The trail to Chata Plesnivec is one of the “short”, albeit pleasing, trails in High Tatras. The fact that its biggest part cuts through dense forest makes it the perfect route for the, often harsh, Slovak summer days. As a bonus, its moderate length and low elevation gain mean it’s a great trail for kids, provided they are fit.

The trailhead is at the entrance of Tatranska Kotilna in Belianske Tatry, the easternmost and tamer part of High Tatras which consists of limestone instead of the usual granite. The landscapes there are less rugged with more trees, grassy slopes, and blooming meadows. The route ascends Siedmich prameňov valley all the way to Chata Plesnivec which rests on the southeast slope of Bujačí peak.

Circular Trail from Tatranska Kotlina to Chata Plesnivec

Length: 10.2km

Elevation Gain: 600m

The starting point is by the parking area, across the bus station as you enter Tatranska Kotlina from the south. There, you take the dirt road and follow the green trail markers to Chata Plesnivec. As you delve deeper into the woods, the road gives place to a narrow trail which is in great condition but needs a bit of caution higher up, due to tree roots protruding here and there. The route is mostly uphill, with a rare for High Tatras, constant rate of ascent that is pleasant, I dare say. The broadleaf trees of Belianske Tatry provide shade from the sun and the trail is never too far from a cold stream, great for cooling your hands and neck.

It takes around two hours and fifteen minutes (3hrs with a kid) to reach Chata Plesnivec (1290m), a beautiful wooden refuge from 1932 that offers cheap accommodation, good food, and cold beer. The refuge lies on a trail crossroad and is a gateway to the rest of High Tatras. From Plesnivec you can hike west to Biele pleso and even further to Zelene pleso, deeper into the mountain line.

Another positive about the hike is that you can make it circular by using the yellow trail to Cierna voda on the way back. It’s a tough rocky road on the belly of the valley, used for the refuge’s supplying tracks. Some sections look like a riverbed because they are covered with big rocks and are a bit hard on the legs, but it’s a nice trail with great views, traveling along streams, small waterfalls, and grassy pastures. About an hour into the yellow trail, you have to switch to the blue trail towards Tatranska Kotlina leading to the first section of the green trail that was used on the way up, and finally the parking.

What to Eat.

Garlic soup is a great way to warm yourself and get some of your strength back. In Slovakia, it is served with delicious cheese melted inside. For something more substantial and if you have a sweet tooth, try Perene buchty: luscious jam-filled steam buns with melted butter, sprinkled with ground sugar, cocoa, and poppy seed.   

Wildlife

When it comes to wildlife, I did encounter a couple of small vipers on the way, distinguishable by the triangular shape of their heads and the zigzag pattern on their backs. They are venomous but not aggressive, as long as you stay on the trail and out of their way. Belianske Tatry, like the rest of High Tatras, is bear country, and even though bears do avoid people most of the time, and I’ve never had an encounter all these years, hikers must be aware. A little noise here and there helps these animals to stay away.

Which is the Best Season to Visit Chata Plesnivec

Chata Plesnivec is open every day except from November to May when it’s open on weekends and national holidays. The trails are open all year round and even though it’s a small and rather safe route, caution should be exercised in the winter when temperatures drop below -10°C, and avalanches can occur. It’s a great walk in the summer with the forest offering protection from the sun and the abrupt mid-day storms, and of course, fall, when the Slovak countryside changes from green to every imaginable shade of orange and purple.