mountain range in Europe
Europe > Central Europe > Western Tatras

The Western Tatras (Slovak: Západné Tatry; Polish: Tatry Zachodnie) are mountains in the Tatras, part of the Carpathian Mountains, located on the Polish-Slovak borders (Małopolskie and Liptov/Orava regions respectively). The mountains border the High Tatras in the east, Podtatranská kotlina in the south, Choč Mountains in the west and Rów Podtatrzański (Slovak: Podtatranská brázda) in the north. The main ridge is 37 kilometers long and the mountain range contains 31 two-thousanders.

Understand

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Ostrý Roháč

The Western Tatras are subdivided into 6 regions on the Slovak side and 4 on the Polish side.

Slovak Western Tatras:

  • Osobitá (highest point: Osobitá, 1 687 m)
  • Sivý vrch (highest point: Sivý vrch, 1 805 m)
  • Liptovské Tatry (highest point: Bystrá, 2 248 m)
  • Roháče (highest point: Baníkov, 2 178 m), one of the most popular parts of the range
  • Červené vrchy (highest point: Kresanica / Krzesanica, 2 122 m)
  • Liptovské kopy (highest point: Veľká kopa, 2 122 m)

Polish Western Tatras:

  • Grześ
  • Kasprowy Wierch
  • Czerwone Wierchy (corresponds to Červené vrchy, highest point: Kresanica / Krzesanica, 2 122 m)
  • Ornak

Flora and fauna

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Climate

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The same as in High Tatras applies - the weather can change quickly, so follow forecast and be prepared to descend quickly too.

Get in

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On the Slovak side, 1 parking Zverovka-Spalená is a good starting point into the heart of the range. The only downside (cannot be avoided though) is the 1-hr walk is needed towards Ťatliakova hut.

  • 1 Zuberec Zuberec (Q227556) on Wikidata Zuberec on Wikipedia is a popular town used as entrance/stay-over for tourists.

Fees and permits

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The access is generally free, except for possible small parking fees at ski centers during summer.

Get around

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Map
Map of Western Tatras
  • 1 Roháč waterfall (Roháčsky vodopád) (Accessible from Zuberec village). The highest waterfall of the mountain range, it is about 18 meters high.
  • 2 Roháč lakes (Roháčske plesá). A nice one-day hike. Roháčske plesá (Q3561549) on Wikidata sk:Roháčske_plesá on Wikipedia

Culture:

During summer, most common activity is hiking.

  • 1 Sivý Vrch. A very photogenic, though somewhat technically demanding peak. Sivý vrch (Q3509435) on Wikidata sk:Sivý_vrch_(Západné_Tatry) on Wikipedia
  • 2 Baníkov. Highest peak of the main mountain range ridge. Baníkov (Q4176068) on Wikidata Baníkov on Wikipedia

During winter, there are multiple ski centers - the bigger ones include Roháče - Spálená and Zuberec.

Caves

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On the Polish side:

  • 3 Jaskinia Wielka Śnieżna. The largest and deepest cave in Poland Jaskinia Wielka Śnieżna (Q3490271) on Wikidata Jaskinia_Wielka_Śnieżna on Wikipedia
  • 4 Jaskinia Mroźna. Guided and lighted. (Q11721238) on Wikidata pl:Jaskinia_Mroźna on Wikipedia
  • Self-guided
  • 5 Mylna. Jaskinia Mylna (Q16562324) on Wikidata pl:Jaskinia_Mylna on Wikipedia
  • 6 Raptawicka. (Q11721262) on Wikidata pl:Jaskinia_Raptawicka on Wikipedia
  • 7 Obłazkowa. (Q11721252) on Wikidata pl:Jaskinia_Obłazkowa on Wikipedia
  • 8 Smocza Jama. Smocza Jama (Q9338667) on Wikidata pl:Smocza_Jama_(Tatry) on Wikipedia
  • 9 Dziura. Dziura (Q9248950) on Wikidata pl:Dziura_(jaskinia) on Wikipedia


Slovak side:

  • 10 Brestovská cave. Uniquely features an underground river (not accessible to the public).

There are several huts and areas where hikes can start and end or where you can rest:

On the Slovak side:

  • 1 Zverovka hut.
  • 2 Brestová.
  • 3 Ťatliakova chata (Ťatliakova hut).
  • 4 Žiarska chata (Žiarska hut).
  • 5 Mountain hotel Osobitá.

On the Polish side:

  • 6 PTTK Hala Kondratowa.
  • 7 PTTK Hala Ornak.
  • 8 PTTK at Polanie Chochołowskiej.
  • 9 Mountain hotel PTTK Kalatówki.

Drink

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Sleep

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Lodging

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Camping

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Backcountry

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Stay safe

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Go next

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The nearby Slovak mountain ranges Tatra National Park, Low Tatras and Choč Mountains are equally worth a visit - and each one is a completely different kind of mountains.

This article is on an extra-hierarchical region, describing a region that does not fit into the hierarchy Wikivoyage uses to organise most articles. These "extraregion" articles usually provide only basic information and links to articles in the hierarchy. This article can be expanded if the information is specific to the page; otherwise new text should generally go in the appropriate region or city article.