Eagle’s Path

The Eagle’s Path is very popular, another reason why it is very dangerous. It can be quite crowded where facilities are installed. So, it is a good idea to start early in the morning to skip the crowds. Since its inception, approximately 140 people have lost their lives on it. Make no mistake, you need to stay sharp and keep track of the weather forecast throughout the day.

“Orla Perć” is a ridge trail. In good weather conditions, the views will be magnificent. It is marked red, with a red dot at its beginning (Zawrat Pass) and its end (Krzyżne Pass). The Krzyżne Pass, where the trail finishes, is famous for its beautiful panoramic views of a vast part of the High Tatras, considered by some as the most beautiful view in Polish Tatras.

The trail is partially one-way on the Zawrat-Kozia Przełęcz section. The remaining part of Kozia Przełęcz – Krzyżne Pass is a two-way. If you plan to hike the trail in one day, you should choose the Zawrat-Krzyżne Pass direction. For a person with good physical condition, you need to plan for 5-6 hours to complete the trail in good weather conditions.

Keep in mind that the trail starts and ends on the ridge! The beginning of the trail – Zawrat Pass (2158m) can be reached from two places: Kuźnice (1025m) and Palenica Białczańska (984m).

You’ll find the blue trail leads from Kuźnice to Zawrat. On the way, there is a year-round open “Murowaniec” Shelter, where you can stay overnight if you book in advance. It is worth noting that shelters in the season must be booked far in advance, especially on weekends.

If you choose to hike from Palenica Białczańska, you will take the red trail, then the green trail towards the “Valley of Five Polish Ponds” and then the blue trail to “Zawrat Pass.” In the Valley of Five Ponds, there is a year-round shelter, where you can stay overnight if you book it in advance. Both shelters are open all year round, and you can order food and replenish your water. There are no springs or water sources on the Eagle’s Path trail.

To get to the beginning of the “Orla Perć” trail, you should plan about 4-5 hours and a climb of approximately 1250 meters. You should set aside about the same amount of time for the descent. If you plan to sleep in the shelter, you will get to the trail in about 2 hours and you should count on the descent in the same amount of time to get back to the shelter.

The trail is secured with artificial facilities like chains, metal steps, and two ladders, but it is not a via ferrata.

The most important rule when moving on chains is one person per chain. If, while using the chain, someone else wants to use it, you must intervene immediately. This can cause a loss of balance and a fall from a great height for both of you.

The entire trail is located within the Tatra National Park. You should familiarize yourself with the regulations that apply there. Some of the most important rules are:

• Do not leave the marked trail
• No camping
• No swimming in lakes
• No hiking on the trail after dark (in the period from March 1st to November 30th)
• Do not leave any rubbish
• Do not feed wild animals

It is worth remembering that the Tatras are not only a tourist attraction, but above all a home to many species of wild animals such as brown bear, lynx, wolf, fox, deer, marmot, and chamois (mountain goat). The ban on walking after dark is not only to allow animals to move freely but is also a form of protecting tourists from the consequences of an encounter with
a surprised animal.

The best time to walk the Eagle’s Path safely is from June to October. But note that by September the trail can be covered with snow and at some points, especially on the northern side, there may be icy patches. You need to keep track of the weather and use local information points. Slipping and falling from a great height can be fatal, so it is not recommended to walk this trail in winter conditions.

For your safety, always stay on the trail. Take enough water with you, and download the app “RATUNEK” (RESCUE) provided by Polish mountain rescue operations. Let your friends know about your plans and estimated return time. This is a very difficult trail only for experienced hikers with the right experience.

Required equipment:

• Helmet required
• Headlamp
• Approach shoes
• In June, September, October (depend on the weather) crampons might be needed.
• Chain gloves will be very useful
• Trekking poles for approach and descent
• Good sunglasses
• Via Ferrata leash and climbing harness are not required but if you prefere to feel more secure, it can be useful during critical points.

Additionally, do not keep anything in the side pockets of your backpack that could fall out. A bottle of water or a thermos could hurt someone climbing below. Keep such things inside your backpack. It is worth installing the app RATUNEK (RESCUE). In the event of an accident, just press the button on your phone’s display three times and the emergency services will be informed about the need to carry out a rescue operation. The application also will transmit your current location to the services using GPS and even the battery level of your phone.