Roztoka Valley

The Roztoka Valley is a valley in the High Tatras, a branch of the Białka Valley. Its upper part is the Valley of the Five Polish Ponds, and the road to the highest Polish waterfall, Siklawa, leads this way.

What the valley is like

The Roztoka Valley is about 4.4 km long and has an area of 7 sq km, and together with the Valley of the Five Polish Ponds about 7.5 km and 13.5 sq km. According to the Wikipedia entry, some of the best preserved natural forests in the Tatra Mountains grow here, with spruces more than 300-400 years old.

Waterfalls

The highest Polish waterfall is Siklawa, located about 120 m from Wielki Staw Polski (the Great Polish Pond). Closer to where the Roztoka flows into the Białka, roughly a kilometre from that place, several smaller cascades roar, the Mickiewicz Falls (Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza).

Vegetation and animals

Up to an altitude of about 1,370 m there are spruce forests, and higher up larches and dwarf mountain pine. Deer, chamois and brown bears live in the valley.

Trails and mountain huts

A wide, comfortable green trail runs through the valley, and the black one leads in switchbacks through the dwarf pine to the hut. The trail has been marked since 1899. On the route stands the PTTK mountain hut in the Roztoka Valley, and higher up the mountain hut in the Valley of the Five Polish Ponds, supplied by a cable lift.

The upper part of the valley passes into the Valley of the Five Polish Ponds, and in the same area of the Tatra Mountains lies Morskie Oko.

Who has been here

The valley was described in the 19th century by, among others, Stanisław Staszic, Seweryn Goszczyński and Ludwik Zejszner.

Practical information

• The valley lies in the Tatra Mountains, so before setting out check the rules of entry on the national park's website.
• Find out the current condition of the trails and the weather forecast.
• Check the hours and offer of the mountain huts before your visit.