Walking Trail to Lake Morskie Oko in the Tatra Mountains
One of the most popular walking trails in the Tatra Mountains leads to Lake Morskie Oko, or the Eye of the Sea. The trail length to the lake is slightly more than 9 km, leading higher and higher into the mountains. While walking one should account for a slight but steady upward incline. There is also the possibility of walking around the lake on a trail approximately 2.5 km long - I definitely recommend all walkers use this option, as the true beauty of the lake and the grandeur of the mountain ridges is best revealed when walking all the way around the "eye."
By car from Murzasichle (our accommodation) to the car park takes approximately 20 minutes, if again no queues of mountain-view-seekers have formed. Cars can be parked in two car parks: one - Łysa Polana (the first and furthest from the trail's starting point), the other - Palenica Białczańska (the second, larger, and closer to the trail start). As on the day we set off to walk in the mountains there were many people wanting to do the same, the second car park was already full (no cars were allowed further), so we had to park in the first one. This meant adding another 1.4 km of walking to the trail length. Car park fee - 25 PLN.
The trail - or more accurately, the road - to the lake is not difficult: smooth, asphalted, with viewing spots and benches and tables at intervals. Everyone can safely go - old, young, sprightly, leisurely, with a pram, or with a fairly heavy load. Walk, enjoy, photograph, take selfies, have a drink, rest, and walk on. There are also two more substantial stopping points with small houses where one can buy souvenirs and snacks, stamp the walker's passport or the margin of a map - which I started doing. Along the way fantastic views open up of rivers, mountain slopes, and forests.
For those who want to "cut" part of the route rather than walk the serpentine upward, steeper trails through the forest over large stones have been marked. I also recommend trying one or two of these to feel the difference - longer but easier, or shorter and harder. At the lake itself there is quite a crowd, as everyone wants to capture the moment against a backdrop resembling a beautiful photo wallpaper.
Walking around the lake, however, there are far fewer people - which is also good, as finally one has the chance to enjoy the mountain stillness. Walking is less comfortable: a fairly narrow stone path. Throughout the Tatra nature park there are signposts showing trail lengths and estimated walking times. One would have to try hard to get lost. There are many and various trails; from Morskie Oko further trails wind through the mountains to other lakes - but one must realistically calculate one's strength and walking time.
For those who find walking harder or less desirable, from the car park to the lake and back one can travel by horse-drawn carriage. The business approach to be aware of is as follows: outward journey 60 PLN, return journey 30 PLN. Incidentally, I discovered to my own surprise that walking to and upward is easier than walking back and downward. Having walked approximately 13 km on foot, on the way back from the lake to the second car park we gladly made use of the services of a traditional Polish horse-drawn carriage.
Gains from the walk:
1) physical activity in fresh air and fantastic visual enjoyment;
2) beautiful pictures, which is no less important for fans of the online world;
3) we were at a little more than 1,000 m above sea level;
4) I spotted the DarbaGuru mountain summit - an almost identical silhouette - the peak Mnich (2,068 m above sea level; "Mnich" means "Monk" in Polish).
Look at the photographs to see how the interplay of sun and clouds changes the mood of the mountain landscape and the colour of the lake water - from dark tones to a rich, vivid green.
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