Crossing Prielom and Poľský hrebeň passes

Hrebienok and Veľká Studená dolina

From the station in Starý Smokovec (1,010 m), follow the green trail, which climbs gently alongside the funicular line to Hrebienok (1,285 m). Here you briefly join the red-marked Tatra Magistrale, and on a pleasant, slightly undulating path with fine views you reach the junction above Rainer Hut (1,304 m). At the junction, leave the magistrale and turn left into Veľká Studená dolina. From here, the blue trail leads you gradually uphill, first through forest and later through dwarf pine.

The easy ascent ends with a steeper climb to a section where the valley floor is tightly hemmed in by steep slopes on both sides. Here the trail runs along a narrow rocky path beneath the rock wall on the right. This section is fitted with chains, so it is not too difficult even in rain or icy conditions. A little farther on, cross the stream on a wooden footbridge and continue steeply up to Vareškové pleso.

Zbojnícka chata

Another short climb brings you to the edge of Dlhé pleso, which is passed on the right-hand side. Here too, there is a short section across sloping rock with a chain to hold on to, though in dry conditions you likely will not need it at all. Only a few more uphill steps remain and you arrive at Zbojnícka chata (1,960 m). After about a 3.5-hour climb from Smokovec, the hut is an ideal place for refreshments and a short break on the terrace. In addition to food and drinks, overnight accommodation is available, but capacity is very limited and beds are usually booked well in advance.

From the hut, continue on the blue trail past the junction at Sesterské pleso (1,962 m). Beyond it, the path drops slightly, crosses the stream linking the Zbojnícke plesá, and then climbs briefly but steeply to an almost level path in the basin below Prielom. The stone-paved trail winds through grass, occasionally skirting huge boulders, and ends below the final climb to Prielom Pass (2,290 m). Here begins a steep ascent over plenty of stones, scree, and sloping rock slabs. Slipping is a risk even in dry weather, and if the rocks are wet you need to move with extra care.

Chains and iron steps at Prielom Pass

After gaining about 200 vertical metres, you finally reach the narrow Prielom Pass, squeezed between the walls of Východná Vysoká and Divá veža. The most demanding section of the whole hike, however, only starts here, in the first metres of descent from the pass. The trail is secured with several chains, and there are also iron steps. To prevent major bottlenecks, the route splits here: descending hikers use the traverse along the rock face on the right, while those coming the other way climb up the iron steps on the left. The route then continues through a narrow rocky gully that opens straight onto a steep scree slope with several switchbacks.

Below the scree, a firm and almost level path awaits for a short while, leading to the junction Zamrznutý kotol (2,110 m). While descending the scree slope, you can admire Zamrznuté pleso in Litvorová dolina below you. From the junction, continue left on the green trail, which immediately starts climbing a heavily eroded slope. The path here is reinforced with wooden logs and looks like a giant staircase. Despite all efforts, parts of the trail are often damaged by falling rocks or washed out by heavy rain.

Poľský hrebeň

After climbing the steps, you reach Poľský hrebeň Pass (2,200 m), from where you can admire the steep walls of Gerlachovský štít, towering high above Velická dolina, the valley you will soon descend through. A yellow-marked side trail also leads from the pass to the summit of Východná Vysoká. The summit is just under 250 vertical metres above the pass, and the ascent and descent together should take no more than about an hour and a half. Right at the start of the descent from the pass, you need to negotiate a rocky section with iron steps and chains. Compared with the chains below Prielom Pass, this is a fairly easy traverse.

Velická dolina and Sliezsky dom

Descending in switchbacks through scree and rocks, you come to Dlhé pleso (yes, Velická dolina has its own Dlhé pleso too), enclosed between the paved path on one side and a scree slope on the other. Beyond the lake follows a short steep climb into the broad, almost level part of Velická dolina known as Kvetnica. And there really are plenty of flowers here. The Velický potok winds its way among them before plunging as the Velický waterfall into Velické pleso. The trail leads you to the waterfall as well, and first alongside it, then past the overhanging rock with dripping water known as Večný dážď, you descend to Velické pleso and Sliezsky dom (1,670 m), standing at the far end of the lake.

Still on the green trail, continue descending through dense dwarf pine to the junction Velická polana (1,562 m), where you turn left onto the yellow trail and follow it through the forest via the junction below Senná kopa (1,409 m) (sometimes also called “above Zruby”) to Nový Smokovec, and back to the station in Starý Smokovec.

Useful info

Transport

Take the train to Poprad-Tatry and change to the electric railway to Starý Smokovec.

Search connections

By car, take the motorway to Poprad-Tatry and exit at junction 325 onto the road to Starý Smokovec. In Smokovec, park at one of the several paid car parks.

Itinerary

Starý Smokovec TEŽ Starý Smokovec, funicular (0:10) Hrebienok (0:55) above Rainer Hut (1:15) Zbojnícka chata (3:25) at Sesterské pleso (3:30) Prielom Pass (4:40) Zamrznutý kotol (5:15) Poľský hrebeň (5:30) Sliezsky dom (6:55) Velická polana (7:10) below Senná kopa (7:40) Starý Smokovec, funicular (8:45) Starý Smokovec TEŽ (8:50)

Water and refreshments along the way

Starý Smokovec, Zbojnícka chata, Sliezsky dom, and in an emergency the many streams in the valleys

Alternatives

• You can save about 250 vertical metres by taking the funicular from Starý Smokovec to Hrebienok. It runs from 7:30 to 19:00, and costs €8 one way up, €7 one way down, or €9 return.
• From Hrebienok to the junction above Rainer Hut, you can choose a slightly longer green-marked path (about 20 minutes more) that passes the waterfalls on Studený potok.
• From Poľský hrebeň Pass, you can climb to the summit of Východná Vysoká. The out-and-back from the pass takes about an hour and a half. For a detailed description and video, see the Východná Vysoká hike.