Hiking and Mountaineering

Ascent to Rysy (High Tatras)

Description

Hiking tours from Schroniska PTTK Morskie Oko (1410 meters AMSL) to Rysy (2499 meters AMSL) in the High Tatras (Tatry Wysokie) mountain range.

Rysy is the highest mountain in Poland, straddling the border between Poland and Slovakia. It possesses three peaks (Rysy is actually a plural form), the highest of those three boasting 2503 meters is lying in Slovakia.

Photos and video

April 2025

Czarny Staw pod Rysami (1583m)
Czarny Staw pod Rysami
Czarny Staw pod Rysami
Ascent to Rysy
Żabi Koń
Rysy (2499m)
Rysy (2499m)
Descent from Rysy

October 2022

Descent to Štrbské Pleso (1355 meters AMSL) via Chata pod Rysmi (2250 meters AMSL) by crossing the border to Slovakia.

How to ascent from the Slovak side: Rysy (2503 meters).

The ascent from the Slovak side is much easier and suitable for beginners, what the ascent from the Polish side is not.

Map, Topography

Further notes and recommendations

Duration: about five hours from Schroniska PTTK Morskie Oko (1410 meters AMSL) to the peak, and four hours back (April ascent).

It’s a technical and difficult ascent especially in wintry conditions, so Crampons and an Ice Axe are mandatory items to bring.

Checking the avalanche reports in advance has to be a matter of course, for the terrain is steep and avalanche prone.