Western Tatras - mountain range in Europe

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

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

Climate

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

Get in

On the Slovak side, 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.

Fees and permits

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

Get around

See

• Roháč waterfall (Roháčsky vodopád), 49.2163°, 19.7293°. The highest waterfall of the mountain range, it is about 18 meters high. 2017-11-04
• Roháč lakes (Roháčske plesá), 49.20895°, 19.73801°. A nice one-day hike. 2017-11-16

Culture:

• Liptov village museum, 49.1068°, 19.8045°. A reconstruction of a historical village destroyed while creating Liptovská Mara dam. 2016-11-05
• Orava village museum, 49.2607°, 19.6612°. A reconstruction of a historical village. 2016-11-05

Do

During summer, most common activity is hiking.

• Sivý Vrch, 49.2111477°, 19.6421749°. A very photogenic, though somewhat technically demanding peak. 2017-11-16
• Baníkov, 49.198056°, 19.710833°. Highest peak of the main mountain range ridge. 2017-11-16 During winter, there are multiple ski centers - the bigger ones include Roháče - Spálená and Zuberec.

Caves

On the Polish side:

• Jaskinia Wielka Śnieżna, 49.24°, 19.923056°. The largest and deepest cave in Poland 2017-11-16

• Jaskinia Mroźna, 49.240833°, 19.8675°. Guided and lighted. 2017-11-16

• Self-guided

  • Mylna, 49.239444°, 19.862222°. 2017-11-16
  • Raptawicka, 49.239722°, 19.862222°. 2017-11-16
  • Obłazkowa, 49.239444°, 19.8625°. 2017-11-16
  • Smocza Jama, 49.237944°, 19.868028°. 2017-11-16
  • Dziura, 49.271906°, 19.942667°. 2017-11-16

Slovak side:

• Brestovská cave, 49.258167°, 19.660983°. Uniquely features an underground river (not accessible to the public). 2017-11-16

Buy

Eat

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

On the Slovak side:

• Zverovka hut, 49.24843°, 19.71065°. 2016-11-02
• Brestová, 49.25977°, 19.66271°. 2016-11-02
• Ťatliakova chata (Ťatliakova hut), 49.21376°, 19.74744°. 2016-11-02
• Žiarska chata (Žiarska hut), 49.18109°, 19.71955°. 2016-11-02
• Mountain hotel Osobitá, 49.24406°, 19.71239°. 2017-11-04

On the Polish side:

• PTTK Hala Kondratowa, 49.24984°, 19.95171°. 2016-11-06
• PTTK Hala Ornak, 49.22913°, 19.85880°. 2016-11-06
• PTTK at Polanie Chochołowskiej, 49.2364°, 19.7879°. 2016-11-06
• Mountain hotel PTTK Kalatówki, 49.2598°, 19.9669°. 2016-11-06

Drink

Sleep

Lodging

Camping

Backcountry

Stay safe

Go next

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.