Kuznice – Hala Gasienicowa – Zawrat Pass

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Difficulty Level: ****
Walking Time: 4h 40′ (8,8 km)
goraa1268m (41602ft)
dola134m (440ft)
Climbing Features – Metal chains & brackets
Highest Point: Zawrat Pass – 2159m (7083ft) a. s. l

The trail begins at the lower cable car station in Kuznice.  

From the station turn left, cross the footbridge over Bystra Brook, after which there is a toll booth charging the usual entrance fee to the park. The blue trail leads left into the forest. At the beginning, we ascend up a wide rocky road all the way to the crossroads, which we reach after 10 minutes. From here you can trek straight ahead towards Nosal, while we turn right, still going uphill. After another few minutes, the trail turns sharply to the left. For a few minutes the path runs along flat ground, just below the tip of Boczan, then we begin to navigate the stone steps gently uphill. The last part of this section of the trail leads through Skupniow Uplaz. We leave the woods and while walking gently uphill along a wide path, to your left side you can admire Kopieniec Wielki towering over the Dolina Olczyska (Olczyska Valley).

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Above Uplaz, for a few minutes we go over some sharp rocks, with some great views of Dolina Jaworzynka (Jaworzynka Valley) and, a little further away, Giewont. After an hour’s march from Kuznice, we find ourselves at the junction with the yellow trail running here from the above-mentioned valley. From this place, it only takes around 20 minutes to reach Hala Gasienicowa. Before us, a huge ridge surrounding Gasienicowa Valley emerges. At this point, apart from the old huts belonging to the Tatra National Park and the Polish Mountaineering Association, is the shelter “Murowaniec”.

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Hala Gasienicowa (1500 m) is a gigantic hub and meeting point of many hiking trails in the Tatras. The routes which begin in this very spot include trails onto Krzyzne Pass, Swinica, Kasprowy Wierch, Granaty, Koscielec and Zawrat Pass, which is the aim of our expedition.After leaving the shelter on Hala Gasienicowa, we see some signposts, as our blue trail initially leads alongside the yellow and black routes heading in the direction of Kasprowy Wierch, and after 100 meters turn left. The trail crosses the spruce forest then traverses the slopes of Maly Koscielec. At the beginning of the traverse, we pass the memorial boulder dedicated to the Polish composer Mieczyslaw Karlowicz, who died here in an avalanche. The boulder is located on the left side, a few meters below the path. The trail rises gently, leading towards Czarny Staw (Black Lake) along a paved footpath surrounded by fantastic scenery on all sides. The trail zigzags, soon reaching the north bank of Czarny Staw (Black Lake – 1624 m). The lake covers an area of more than 17 hectares and is over 50 meters deep. Stunning alpine surroundings including Koscielec, Kozie Wierchy (Chamois Peaks), Zamarla Turnia (Lifeless Crag) and Żółta Turnia (Yellow Crag) makes this one of the most beautiful lakes situated in the Tatras. Blue trail to Zawrat Pass bypasses the lake along the eastern bank. The path ahead opens up a magnificent panorama of Koscielec. To the left, the yellow trail to Skrajny Granat peels off, following which we reach the boundary separating Czarny Staw (Black Lake) and Kozia Dolinka (Chamois Valley).

 After crossing the stream running down to the Black Lake, the trail zigzags steeply uphill, leading to the point at which the yellow trail to Kozia Przełęcz (Chamois Pass) and Granaty splits off at the foot of Zawrat Pass; its characteristic V-shape appearing above. At the same time Zmarzly Staw (Frozen Lake – 1788 m) emerges, which fills the bottom of a small cirque.

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Blue trail climbs up towards the pass, meandering to the left of Zawratowy Żleb (Zawrat Couloir), which is where the winter-time route to Zawrat Pass runs through.The approach is quite tiring. From here, the level of difficulty increases. We climb up with the help of chains, and in several places, metal brackets. At the end of the trail we follow the path that runs parallel to Zawratowy Żleb, (on the right, a statue of the Virgin Mary). From Murowaniec to Zawrat Pass (2159 m asl), the journey takes around 2 hours. A blue trail leading down to Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich (Five Polish Lakes Valley) Valley is an option at this point. The view from Zawrat includes Gerlach, Rysy, Wysoka, Mieguszowieckie peaks, Hruby Peak and Krywan.

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