Hiking in the Polish Tatra Mountains: the Strążyska Valley (Dolina Strążyska)

The Strążyska Valley is the best trail in the Polish Tatras for a trip with children, for seniors or for beginner hikers. You can experience there the pure beauty of wild mountain nature. It is not very long, it stretches along the swift creek, on the way you will encounter a lot of bridges, boulders, small waterfalls where you can soak your hands – a lot is going on for a little (or bigger) weary tourist. It’s not as crowded as other big valleys in the Tatra Mountains. You can come across the school trips but – compared to the Chochołowska Valley or the Kościeliska Valley – there are definitely fewer tourists. And another advantage of the Strążyska Valley – the trail starts just on the outskirts of Zakopane town so you don’t need to drive far to get to the valley.

Attractions of the Strążyska Valley:

At the end of the valley, there is the Strążyska Glade (Polana Strążyska) with a really small hut where you can have lunch (pierogi, soup, sausage, oscypek cheese etc.) or something sweet (eg. the flagship dessert of Tatra huts – apple pie/szarlotka and tea with cranberry jam). Inside the hut, there is little space – when the weather is rainy or when a school trip arrives, it gets very busy there. When the weather is nice, you can sit outside at one of the many wooden benches with a view of Giewont Mountain (it is a very characteristic mountain with a huge cross on the top)
If you still have enough strength in your legs, it is worth taking another short trail from the Strążyska Glade to the Siklawica Waterfall (Wodospad Siklawica). A wooden sign/arrow will direct you to the trail. The sign says walking time is 15 minutes, however, getting to a waterfall, eg. with a three-year-old, can take 20 minutes or more (one way)

The Strążyska Valley hike time

Hike time up: 40 minutes
Hike time down: 35 minutes

Strążyska Valley RED trail. Source: Tatrzański Park Narodowy (www.tpn.pl)

How to get to the Strążyska Valley?

The trail starts on the outskirts of Zakopane town. Just a few steps to the entrance to the valley, there is a paid parking lot. The buses going from different parts of Zakopane and taxis can stop just at the entrance to the valley. You can reach the Strążyska Valley entrance on foot – from the center of Zakopane (Krupówki Street), it takes about 30 minutes (2,5 km).

Our tips on hiking the Strążyska Valley

Difficulty level: The Strążyska Valley is a relatively easy trail, especially in terms of the length of the trail (the whole trip back and forth takes a little over an hour). Compared to the flat Kościeliska Valley, the trail has a moderate elevation gain. At the end of the trail, the route gets a little steeper but the finishing-line (the Strążyska Glade/Polana Strążyska) is really close and you will soon forget about the shortness of breath;) The trail is suitable for everyone in fair hiking condition, including children and seniors
Most of the trail is accessible to strollers (the ones with bigger wheels or air-filler tires). Depending on the model of your stroller, it may be necessary to carry it on a path with larger stones at the end of the trail. Also, please note that the surface of the trail is relatively bumpy so not every child will like it. Generally speaking, a four-year-old or a five-year-old should be able to walk the trail by himself/herself back and forth. Younger children can go partly on foot and partly in a stroller or a baby carrier. The trail to the Siklawica Waterfall is not accessible to strollers
The trail is practically all shaded
Mobile toilets are located at the entrance to the valley and next to the hut at the end of the trail (the Strążyska Glade/Polana Strążyska)
Right at the entrance to the valley, there is a parking lot, a bus stop, souvenir stalls, you can buy waffles (gofry) or ice cream (lody). There is also a cozy café, called Café Roma with lots of books to read for children and adults. The decor is reminiscent of a city café, which can be a nice change when we are already overwhelmed with mountain folklore. If you would like to have a Tatra mountain-style lunch, within 7-minute walking distance from the entrance to the valley, there are 2 restaurants on Strążyska Street serving traditional food of Polish Tatra Mountains: Karczma Żabi Dwór and Walkowy Dwór

Click here or on the photo to read our tips on hiking in the Polish Tatra Mountains (When is the best time of the year to visit the Tatra Mountains and Zakopane? Do I need to buy a ticket to enter the Tatra National Park? What time is best to go on the trail in the Tatras? How to dress for a trip to the Tatra Mountains? Tips for hiking with children in the Polish mountains).

Kids in the City

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Hiking trails in Poland: the Strążyska Valley in Polish Tatra Mountains

Hiking trails in Poland: the Strążyska Valley in Polish Tatra Mountains

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