Valley of Five Polish Lakes

The Dolina Pieciu Stawow Polskich is a stepped granite basin at around 1,700 metres holding five lakes of different sizes, of which Wielki Staw is the largest by area in the Tatras and, at about 79 metres, the deepest lake in Poland's mountains. The valley is above the treeline: bare rock, scree, dwarf pine and grass, with the water in a series of shelves and the Siklawa waterfall dropping about seventy metres out of the basin, which is the largest fall in the Tatras. Getting there is real walking - either up from Morskie Oko over the Szpiglasowa Przelecz or the easier route past Roztoka, or across from Hala Gasienicowa over the Krzyzne pass, both long days with substantial ascent. A refuge in the middle of the valley is the only building and is booked out through summer. It is the classic Polish Tatra day and it is not a stroll.

What you actually see

• Five lakes on shelves - including the deepest and largest in the Polish Tatras.
• Above the treeline - bare granite, scree and dwarf pine at around 1,700 metres.
• Siklawa - the largest waterfall in the Tatras, dropping out of the basin.
• One refuge - the only building in the valley, booked out all summer.

When to go

July to September, once the snow has gone. A long day.

Honest expectations

Every route in involves substantial ascent and a full day - this is not a casual walk. The refuge books out months ahead. Weather above the treeline changes fast and there is no shelter. Snow lingers on the passes into July.

Nearby

Morskie Oko is below to the south; Hala Gasienicowa is west over the pass.