Siklawa Waterfall

Siklawa (roughly "shee-KWAH-vah") is Poland's highest waterfall, dropping about 65 to 70 m from the edge of the Great Pond into the Roztoka Valley in the High Tatras. It is one of the most spectacular things to see on a day hike from Zakopane, and you reach it on foot without any climbing. Visit after rain or on a sunny day, when rainbows appear in the spray.

What it is and where it is

The waterfall tumbles over a rock step called the Pond Wall (Ściana stawiarska), which separates the Valley of the Five Polish Ponds from the Roztoka Valley. The slope is about 35 degrees and the water splits into several streams depending on the level of the lake above. Siklawa is the largest waterfall in the Tatra Mountains and the highest in Poland, but not the highest in the range: that is Ciężka Siklawa in Slovakia. The Tatras form the border with Slovakia and are the highest part of the Carpathians; the waterfall is on the Polish side, in Tatra National Park.

Visitors were already making excursions here in the early 19th century, and the writer Seweryn Goszczyński described it in 1832.

How to hike to Siklawa

The classic route starts at Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza, beside the road to Morskie Oko, and follows the green trail up the Roztoka Valley. Allow about 2 hours 5 minutes uphill and about 1 hour 40 minutes down. The valley has a wide road, and after about 1 hour 25 minutes you reach a fork: the green trail turns right, passes Bacowa Wanta and reaches the falls and the Five Ponds Valley in about 45 minutes. The black trail goes left in zigzags through dwarf pine to the mountain hut.

Near the waterfall the trail crosses smooth rock slabs called Danielki, which are slippery and dangerous when icy. A mountain guide named Jan Gąsienica Daniel died here in 1924, which gave the place its name. Stay on the path and do not step on wet rock.

Best time and conditions

The falls look best from late spring to autumn, especially after rain. In winter the trail is sometimes closed because of avalanche danger, and the wall freezes. Always check the TPN tourist notice and avalanche bulletin. From 1 March to 30 November you may not walk the trails from dusk to dawn, so plan to be back before dark. Wear proper boots; from autumn you may need crampons and a helmet higher up, and trainers are not enough.

The Roztoka Valley on the way

The Roztoka Valley is about 4.4 km long and leads from where the stream meets the Białka up to the pond wall. You start at Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza, cascades 3 to 10 m high (the Upper, Middle and Lower falls) named in 1891 after Adam Mickiewicz. Beyond, a wide road follows the stream and rocky steps hang above the valley, such as Świstówka Roztocka. A cable lift for supplies runs below the mountain hut, but it is not for tourists. Start early in the morning to be back before dusk, carry food and a warm layer because it is colder at the falls than at the car park, and do not drink untreated stream water. In a thunderstorm leave open ground, as areas near streams are especially dangerous.

Who it suits and how long it takes

• Time: plan roughly 4 to 5 hours for the round trip from Wodogrzmoty, or a full day including the approach and a break.
• Kids: the path is wide but long and tiring; best for older children who are used to hiking.
• Dogs: not allowed in the national park.
• Strollers: not suitable on the upper part of the trail.

Tickets and practical information (as of October 2026)

Entry to Tatra National Park costs 11 PLN (standard), 5.50 PLN (reduced) or 55 PLN for a 7-day ticket; children under 7 enter free. Buy tickets online at tpn.gov.pl, at the park entrances or by QR code, and keep the confirmation on your phone because signal can be poor. E-ticket helpline: +48 885 989 427 (daily 7:00 to 13:00 except holidays), ebilety@tpn.pl. We found no information on English-language signage on the trail.

How to get there

The closest start is the TPN parking at Palenica Białczańska, which requires a parking e-ticket. From Zakopane you can take a minibus or the transport organised by TPN (check tpn.gov.pl). Zakopane is about 100 km (around two hours) south of Kraków, the nearest major airport. The waterfall itself lies in the municipality of Bukowina Tatrzańska, near Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza.

Nearby

On the way you pass Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza, a series of small cascades named in 1891 in honour of the poet Adam Mickiewicz. Further on are the Five Polish Ponds Valley with its mountain hut and the route to Morskie Oko.