The good news is that this hike can be done year-round. The winter closure of hiking trails doesn´t apply on this particular hiking trail. It starts in the village of Tatranska Polianka, goes through Hrebienok and ends in the village of Stary Smokovec. There is a mountain hotel by Lake Velicke pleso, where it´s possible to have a lunch. The hotel is situated halfway, below Peak Gerlach 2 655 meters – the highest peak of Slovakia. The hotel was even visited by the Pope John Paul II in 1995. He loved mountains, so during his official visit of Slovakia he managed to find some time to go to the mountains.
I mentioned that this hike can be done year-round, but I don´t recommend to do it in winter due to the snow. The paths are covered with and you can´t see the way. Also you need appropriate gear – crampons. But you can do it as soon as the snow melts.
This hike is of medium difficulty, about 15 km long and the vertical asent is 800 meters. It´s also possible to make an extension.
Scroll down to see the photo story of the hike, the terrain and views.
We use to walk this hike also during the trips as it offers really nice landscape views.
