A Trip to Zakopane: Dolina Białego, Sarnia Skała, Wodospad Siklawica and Dolina Strążyska (I)

Traveling to Zakopane, the weather forecast predicted rain, making me a bit worried. I bought a few raincoats and hoped this evil rain would pass us by. However, it was raining from the morning already on the first day. It was clear that climbing the mountains was not an option: it was slippery, wet, and lightning might strike.

Therefore, we decided to visit a few smaller parks that were easily accessible on foot from where we were staying. It took us several hours, and the raincoats totally helped. We managed to visit Dolina Białego, Sarnia Skała, Wodospad Siklawica, and Dolina Strążyska.

Rainy day in Zakopane

This route might be suitable not only if it’s raining and you don’t have a choice. You can also choose it if you don’t have a lot of time, you want to stretch your legs before more severe hikes, or maybe you don’t have the stamina to climb the longer trail and just want to have a more relaxing day.

Colors label all the trails in the Tatra Mountains. So even if you don’t find a sign pointing to your destination, you can orientate yourself according to the color of the trail you’re following.

Dolina Białego

We started our hike by visiting a park called Dolina Białego. The entrance to the park goes through a payment booth located at the beginning of the park. A reminder: a single one-day ticket to the Tatras park costs 5 zl, while a weekly ticket costs 25 zl.

The path leading us through the woods wasn’t too steep. After a short walk, the landscape became more pleasant to the eye. Streams were flowing, and majestic cliffs surrounded us. The path itself is not difficult yet rocky, so it‘s better to wear mountain shoes if you have a pair.

Following the path, we reached a small waterfall. By then, the rain was ending, and we could finally remove our raincoats. On the way, there were some benches where you could sit, rest and admire the views.

Sarnia Skała

From the end of the Dolina Strążyska park, we decided to follow the black trail. Through steep stone stairs, the path led us up toward Sarnia Skała. It is a small peak of a cliff/mountain offering a lovely view. Even on a cloudy day, the weather made everything look more magical. We felt like we were in Twin Peaks. At the peak, we were able to rest a bit. We enjoyed the spectacular scenery and watched the clouds trundling over the mountain top.

Wodospad Siklawica

Going down the mountain, we continued following the black trail until we reached Wodospad Siklawica. It’s a waterfall that is falling down from the mountain. The spot and the surroundings are truly beautiful yet very crowded. Many tourists stood in line just to take a picture. It was a rainy day, so I imagine on a sunny day, it could be even worse.

Dolina Strążyska

After visiting the waterfall, we returned to the city following the path in the Dolina Strążyska park. This path was really easy, without any steep slopes or rocks. I could even say it was a bit boring. On a sunnier day, we could have stopped to enjoy the views since there were many mountains and cliffs.

In the end, I would say that this route was quite easy, with only a few steep parts in some places. The views were magical even on a rainy day. The length of the route doesn’t make you too exhausted and could be easily completed even together with children.

Find more:
“Hiking in Zakopane: Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy lake (II)”
“A Trip to Zakopane: Hiking to the Giewont peak (III)”