Náučný chodník Štrbské Pleso
Do you love the Vysoké Tatry mountains and enjoy spending your free time walking in the fresh air? Then put on your walking shoes and set off with us on the Náučný chodník Štrbské pleso educational trail. Bring your little ones along and discover together the history, fauna, and flora of this moraine lake. Did you know that the region in which Štrbské pleso lies was once called Štrbský chotár?
This highest-situated Tatras settlement (1,346 m a.s.l.) is located in the Národný park Vysoké Tatry (High Tatras National Park) and is a local part of the village of Štrba. 5 km long educational trail with 40 wooden information panels is open to tourists throughout the whole year. Even your youngest in a stroller or mobility-impaired persons in a wheelchair can handle the excursion along the paved stony path. Prepare for a 2.5-hour walk during which you will learn something about historical sights, spa history, as well as sports events at Štrbské Pleso.
Our hike begins in front of the railway station, which is the final stop of the Tatras electric railway and cog railway. Going up the stairs past Hotel Toliar, we find ourselves at Hotel Kempinski. We turn left and follow the asphalt road to a viewpoint from which we can already see our most visited Tatras lake from a distance. Water does not flow out of it anywhere, nor does any flow into it. It fills through underground springs from a depth of more than 12 meters. Thanks to its location, the surface of the lake is frozen for an average of 155 days a year. Other points of interest certainly include the ski jumping hill that has stood here since 1966. However, this massive structure has not been used for active sports for many years. In 1925, the European Ice Hockey Championships were held on the frozen surface of the lake.
The dark blue crystal-clear water in the lake is home to many small aquatic animals and fish. The most numerous fish species found here include chub, northern pike, European perch, and roach. A notable feature is the presence of the vendace fish (Coregonus maraena / sih maréna). This is most likely the last place in the world where this fish still occurs. Fishermen from the Třeboňsko region (Czech Republic) brought the vendace here in 1929. Their current number can be counted on the fingers of two hands. Despite the efforts of locals for artificial breeding, this fish is doomed to extinction.
Our trip continues to another viewpoint, offering an unprecedented view of the Podtatranská kotlina basin and the Nízke Tatry mountains. We proceed along a slightly steep slope from which we can see Cesta slobody. From Hotel Solisko, we continue around the lake, and after a few meters, we turn onto a narrow peninsula where we find the monument to the Slovenské národné povstanie (Slovak National Uprising). Right before it, we can stop at the memorial dedicated to our poet Maša Haľamová. On the northeastern shore, we turn onto the path that leads to Hotel Patria. If we turn left, we reach Hotel Fis, from where we can see all the way to Vodopád Skok waterfall, located in Mlynická dolina. At the main intersection, we turn left onto a small path leading to Nové Štrbské pleso (1,315 m a.s.l.). We will return to our destination, Štrbské pleso, along the path leading along the northern shore of the lake. If you have worked up an appetite after this easy hike, visit one of the hotel restaurants and treat yourself to a great gastronomic experience.
Plan your active holiday in Vysoké Tatry. But do not spend unnecessarily big money on expensive hotels. Comfortable yet affordable accommodation near Náučný chodník Štrbské Pleso can be found on our page cheap accommodation Štrbské Pleso. Whether you choose stylish apartments or cottages in the magical forest environment is entirely up to you. Spend the money saved to visit other attractions, of which there are plenty in the Tatras. Enjoy your stay in the fresh air and head to Botanická záhrada (Botanical Garden), where you have a great opportunity to discover up to 300 species of Tatras plants and trees. If you feel like something special, you will experience a proper dose of adrenaline on the Tatrabob bobsleigh track. We wish you a successful holiday full of unforgettable experiences.
