Rysy - summit hike

Climbing Rysy

Whether you arrive by train or by car, make your way to Štrbské Pleso. On the southern side of the lake, you’ll find the trail junction where the hike begins. Follow the red trail, which first skirts the lake on the right, then soon turns right and after about 200 meters brings you to an asphalt road at the Pred Heliosom junction. Still following the red waymarks, continue briefly along the road and at the intersection behind the bridge, at odbočka Pri Heliose, turn onto a forest path that climbs gradually through the woods to just below the Trigan junction at 1,499 m. From there the path becomes only gently undulating, and the first views open up toward the opposite Zlomisková Valley and the summit of Ostrva. About a kilometer beyond this junction you’ll come to a spring, and shortly after that a brief descent leads to a footbridge over Hinčov potok on the floor of the Mengusovská Valley. Roughly 300 meters from the bridge is the Nad Popradským plesom junction (1,500 m), from where you can continue a few dozen meters on the red trail to take a look at Popradské Pleso.

From the Nad Popradským plesom junction, continue on the blue trail, which climbs gently through the forest and later through dwarf pine in the Mengusovská Valley. After about a kilometer, you’ll come to an unimproved spring. About another hundred meters on, you’ll cross the stream by a footbridge where there are benches for a short rest. Just beyond the bridge is the Nad Žabím potokom junction (1,580 m), where you turn right onto the red trail.

Via the chains to Chata pod Rysmi

On switchbacks, at first still through dwarf pine, you’ll climb steeply about 350 vertical meters to the Žabie Lakes, where the gradient eases and you can enjoy the panorama of the surrounding peaks. A gentler ascent takes you above the right shore of Veľké Žabie pleso, and before long the slope steepens again as switchbacks lead you below a rock wall. Here comes the most demanding part of the whole hike – a traverse along a rocky ledge to the right, secured with chains and metal steps. The protected section is not especially difficult, so the chains are most useful in poor weather. Several more steep switchbacks follow, and then Chata pod Rysmi (2,245 m) appears ahead. The fact that it is the highest mountain hut in Slovakia is reason enough to stop for some well-earned refreshments.

From the hut, continue on the red trail to Váha Saddle (2,337 m), first on a long steady climb along the left side of the valley, then with a steeper push up to the saddle. Before turning left and starting the final ascent to Rysy, you’ll surely want to pause for the magnificent views from the pass. The first steps toward the summit follow a clear rocky path, but it gradually fades, and in the end you’ll need to use your hands as well on the climb.

Views from Rysy

Rysy is an outstanding viewpoint, so in good weather you can see nearby peaks such as Kriváň, Slavkovský štít, and Gerlachovský štít in the High Tatras, as well as Baranec and Bystrá in the neighboring Western Tatras. To the south, visibility permitting, you may even see the long ridge of the Low Tatras. Directly below you are the Žabie Lakes, which you passed only a few hours earlier. On the Polish side, you can also see Czarny Staw and Morskie Oko.

Return the same way back via Chata pod Rysmi to Štrbské Pleso.

Video

Useful info

Transport

Take the train to Štrba, then continue on the cog railway to Štrbské Pleso. If you’re coming by car, park in one of the paid parking areas in Štrbské Pleso.

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Itinerary

Štrbské Pleso Pred Heliosom junction (0:10) Pri Heliose turnoff (0:15) Trigan (0:45) Nad Popradským plesom junction (1:30) Nad Žabím potokom junction (2:00) Chata pod Rysmi (4:00) Rysy (5:00) -> and back (7:45)

Water and refreshments along the way

Štrbské Pleso, spring between the Trigan and Nad Popradským plesom junctions, Chata pri Popradskom plese, spring before the Nad Žabím potokom junction, Chata pod Rysmi