Morskie Oko – Poland’s Mountain Paradise!
A land dotted with fulsome farms, powerful rivers and bountiful forests, Poland is a pastoral paradise. This is reflected in the character of the Polish people, who have a intrinsic connection to the land and its harvests. Yet, it is a small region tucked in the southern tier of the country that has captured the heart of the Polish people. Behold the High Tatras, by the thousands, Poles flock here to see pristine alpine lakes and serene landscapes… this is their paradise!
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Access
This glacial lake is a top escape for day-trippers from Zakopane. To reach the lakes you should drive, or take a bus from the town center to just past Łysa Polana, via roadway 960. From here you can park or be dropped off by the bus. Please be aware that you should buy your tickets online ahead of time but if you are stuck there should be some public wifi near the buildings in the parking lot.
Droga do Morskiego Oka (The Road to Morski Oko)
From the parking lot you can either clamber up the 8.5km’s trail to the famed Morski Oko lake or take a horse drawn cart. The latter is an old tradition in these parts of the mountains, dating from a time before cars. Speaking of which there is no mechanized transportation up. A horse ride in these part can be as expensive, as 120-150 Złoty per passage, on busy days.
For those with concerns about the horses, rest assured that improvement to the work conditions of these animals have been implemented and will continue to be improved. A pilot project has been approved that has outfitted some carts with self charging motors to help them up the at times heavy inclines.
For those on foot you can walk along the road or on side trails that cut between the wildflowers.
Makes sure to stop off and see the Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza, a small but pretty waterfall.
It is a bit of a walk up but well worth it! The scenery is beautiful! Unfortunately, the fog was moving in and as I gained elevation so too did I lose visibility. As you approach your goal a canteen selling food and drinks, including beer, can be found. On our way down we stopped here for a quick Mulled Wine to go. That’s one way to hike!
As you may have noticed, your hike up is on a nice consistent slope, with mountains surrounding it. This is because it is part of a moraine system that extends from the lake itself downward.
The Glacial Lakes
Unfortunately by the time I arrived at the lake, the fog had completely filled the mountainous backdrop. I stopped off at the stunning wooden cottage for a rest.
The structure belongs to the Polish Tourism and Local Lore Society (PTTK). This is a very typical stop off point for hikers as the north of the lake provides a panorama of the area. The hut can be stayed in and is one of the oldest Tatras chalets. This lake system is part of the Rybi Potok or the Fish Brook Valley of the Tatras park.
By some miracle the skies opened and finally the backdrop of the Tatras revealed themselves, but more on that later. To both sides of the lake you will find walking paths.
The name of the lake itself translates to “Eye of the Sea”. Its origins lie in a legend that the lake was connected to the sea via a secret underground tunnels, the kind you would find in a bond movie. Another name, now discontinued, is the Rybie Jezioro or Fish Lake, this being due to the fact that it is home to lake trout, rarely found in bodies of water located in the Tatra Mountains.
The water is so clear in the shallows that you can sometimes see the trout.
Around the lake you will find beautiful wildflowers and swiss pines. The greenery is remarkable but so to is the fact that the mountains around it are all at least 1,000 meters above the surface of the lake. One of these mountains is Rysy, the highest peak in the Polish side of the mountains. This giant stands tall at 2,499 meters.
From the south side of the lake a parthway will take you up to a second lake, Czarny Staw that fills Morski Oko.
Unfortunately my trip of to Czarny Staw and Rysy Mountain was cut short! The clouds had moved in and were so thick that it was too much to see.
Anyway hope you enjoy this lake as much as I did!
Conclusion
This remote alpine lake is surely the most popular attraction in the Polish Tatras, yet there is plenty more to see for those willing to roam the mountains.
