Western Tatras

The Western Tatras (Slovak: Západné Tatry; Polish: Tatry Zachodnie) are mountains in the Tatras, part of the Carpathian Mountains, located on the Polish-Slovak borders (Małopolskie and Liptov/Orava regions respectively). The mountains border the High Tatras in the east, Podtatranská kotlina in the south, Choč Mountains in the west and Rów Podtatrzański (Slovak: Podtatranská brázda) in the north. The main ridge is 37 kilometers long and the mountain range contains 31 two-thousanders.

Understand
The Western Tatras are subdivided into 6 regions on the Slovak side and 4 on the Polish side.

Slovak Western Tatras:


 * Osobitá (highest point: Osobitá, 1 687 m)
 * Sivý vrch (highest point: Sivý vrch, 1 805 m)
 * Liptovské Tatry (highest point: Bystrá, 2 248 m)
 * Roháče (highest point: Baníkov, 2 178 m), one of the most popular parts of the range
 * Červené vrchy (highest point: Kresanica / Krzesanica, 2 122 m)
 * Liptovské kopy (highest point: Veľká kopa, 2 122 m)

Polish Western Tatras:


 * Grześ
 * Kasprowy Wierch
 * Czerwone Wierchy (corresponds to Červené vrchy, highest point: Kresanica / Krzesanica, 2 122 m)
 * Ornak

Climate
The same as in High Tatras applies - the weather can change quickly, so follow forecast and be prepared to descend quickly too.

Get in
On the Slovak side, is a good starting point into the heart of the range. The only downside (cannot be avoided though) is the 1-hr walk is needed towards Ťatliakova hut.
 * is a popular town used as entrance/stay-over for tourists.

Fees and permits
The access is generally free, except for possible small parking fees at ski centers during summer.

See


Culture:



Do
During summer, most common activity is hiking.

During winter, there are multiple ski centers - the bigger ones include Roháče - Spálená and Zuberec.

Caves
On the Polish side:
 * Self-guided

Slovak side:

Eat
There are several huts and areas where hikes can start and end or where you can rest:

On the Slovak side:



On the Polish side:

Go next
The nearby Slovak mountain ranges Tatra National Park, Low Tatras and Choč Mountains are equally worth a visit - and each one is a completely different kind of mountains.