail is closed so follow the green marker instead. As you'll be descending a little, micro-spikes might come in handy when there is snow on the path. Although the green trail doesn't provide much in the terms of vistas, it makes it up if you like walking in a dense forest. The forest path is narrow, twists and turns, so be a bit mindful. Later it runs along the Hincov Potok stream, then across it. Once you're on the other side of a wooden bridge, get ready for a slight ascent. In just a few more minutes you'll be at the lake.
In summer season, the red trail leads across a rocky path that offers stunning vistas of the Mengusovská Dolina valley, with a huge forest below you (the green marker leads through it) and towering peaks above. Although the rocky path is rather wide, be still careful, the slope on the right is very steep. When you get to a small wooden bridge across the Hincov Potok stream, you're almost at the lake.
Definitely taste the tea
Overall, both trails are very easy to navigate. You can also combine them to make it a loop trail.
Once you're at the lake, be sure to taste the arguably best mountain hut tea at the Majláthova Chata hut. Everytime I visit the place I always order at least two cups, take them out and sit on a bench, admiring the view. Very few things can beat the moment, especially in winter, even though the lake is usually frozen in that time of the year. Yes, you can walk across it.
In winter, this is, unfortunately, the end of the trail. The new regulations for visitors once again closed the trail to Ostrva in winter. You can continue a little bit into the Mengusovská Dolina valley by following the blue marker, but the later sections are closed as well. In summer, these trails are open, of course.
If you want to learn how to get to the popular Rysy peak, click here; if you want to visit the biggest mountain lake in the Slovak High Tatras and then maybe continue to the Kôprovský Štít peak, this guide will help you.
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