Zamkovského Mountain Chalet

Route Description for Zamkovského Mountain Chalet

Zamkovskeho Mountain Chalet (Zamkovského Chata) hike is a beautiful trail that starts from Hrebienok. This trail is very popular with crowds year-round, so you won’t be here by yourself. Hrebienok can’t be reached by car so you will start your trip to Starý Smokovec. Parking in Starý Smokovec is tight so either arrive early or use an electric train to get to the town.

Zamkovskeho Mountain Chalet hike is an easy trail suitable for the whole family. This area is one of the most popular hiking areas in the High Tatra mountains and is also one of the few trails that stays open during winter. Although it’s not a hard hike, it has a lot to offer and introduces you to the diversity of Tatra nature.

The hike begins in the town of Hrebienok (1285 m altitude). You can arrive at Hrebienok using the funicular from Stary Smokovec. The price for a return ticket is 11 Eur for an adult. You can find the funicular station just north of the Smokovec Church. However, many people just climb the green trail from Stary Smokovec to Hrebienok, which takes around one hour.

You start from the Restaurant Hrebienok where you will see a signpost marking a lot of trails. Follow the red one towards the Zamkovského Chata/Obrovsky Vodopad. You will start the trail by walking on a comfortable rocky trail into a forested valley. The views here are great as you are surrounded by pine trees and rising mountains behind them.

You will come to a crossroad where you can choose to go towards the blue trail and closer to the stream or continue on the red one. Whichever way you choose, you will reach the same stream higher in the valley. Later, you will come to the first wooden bridge. A lot of people stay here for a while due to the nice water basin the waterfall creates and the beautiful views around you.

Continue along the bridge. After a few more minutes you will come to the second wooden bridge. You have reached the Obrovsky Waterfall (Obrovsky Vodopad). Enjoy the view of the falling water and the valley it has helped in shaping. Some people come here only for the waterfall but continue further up the trail. The ascent is going to increase, however, it will stay very comfortable throughout the whole hike.

The views towards the Zamkovského Chalet are great, especially after the last switchback down through the forest part. You will be able to see the Slavkovsky Peak and a lot of other mountains surrounding this area.

Finally, you will reach the Zamkovského Mountain Chalet. There is still some construction work being done here, but the mountain hut is operational and you can stay here for some nice refreshments before turning back. A lot of people also continue further onto the harder hikes from here.

After the refreshments, return the same way you came.

Find more amazing hikes in the High Tatras

• Rysy
• Popradské Pleso
• Zelené Pleso
• Štrbské Pleso

Insider Hints for Zamkovského Mountain Chalet

• To make this hike longer, consider following the red trail (Tatranska Magistrala) to the Skalnata Chata.
• Go early to reduce the crowd levels. However, the intensity of people on this trail remains quite high until the last funicular ride. 
• The Funicular from Stary Smokovec starts at 7:30 AM and runs till 6 PM.