Popradské pleso to Štrbské Pleso hike, High Tatras, Slovakia

The walk from Popradské pleso to Štrbské Pleso follows one of the easiest sections of the Tatranská magistrála (Tatra Magistrala), the red-marked trail that runs about 46 km along the southern slopes of the High Tatras. It links two of the best-known lakes of the Slovak Tatras: Popradské pleso (1,494 m), with its mountain hotel, and Štrbské Pleso (1,346 m), the highest-lying resort in the Tatras. Signposts give about 1 h 15 min between the two lakes, and families with children walk it too.

From Popradské pleso the path first climbs gently for about half an hour on stone paving across the slope of Patria, with wide views of the Mengusovská Valley, the Poprad basin and back towards the lake. It then enters the forest and descends gradually to Štrbské Pleso; this part is rooty and can be muddy after rain. Most walkers go in this direction, because the climb is gentler than from the Štrbské Pleso side. The trail comes out on a road about 300 m from the lake, a few minutes’ walk from the railway station.

Key points:

• Route: Popradské pleso – Štrbské Pleso, red marking, about 1 h 15 min.
• Getting to the start: from the Popradské pleso stop of the Tatra Electric Railway it is about an hour’s walk up to the lake; from Štrbské Pleso you can also walk the route the other way.
• Season: open all year; in winter the path can be icy, so take microspikes.
• Admission: free; the trail lies in the Tatra National Park (TANAP).