Starting point: Štrbske Pleso (1335 m)
Time of walking: 4 h
Difficulty: difficult marked way
Difficulty of skiing: no data
Altitude difference: 1168 m
Altitude difference (by path): 1164 m
Map:
Access to starting point:
You can reach Štrbske Pleso by car, bus or train. From the railway station, head towards Hotel Oliver and from there along the road to Hotel Patria. After 5 minutes of walking, crossing the bridge over the Mlynica river, you arrive at the starting signposts and distance markers for the ascent to Rysy.
Path description:
The path starts on the red trail from Štrbske Pleso, leading through the forest and a groomed trail to Popradske Pleso lake. At the lake is the mountain hut Chata pri Popradskom Plese, open all year round. This section takes about one hour.
At Popradske Pleso lake, the blue trail begins, leading through Mangusovska Valley and lasting about half an hour. The trail crosses streams and waterfalls several times, is serpentine and well-maintained.
Entering Žabie Valley, the red trail resumes. On this path are lakes Malo and Velko Žabie Pleso, followed by a short secured ascent with pegs and chains. Then comes the ascent via steps to the mountain hut Chata pod Rysy. From the start of this red trail to the hut, the ascent takes about one and a half hours.
From the hut, head to Vaha Saddle. Snow persists on this section year-round. From the saddle to the summit, the ascent is steeper. The mountain peak consists of two protruding peaks both called Rysy. One is in Slovakia at 2503m, the other in Poland at 2499m, Poland's highest peak. The peaks are about 20 meters apart. From Chata pod Rysy to the summit takes about one hour.
On the way: Popradske pleso (1494m), Male Žabie pleso (1920m), Velke Žabie Pleso (1921m), Chata pod Rysymi (2250m)
Pictures: