--- title: "Crossing the Low Tatras – 100 km in 4 days, practical advice, places to sleep" description: "A detailed guide to crossing the Low Tatras, where you'll find the route, information on camping and bivouacking, a sample gear list and tips on where to resupply water and food." canonical_url: "https://gramino.com/blog/crossing-the-low-tatras" last_updated: "2024-06-20" --- # Crossing the Low Tatras – 100 km in 4 days, practical advice, places to sleep Authors: Michaela Czempková Date: 2024-06-20 A detailed guide to crossing the Low Tatras, where you'll find the route, information on camping and bivouacking, a sample gear list and tips on where to resupply water and food. If you've got at least four days free and are wondering where to head, go for the Low Tatras traverse. You won't regret it! The full traverse of the Low Tatras ridge is roughly 100 km. It's a proper ridge walk through varied mountain terrain, with over 5 000 m of cumulative elevation gain along the way. You'll get to soak in the mountain scenery and those views to the fullest. If you don't have time for the full traverse, you can shorten the route and hike only the western or only the eastern half of the ridge, which is split by the Čertovica saddle. The western half is more frequently visited, home to the highest peak, Ďumbier, and the Chopok cable car. The dominant feature of the eastern half is Kráľova hoľa, which, together with the whole eastern ridge, is also well worth the visit. ## Key Information and Article Contents - **Start and end of the traverse** – where to start and where to finish - **Summary** - **Ideal timing and terrain** – when to set out on the Low Tatras traverse - **Overnighting in Low Tatras National Park** – where to sleep during the traverse - **Camping & bivouacking** – where you're officially allowed to camp and bivouac - **Supplies** – where to eat - **Water** – where to refill water, and how filtering works - **Wildlife** – what animals you might meet and what risks they pose - **Gear** – what gear you shouldn't forget - **Doing your business 💩💦** – where to go to the toilet and how not to pollute nature while doing it - **Practical tips for the end** – might come in handy ## Official Source of Information - **Official website of Low Tatras National Park (NAPANT) –** [website](https://www.napant.sk/) - **Visitor regulations –** [download here](https://www.napant.sk/pre-navstevnikov/navstevny-poriadok/) - **Information leaflet –** [download here](https://www.napant.sk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/poriadok-NAPANT-SK.pdf) ## Start and End of the Traverse The starting point is most often the village of **Donovaly or Telgárt**, depending on which direction you want to hike the traverse. If you start in Donovaly, you'll face a gradual climb at the beginning of the route, but by the time you're descending into Telgárt at the end, expect a genuinely steep and demanding descent. That's why a lot of people go the **Telgárt ➡️ Donovaly** direction instead, to get the steep climb out of the way right at the start and finish with a long, gradual descent that's easier on the knees. This is also the direction the SNP trail follows. We solved the logistics like this: we hiked the **Donovaly ➡️ Telgárt** direction. We left the car in Donovaly at the parking lot by the Donovaly brewery, where you can **park for free**. 🍺 Donovaly is also easy to reach by bus from Ružomberok. The traverse took us **four days**. From Telgárt there's fairly good **public transport back to Donovaly with a transfer in Banská Bystrica.** The entire Low Tatras ridge walk is well **marked with red trail markers**. Before you set out, **download offline maps** where you can see water sources, shelters, and spots where bivouacking or camping is allowed. [Map](https://frame.mapy.cz/s/navecusabo) ## Day 1 After just a few kilometers, you'll rise above the tree line and soon get to enjoy views of the Western Tatras or the Veľká Fatra. If you set out from Donovaly in the morning or before noon, you'll most likely use **the Ďurková shelter** for your first night. During the day you'll summit peaks named **Prašivá**, **Malá and Veľká Chochuľa**, **Košarisko**, and **Latiborská hoľa**, all around 1 700 m in elevation. Our situation was a bit different – we didn't set out from Donovaly until the afternoon, so we spent our first night at **Hiadeľské** **saddle**, where there's a large wooden shelter and one-time camping is allowed. ⛺️ ## Day 2 Summiting **Dereše** finally gets you above 2 000 m. At Chopok you can grab a bite at the Kamenná chata (Stone Hut) 🏠. Get ready for a lot more hikers here, since this is where the cable car brings people up. Right after that comes **the highest peak of the Low Tatras – Ďumbier (2 043 m)**. You do need to detour about 1 km to reach its summit, but skipping it would be a shame, don't you think? 🙂 For the next night you can use **the** **General M. R. Štefánik hut**, but if you've still got plenty of daylight left, you can carry on down to **Čertovica saddle**. ## Day 3 The Čertovica saddle is the notional dividing line between the western and eastern parts of the Low Tatras range. Quite a few people end their hike here. Compared to the western half, the eastern part is much more forested, but it's definitely worth hiking through. For your last night you'll most likely use **the Andrejcová shelter**, where one-time camping is **officially allowed**. ## Day 4 On the last day, there's still **the highest peak of this part of the range – Kráľova hoľa (m a.s.l.)** to conquer, complete with an unsightly TV transmitter building, and then you have to survive the grueling, knee-punishing **descent down to Telgárt**. It's precisely because of this steep section that a lot of people choose the opposite direction (starting in Telgárt, finishing in Donovaly); this is also the direction the SNP trail follows. ## Summary - **start and end point:** – Donovaly, Telgárt – whichever direction you choose is up to you - **length:** – 95–100 km - **total elevation gain:** – 5 000–5 500 m - **number of days:** – typically 4–5, or 6 days at a lower daily distance - **ideal time to go:** – depends on snow cover and weather, roughly May to October - **highest peak:** – Ďumbier, 2 043 m a.s.l. - **terrain:** – rocky, grassy, narrow forest trails - **water:** – a handful of springs and mountain huts - **food:** – available at some shelters and huts - **sleeping:** – shelters, huts, camping only in permitted spots - **dog-friendly:** – yes, on a leash only - **stroller-friendly:** – definitely not 😀 ## Best Time to Go and Terrain Unless you're after a ski touring trip or wading through snow, save the Low Tatras traverse for true spring – say, May onward. A lot depends on how long winter lasted and how much snow fell, though. In certain spots, **snowfields linger into summer**. Before you set off, you definitely need to check and **assess current conditions – snow cover and the weather forecast**. On the ridge you'll find **narrow forest trails, paths across grassy mountain plains, but also rocky sections** where you'll really get to channel your inner chamois. We started our traverse on May 7 and only had to cross a few unpleasant **snowfields** – before Chopok, and again past Štefánik's hut on the descent to Čertovica. - [TOAKS Titanium 450 ml Cup](/p/toaks-cup-450-ml.md) - [Sea To Summit Camp Cutlery Spoon](/p/sea-to-summit-camp-cutlery-spoon.md) - [TOAKS Titanium Folding Spork](/p/toaks-titanium-folding-spork.md) - [Fizan Compact MS](/p/fizan-compact-ms.md) - [Darn Tough Women's Critter Club Micro Crew Lightweight](/p/darn-tough-critter-club-micro-crew-lightweight-womens.md) - [Darn Tough Women's Treeline Micro Crew Midweight](/p/darn-tough-treeline-micro-crew-midweight-womens.md) - [MSR Groundhog Tent Stakes (6 pcs)](/p/msr-groundhog-tent-stakes-6pcs.md) - [Jetboil Jetpower Fuel 450 g](/p/jetboil-jetpower-fuel-450-g.md) - [3F UL Gear Lanshan 1 (2026)](/p/3f-ul-gear-lanshan-1.md) - [NEMO Tensor Trail](/p/nemo-tensor-trail.md) - [Yate EVA Classic 1,0](/p/yate-eva-classic-10-mm.md) ## Overnighting in Low Tatras National Park Traversing the entire 100 km Low Tatras ridge takes the average hiker 4–5 days, meaning 3–4 nights. Since the Low Tatras are among Slovakia's most strictly protected areas, overnighting here is restricted. Still, you've got a few options. ### Shelters and Mountain Huts You can use several shelters along the main ridge for overnighting. These are small wooden structures where you can spend a single night. Keep in mind, though, that a shelter isn't just for you – it's open to everyone. During peak season, shelters can fill up completely, so it's worth planning for the option of sleeping outside too. If you like real comfort, you can stay in mountain huts instead. Hut capacity is limited, so we recommend booking ahead. ### Mountain Huts and Free Shelters 🏠 (listed west to east) - **shelter at Hiadeľské saddle** – a large open wooden shelter with a loft for sleeping, watch out for the higher mouse population 🙂 - **hut at the saddle below Ďurková** – a dorm-style sleep on mattresses for a small fee - Kamenná chata pod Chopkom – restaurant, drinking water, accommodation for 20 people via a booking system (€42 per person) - [Chata generála Štefánika](https://chatamrs.sk/) – drinking water, refreshments, accommodation (from €21 per person) - **shelter and hut at Bocianské saddle** – slightly off the main ridge - **accommodation at Čertovica saddle** – [Mountain Rescue Service house](https://www.domceknacertovici.sk/#rezervacia), a roadside inn, or a hotel - **Terezka shelter** – a new shelter at the saddle past Lenivá, a short way from Čertovica saddle - **Ramža shelter** – a spring nearby (we recommend bringing a water filter), an outhouse, seating, a fire pit - **wooden shelter at Priehyba saddle** – not really suited for overnighting, but handy if the weather turns bad - **Andrejcová shelter** – sleeping inside for a small fee - **hut below Kráľova hoľa** ## Camping and Bivouacking **Both camping and bivouacking** (sleeping on the ground without a tent or other shelter) are **banned across Low Tatras National Park, with a few exceptions**. The spots where camping is allowed are specified in the national park's visitor regulations. ### Spots Designated for One-Time Overnight Stays in NAPANT (tent pitching allowed ⛺️): - **Hiadeľské saddle** – there's also a large wooden shelter with a loft at the saddle - **Ďurková** – next to the shelter; for a fee you can also sleep inside; some sources say camping is only allowed once the shelter is at capacity - **Čertovica saddle** – by the Mountain Rescue Service building or behind the Čertovica roadside inn - **Ramža saddle** – by the shelter; you can also sleep inside - **Priehyba saddle** - **Andrejcová saddle** – by the shelter; for a fee you can also sleep inside – in season the shelter tends to be packed to bursting, so booking ahead is essential - **Predné saddle** ## Supplies 🍽️ The main thing is to set out on the hike with a full stomach. So before starting the climb, we fueled up at the Donovaly brewery and tried their bryndzové halušky (potato dumplings with sheep cheese) and bacon, and of course the local beers. During the ridge traverse you can refuel at the mountain huts on Chopok, at Štefánik's hut, at Čertovica saddle, and at the Ďurková and Andrejcová shelters. The menu usually includes various soups and mains, beer, soda, and tea. The selection at shelters is understandably narrower than at the huts. We usually bring food for the whole traverse and only rely on eateries occasionally. A staple of our hiking menu is dehydrated meals from [Real Turmat](/b/real-turmat), [Adventure Menu](/b/adventure-menu) or [Summit To Eat](/b/summit-to-eat). For dinner we round out the dehydrated meals with instant soups. During the day we power through various cookies, flapjacks, chocolate, or [protein bars](/b/moonvalley). [Freeze-Dried Farmer's Cheese Cubes 50 g](/p/freeze-dried-farmers-cheese-cubes-50-g.md) - [REAL Turmat Kebab Stew](/p/real-turmat-kebab-stew.md) - [Adventure Menu Chilli con Carne](/p/adventure-menu-chilli-con-carne.md) - [Summit To Eat Chicken Tikka with Rice](/p/summit-to-eat-chicken-tikka-with-rice.md) - [Adventure Menu Penne Bolognese with Parmesan](/p/adventure-menu-penne-bolognese.md) - [REAL Turmat Asian Curry](/p/real-turmat-asian-curry.md) - [Freeze-Dried Ricotta Cheese – Doubravák 50 g](/p/freeze-dried-ricotta-doubravak-50-g.md) - [Moonvalley Chocolate Dipped Protein Bar](/p/moonvalley-protein-bar-chocolate-dipped.md) - [REAL Turmat Pulled Pork with Rice](/p/real-turmat-pulled-pork-with-rice.md) - [Adventure Menu Rice Porridge with Strawberries, Mango and Vanilla](/p/adventure-menu-rice-porridge-with-strawberries-mango-and-vanilla.md) - [REAL Turmat Chocolate Muesli](/p/real-turmat-chocolate-muesli.md) ## Water 💧 The higher up in the mountains you go, the fewer water sources you'll find. You need to keep an eye on your water supply so you don't get dehydrated. So whenever you come across a spring or reach a hut, always top off your bottles. We hiked the Low Tatras traverse in May 2024, when there was still plenty of snow on the ridge, so water at the springs was never in short supply. We carried a [Katadyn water filter](/p/katadyn-befree-1-l), which also doubles as a regular soft bottle. We only filtered water once, from a water source by the Ramža shelter, where the water was standing still. During a dry summer, when water sources can run dry, we'd recommend bringing a water filter so you can also draw from standing, not entirely clean sources. In winter, on the other hand, springs can freeze over completely, but there will be plenty of water (as snow) all around. You just need enough fuel to melt it. ### Spots Where You Can Refill Water: - by the shelter below Kečka - Hiadeľské saddle - by the Ďurková shelter - at the huts on Chopok - about 250 m before Štefánička, heading toward Chopok - at Štefánik's hut – a water tap on the outside of the building - by the Ramža shelter - about 2 km past Ramža - Priehyba saddle - by the Andrejcová shelter - the Zubrovice spring - [CNOC Vecto 2 L 28 mm](/p/cnoc-vecto-2-l-28-mm.md) - [Platypus Softbottle 1.0 L Platy Logo Closure Cap](/p/platypus-softbottle-1-l-platy-logo-closure-cap.md) - [Katadyn BeFree 1 L](/p/katadyn-befree-1-l.md) - [CNOC Hydriam 750 ml 28 mm](/p/cnoc-hydriam-750-ml-28-mm.md) - [Sea To Summit Frontier UL Collapsible Cup](/p/sea-to-summit-frontier-ul-collapsible-cup.md) - [Gramino SagiFlow](/p/gramino-sagiflow-ultralight-bidet.md) - [HydroBlu Versa Flow Water Filter Package](/p/hydroblu-versa-flow-water-filter-package.md) - [LifeStraw Peak Series Solo](/p/lifestraw-peak-series-solo.md) - [HydroBlu Versa Flow Water Filter](/p/hydroblu-versa-flow-water-filter.md) - [CNOC Vesica 1 L 42 mm](/p/cnoc-vesica-1-l-42-mm.md) - [Sawyer 1 L – set of 3 pcs](/p/sawyer-1-l-bottle-set-3pcs.md) ## Wildlife Whenever you head into any Slovak mountains, keep in mind that they're **home to bears 🐻** and we're the ones visiting them. 🌲 Every visit should be announced in advance, so let them know you're there so neither of you gets accidentally surprised. Bears generally don't want to meet you either. In less open terrain, **use a bear bell, talk loudly, sing, or tap your trekking poles.** If you do encounter a bear, it's important to **stay calm**, slowly move away from it, and above all **don't run!** Attacks are often the result of the animal being startled or defending itself. In case of close contact, the safest thing is to lie down, curl up into a ball, play dead, and protect your vital organs and arteries. Remember that behaving correctly in nature is key. Bears are just as afraid of us as we are of them, and most encounters are completely uneventful and contact-free. Check out this video and learn more about large carnivores. 🐺🐱🐻 Read [this article](https://olomoucky.denik.cz/zpravy_region/medved-libava-zlin-javorniky-nizke-tatry-miroslav-kutal.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR016Nis0koBvcqqRbWhPpjJ6in2DoMJn2gOegv74Fe41gsaVVeBHe1UB2s_aem_AaQZTXVXpZNW7HooLpzfuSyZsl0oPZT-Y_SjnqsKnKwBYRurNULItd5yrdZERYoOT02XmuTa0Xd8oxfLTwid4Qag). [Darn Tough Women's Bear Town Micro Crew Lightweight](/p/darn-tough-bear-town-micro-crew-lightweight-womens.md) [Video](https://youtu.be/DWJ1T9naeFo) The only carnivores we actually met in the Low Tatras were four adorable Samoyeds at the Ďurková shelter, two cats at Andrejcová, and one fox by the Ramža shelter. Just watch out that the foxes don't steal your lunch and the cats don't climb into your sleeping bag. 🐱 ## Gear ### Gear You Shouldn't Leave at Home for the Low Tatras: - **Sleeping bag or quilt** – Whether you're planning to sleep under your own [shelter](/c/sleep/tents) or in the huts, you'll need a sleeping bag. For the shelters, we'd recommend [lightweight quilts](/c/sleep/quilts), which work more like a blanket or duvet. - [Trekking poles](/p/fizan-compact) – will help you both uphill and on long, steep descents. - **An insulating layer, like a down jacket** – mountain weather is unpredictable and changeable; nighttime temperatures can drop close to freezing even if it's hot during the day - **Power bank** – your phone battery probably won't last the whole traverse. You can rely on [this power bank from Nitecore](/p/nitecore-nb10000-power-bank-gen4). It's durable, lightweight, and can fully charge during a lunch break at a hut. - [Microspikes](/p/snowline-chainsen-trail) – Don't forget you're heading into high mountains where it can snow at any time of year. ❄️ In May we had to cross a few unpleasant snowfields, and the microspikes really came in handy! - **First-aid kit** – We probably don't even need to mention the first-aid kit. It should always include an emergency blanket. But did you know that properly wrapping up a hypothermic person actually takes **TWO** [emergency blankets](/p/yate-emergency-blanket-gold)? - **Foldable bottle** – Some water sources are trickier to scoop water from. But with [this foldable bottle](/p/cnoc-vesica-1-l-42-mm) it'll be much easier. - [Headlamp](/c/gear/headlamps) – You'll need a headlamp both in the tent and in the shelters. - [Platypus Softbottle 1.0 L Platy Logo Closure Cap](/p/platypus-softbottle-1-l-platy-logo-closure-cap.md) - [Nitecore NU25 MCT UL](/p/nitecore-nu25-mct-ul.md) - [Snowline Chainsen Light](/p/snowline-chainsen-light.md) - [Nitecore NB10000 Power Bank GEN3](/p/nitecore-nb10000-powerbank-gen3.md) - [Yate Emergency Blanket Silver](/p/yate-emergency-blanket-silver.md) - [Fizan Compact](/p/fizan-compact.md) - [Sea To Summit Ultra-Sil™ Nano™ Poncho](/p/sea-to-summit-ultra-sil-nano-poncho.md) - [Tidy Gear Gaiters](/p/tidy-gear-gaiters.md) - [Hyperlite Mountain Gear Shoulder Pocket](/p/hyperlite-mountain-gear-shoulder-pocket.md) - [Tyvek 75x230 cm (for 1 person)](/p/tyvek-groundsheet-230-x-75-cm.md) - [Cumulus neo Quilt 300](/p/cumulus-neo-quilt-300.md) You can find our gear lists here: [Míša's](https://lighterpack.com/r/l7cukg) and [David's](https://lighterpack.com/r/vaov27). ## Doing Your Business 💩💦 Near most shelters and mountain huts you'll find **outhouses** (latrines). Please use them, so the area doesn't end up looking like one giant toilet and trash heap! When you need to go in the wild, **bury solid waste 💩 underground** (a [trowel](/p/sea-to-summit-pocket-trowel) is handy for that) and use plain biodegradable toilet paper or tissues, **never wet wipes – they don't break down**! Best of all, though, is to avoid overusing toilet paper altogether and **wash with water instead**. A [travel bidet](/p/culo-clean-bidet) works great for that. 😊 Girls can use a [Kula Cloth](/p/kula-cloth-pee-cloth) to dry off after peeing. [Gramino SagiFlow](/p/gramino-sagiflow-ultralight-bidet.md) ## Practical Tips to Wrap Up Various small animals may hang around shelters looking for food scraps left behind by hikers. Leftover food, sausage ends, and fragrant food wrappers can attract mice and foxes, but also bears. So pack out everything you bring into nature and stay alert. **Trash** – everyone carries their own back to civilization. **Trash cans are only available at the huts on Chopok.** Just like everywhere else in the mountains, the weather in the Low Tatras can be unpredictable too. Down in the valley, the sun can blaze hot enough that you'd be comfortable in swimwear. But up on the ridge, a freezing wind can join in. **So never underestimate your clothing.** 👕 Even in summer, a down jacket, hat, and gloves can come in handy. 🧤 Now you hopefully have all the info you need. Just pick your dates, pack your backpack, and go. - [Gramino SagiFlow](/p/gramino-sagiflow-ultralight-bidet.md) - [Kula Cloth](/p/kula-cloth-pee-cloth.md) - [Sea To Summit Ultralight Aeros Pillow](/p/sea-to-summit-ultralight-aeros-pillow.md) - [Sea To Summit Airlite Towel – Medium](/p/sea-to-summit-airlite-towel-medium.md) - [Nikwax Down Wash Direct 300 ml](/p/nikwax-down-wash-direct-300-ml.md) - [Liteway Wash Bag](/p/liteway-wash-bag.md) - [Curaprox Travel set](/p/curaprox-travel-set.md) - [Sea To Summit Wilderness Wash 100 ml](/p/sea-to-summit-wilderness-wash-100-ml.md) - [DexShell Running Lite Sock 2.0](/p/dexshell-running-lite-sock-2-0.md) - [Cumulus Lite Line 400](/p/cumulus-lite-line-400.md) - [Darn Tough Men's Hiker 1/4 Midweight](/p/darn-tough-hiker-1-4-midweight-mens.md) This post is also available as [HTML](/blog/crossing-the-low-tatras). ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.