Morskie Oko: the lake at the end of the road
The largest lake in the Tatras – reached only on foot, by park e-bus or part of the way by horse-drawn cart.
Morskie Oko (“Eye of the Sea”) lies at 1,395 m (4,577 ft) in Tatra National Park, measures 860 × 560 m and is up to 50.8 m (167 ft) deep – the largest lake in the Tatras. From the Palenica Białczańska car park the Oswald Balzer Road, closed to cars, climbs about 8 km (5 mi); you may only park there with a park ticket bought online in advance.
On the way lie the Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza waterfalls and the former Włosienica pasture, where the park e-buses turn. At the top stand the PTTK hut from 1908 and the Old Hut from 1891; a 2.5 km (1.6 mi) path circles the lake in about an hour.
The park allows at least seven hours for a visit: 2.5 hours each way and about two at the lake. From 1 March to 30 November you need to be back before dusk; at night all trails are closed.
TPN: Trail Palenica Białczańska – Morskie Oko and the loop around the lake (Polish) ↗
In numbers
- Lake altitude
- 1,395 m (4,577 ft)
- Area
- 34.5 ha
- Maximum depth
- 50.8 m (167 ft)
- Size
- 860 × 560 m
- Start at Palenica Białczańska
- 990 m (3,248 ft)
- Trail from Palenica
- about 8 km (5 mi)
- Walking time
- 2.5 hrs each way
- Loop around the lake
- 2.5 km (1.6 mi)
