Southwest ridge runs across two apparent elevations – i.e. Upper and Lower Priehyba – and ends in afforested Grunik. These routes belong to quite difficult and challenging hikes in the High Tatras and require some physical and technical prowess. The part of the route is fixed and secured with chains. Kriváň peak offers beautiful views. You can see almost the entire ridge of Low Tatras, West Tatras and the Red Hills to the northwest.

You can access Kriváň from several places:

• Tri studničky (following blue-green route, 2h10″/2h30″)
• Štrbské pleso lake (blue-red route, 3h00″/3h30″)
• Pod jamami (blue, 2h45″/3h30″)

Kriváň is not even among the 20 highest peaks in Slovakia (but 27th). But its magical silhouette with noticeably curved top, after which is named, attracted poets, painters and ordinary people since beginning. Lots of myths and legends exist about Kriváň. In the past, it was a symbol of strengthening of the national pride and identity, sometimes abused for political goals.

This massive peak became a symbol of Slovak national consciousness and in 2005 it was decided that it will be displayed on the back of the Slovak euro coins with a face value of 1, 2 and 5 cents.

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Popradské pleso is also a good starting point for the tours around Mengusovská valley. To Popradské pleso you can get from Štrbské pleso following the marked trail which take approximately two hours of slow walking. Near Popradské pleso there is the symbolic cemetery. In this cemetery there is a monument to victims of the High Tatras. The cemetery is a good idea to show the number of victims who lost their lives in the mountains.

Popradské pleso covers an area of 6.88 hectares and it is 18 meters depth. In the past it was called Rybie pleso (Fish lake), as it was the only mountain-lake in the southern High Tatra Mountains with the natural occurrence of fish. The old name was first used in 1736 by Matej Bel, a prominent Slovak scholar of 18th century.

At the lake you can find Cottage of Popradské pleso where you can buy some refreshments, beer or try Slovak traditional meals (e.g. Bryndzové halušky). You can also book a room here and stay here for few nights. If so, I would recommend you to wake up very early and enjoy the sun-rise.

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The first ascent to the summit took place in 1855, although it was reportedly done in 1834, when Ján Still (teacher in Catholic school in Nová Lesná) got here.

Gerlachovský štít is accessible by two major routes. The first comes from Velická valley from Sliezský dom (house of Silesia). The trip takes about 4 hours. Another route is recommended for the descent. It leads through Batizovská valley, back to Sliezský dom.

Hiking to Gerlachovský štít is permitted only with a mountain guide, who can be ordered in the Association of Mountain Guides in Slovakia.

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There are several places from you can get to Zelené pleso:

• Tatranské Matliare (yellow-blue, 2h55″/3h30″)
• Skalnaté pleso lake (red, 2h15″/2h00″)
• Kopské saddle (blue-red, 1h00″/1h00″)
• Plesnivec cottage (red-green, 1h45″/2h00″)
• Tatranská Kotlina (red-green, 3h05″/3h30″)
• Jahňací peak (yellow, 1h40″/2h00″)
• Tatranská Javorina village (red-blue, 3h30″/4h00″)
• Veľká Svišťovka (red, 1h00″/0h45″)

There is also one of the most romantic accommodation is Slovakia – Chata pri Zelenom plese (cottage at Zelene pleso), where you can stay in a newly reconstructed room at the price of €11-€13/night.

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This rock cliff is one of the symbols of the Slovak Paradise National Park and it is the most visited and most popular tourist destination in the area. The fastest way how to get to Tomášovský výhľad is from Čingov village or from Spišské Tomášovce village, following the green or yellow tourist trail and it takes 30-45min.

Tomášovský výhľad is a popular place for climber training. Under the rocky terrace in the immediate vicinity of the tourist trail is the cave “Michalova džura”.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Milan Garbiar

Roháče stretch in the east – west from the saddle Pálenica (1573 m) in the east to the saddle Jamnické (1908 m) in the west.

Peaks
There are several peaks in the part of Roháče. Many of them are among the highest mountain peaks in the mountains, far above 2000 m.

Baníkov (2178 m)
Pachoľa (2167 m)
Hrubá kopa (2166 m)
Tri kopy (2136 m)
Plačlivé (2125 m)
Ostrý Roháč (2088 m)
Spálená (2083 m)
Salatín (2048 m)
Brestová (1903 m)
Zuberec (1806 m)
Pálenica (1753 m)
Redikálné (1651 m)

Plesa
You can find there several small lakes.

Lake Horné Jamnícké (1836 m)
Lake Dolné Jamnícké (1732 m)
Roháč lakes (1719 m)
Bobrovec lakes (1497 m)

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