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

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

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, 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   is a popular town used as entrance/stay-over for tourists.

Fees and permits

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

See

• 1 Roháč waterfall (Roháčsky vodopád) (Accessible from Zuberec village). The highest waterfall of the mountain range, it is about 18 meters high. (updated Nov 2017)
• 2 Roháč lakes (Roháčske plesá). A nice one-day hike. (updated Nov 2017)

Culture:

• 3 Liptov village museum (in Pribylina). A reconstruction of a historical village destroyed while creating Liptovská Mara dam. (updated Nov 2016)
• 4 Orava village museum (Nearby Zuberec). A reconstruction of a historical village. (updated Nov 2016)

Do

During summer, most common activity is hiking.

• 1NOT EXISTING LISTING IMAGE Sivý Vrch. A very photogenic, though somewhat technically demanding peak. (updated Nov 2017)
• 2 Baníkov. Highest peak of the main mountain range ridge. (updated Nov 2017)

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

Caves

On the Polish side:

• 3 Jaskinia Wielka Śnieżna. The largest and deepest cave in Poland (updated Nov 2017)
• 4 Jaskinia Mroźna. Guided and lighted. (updated Nov 2017)

• Self-guided

• 5 Mylna. (updated Nov 2017)
• 6 Raptawicka. (updated Nov 2017)
• 7 Obłazkowa. (updated Nov 2017)
• 8 Smocza Jama. (updated Nov 2017)
• 9 Dziura. (updated Nov 2017)

Slovak side:

• 10 Brestovská cave. Uniquely features an underground river (not accessible to the public). (updated Nov 2017)

Eat

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

On the Slovak side:

• 1 Zverovka hut. (updated Nov 2016)
• 2 Brestová. (updated Nov 2016)
• 3 Ťatliakova chata (Ťatliakova hut). (updated Nov 2016)
• 4 Žiarska chata (Žiarska hut). (updated Nov 2016)
• 5 Mountain hotel Osobitá. (updated Nov 2017)

On the Polish side:

• 6 PTTK Hala Kondratowa. (updated Nov 2016)
• 7 PTTK Hala Ornak. (updated Nov 2016)
• 8 PTTK at Polanie Chochołowskiej. (updated Nov 2016)
• 9 Mountain hotel PTTK Kalatówki. (updated Nov 2016)

Sleep

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.