When I first decided to write a post about Poland’s natural wonders absolutely nothing came to mind! I found myself thinking… isn’t it really flat in Poland? I can’t believe how wrong I was. As soon as I laid eyes on Morskie Oko I was excited to write this post. Since then, I have only been overwhelmed with more wonders! So here are the best of the bunch…

1 | GÓRY STOŁOWE (Table Mountain)

Entrance to the park is 12zł

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this park was in Poland! I know that Europe has some incredible rock formations but I thought I would have to ship myself to China before I saw a stone city.

Tip: There is actually another stone city in Europe, just over the polish border in to Czech Republic.

Read about it in my post on 14 Places To See In Czech Republic That Aren’t Prague or the rock town of Meteora

The truly labyrinth area of the park is named Błędne Skały (Errant Rocks) whose passages run like tunnels under the upper layers of rock. Though the labyrinths on the Czech half of the park are more dramatic due to far greater levels of erosion by the river, Blędne Skały is still incredibly unique, especially in Poland. There are chains to cling on to, dark tunnels that’ll make you get your torch out and narrow crevasses to squeeze through.

Maybe you’ll believe me when you find out that Poland’s ‘Errant Rock’ labyrinth was used for filming The Chronicles of Narnia. If you are a fantasy fan, also check out Kamieńczyk Falls where part of Prince Caspian was filmed.

The other jaw dropping attraction of the park is Mount Szczeliniec Wielki, towering over 900m above sea level. This is the area where you will fully appreciate the name table mountain. The enormous block of sandstone breaks out into thick cracked knuckles at the edges from which hikers dare to peer over the cliff edge. This is also the location of the cliff side park cafe. It feels bizzare to be in such an unusual part of nature, yet be able to sit under a garden parasol advertising patriotic beers.

2| MORSKIE OKO

It would be difficult to decide, but if there was only one hike I could do in Poland, it would be this one! The hike from Morskie Oko, ‘Eye of the Sea’ is jaw-dropping.

Whilst the shores of Morskie Oko are certainly breathtaking, the best view to found in the entire valley is a 3 hour hike (starting at Morskie Oko) up past the next lake to Bula Pod Rysami Point. The climb between the second lake and Bula Pod Rysami is the most gruelling bit of the hike. You will increase your elevation by 900m in just 1.5km! Luckily, much of the Tatra Mountain’s paths are lined with natural paving stones meaning you don’t have to do any technical hiking or scrambling whilst climbing.

Standing on the dagger of a rock at Bula Pod you are in the perfect spot to see Czarny Staw lake and just over its lip in to Moskie Oko below! It almost creates a natural illusion of one lake flowing in to the other with just a slip of luscious green valley between them. You have to see it to believe it.

I can only describe it as two lakes mirroring the sky above as they rest in the cauldron of the glacial valley below. The granite peaks surrounding the glacial valley are the highest in Poland, though the highest peak of the mountain range is just over the border in Slovakia.

Tip: Many people choose to continue the hike for just over another hour which takes you up to Rysy Peak, the highest point in the entire country. However, this part of the hike is demanding – picture almost vertical rock scrambling with chains lashed to the mountain for safety. There is also a 500m abyss of a ravine that you must climb over to reach the very top.

3| KOSCIELEC PEAK

I love this hike because it gives you the best of both worlds in Tatra. The Mordor-ish peaks and the violet flower meadows of the lowlands.

You already know about the paving stones that mark the hiking trails, but on this route they take on a whole life of thier own. The trek too Koscielec is so craggy that at certain points the stones are an obstacle and will require you to scramble vertically. However, once you set your eyes on the meadow leading to the peak, all of that will be forgotten and you will be more motivated than ever. Making your way along the dusty path weaving through tall grass, you will not only be able to lock eyes on the tip of the peak, but you will also be wondering past idyllic mountain huts. One of these is a small restaurant, another reason to make it to the top quickly.

Tip: If you love this sort of craggy hike, but are missing the lakeside view, then one hike I am desperate to mention (even though I promised I would limit myself to 3 Tatra hikes) is Szpiglasowy Wierch!

4| SOKOLICA PEAK

Sokolica Peak in Pieniny National Park is incredibly photogenic for many reasons. Not least for the winding gorge carved by the Dunajec River and the 500 year old pine trees that crest its peaks. This dramatic habitat that falcons love for breeding is how Sokolica got its name, Falcons’ Rock. Up until the end of 2018, the favourite viewpoint was from Poland’s most photographed tree (below). However, someone ‘accidently’ chopped it in half with their helicopter blades! (How low were they flying?!) We may have lost the country’s favourite tree, but you can still see all the way to the Tatra Mountains from the peak!

As a photographer, I’m always looking for the most photogenic route, which in this case is the trail which starts in the town square of Krościenko. The path takes you along the crest trail and over Czerteż Peak (between Burzana pass and Czertezik) before arriving at Sokolica Peak. This trail is fantastic for unexpected clearings through the pines that suddenly make you realise you are practically floating in the mist above the river, before descending again.

Alternatively, if you want the far easier and shorter hike, then take the summertime raft across the Dunajec river before starting a 75 minute hike.

5| DOLINA PIĘCIU STAWÓW (Valley of the Five Lakes)

The Five Polish Ponds, as they are known despite being lakes, are an incredible natural wonder of the unforgettable Tatra National Park. The hike starts very promisingly at the noisy Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza Falls before leading you to the Five Ponds Valley Hut at Lake Przedni Staw Polski which translates literally as ‘The Foremost Polish Pond’.

If Przedni Staw is a ‘pond’ then the *body of water between it and the next lake, Wielki Staw, is a puddle. It gets even funnier (maybe just me) when you realise Wielki Staw means ‘Great Pond’.

Guntars Mednis – (View of Five Ponds Valley Hut, The Foremost Polish Pond (closest) and The Great Pond from above)

If you still want more and you actually want to see the five lakes then continue for another 30 minutes to Czarny Staw Polski, Black Pond Poland (photo below). If I’m honest, this is the point where the hike gets a little too like Mordor (eerily remote) for me. I know some of you will think that’s fantastic news in which case you should continue on the same trail to the fourth lake, Zadni Staw Polski, The Rearmost Polish Pond. (They all have ‘Polski’ on the end because the mountain range continues in to Slovakia where the ponds have very similar names).

However, if this is not music to your ears, then start your hike back along the same path. There is another path that will take you from the 5th lake to Morskie Oko, but this involves crossing the Zazrat Pass. Another way in to Mordor! I say this because even if you go in the middle of summer, The Valley of Five Ponds is so high up that you could easily be walking through snow and wind.

Tip: Without ‘going to Mordor’ the trail takes about 9 hours each way.

Aneta Pawska – The Great Pond

6| KOLOROWE JEZIORKA (Colourful Lakelets)

For some reason in Poland, small ponds are called lakes and lakes are called ponds. As if that wasn’t confusing enough, this orange pond (photo below) is called The Purple Lake. Now that’s clear(ish), I can tell you about these 3 bizarrely coloured ‘lakes’ in the Rudawy Janowickie Mountains. The 3 lakes are sitting on top of abandoned mine pits from the 18th Century.

The Purple Lake sits above one of the entrances to Hope Mine, whose rich copper and iron deposits give it this colour. Unlike the other more natural looking lakes, you may have noticed how sandy it is around the Purple Lakelet. This is because the acidity of the water prevents any plant life from growing within reach of the water! The sulphuric smell also keeps most animals away!

The other 2 lakelets are Blue Lake which conceals the ‘New Happiness Mine’ (who is naming these mines?!) whose copper deposits produce a beautiful emerald tint, and the Green Lake above Gustav Grube Mine. This name seems an afterthought compared to the other mines!

Poconaco

7| SKATA BIATA RĘKA  (White Hand Rock)

The withered White Hand Rock is one of the main mythological attractions of Ojców Park, Poland’s smallest national park just 24km outside of Krakow. But it’s not alone, other unusual rock formations in the park include over 400 caves! The longest tunnel is Łokietka, whose 320m you are free to explore if you are brave enough. It was once the hiding place of King Łokietka. Close by you will stumble across the heart-shaped ‘Spring of Love’ whose waters are said to afflict you with love at first sight!

The park’s two other large show pieces are the 24m high Hercules’s Club and the Krakow Gate. The Hercules’s Club (which has NOTHING to do with Hercules) is rumored to have been the club which Krakus (founder of Krakow) used to slay the dragon of Krakow who had taken to eating the single women of the city.

Other tales suggest that Krakus filled a sheep skin with sulphur which he fed to the dragon who then exploded (painting of this is in the Krakow Historical Museum). I don’t know which is less likely. There are also two castles in the park, but I’ll save them for another post.