Świstowa Kopa (1875 m a.s.l.) is a rounded summit ridge in the Polish High Tatras, sitting on one of the most rewarding trails between Morskie Oko and the Five Polish Lakes Valley. It serves as a key junction point where the northern ridge of Opalone splits into two arms, and the views it offers make every step worthwhile.

The summit itself has a gentle, grassy character — though heavy foot traffic has turned what was once a small meadow among dwarf pine into a gravelly patch. The lower sections of the ridge grow progressively steeper, eventually dropping in sheer vertical walls down to the Roztoka Valley. In summer the terrain is green and pleasant; in early spring and autumn drifting mist gives it a raw, alpine atmosphere. The panoramas toward the Five Polish Lakes Valley and Morskie Oko are truly memorable.

• Morskie Oko → Opalone → Świstowa Kopa → Five Polish Lakes Valley hut — blue trail, approx. 2 h (descent approx. 1 h 40 min), difficulty: moderate

• The trail is closed from 1 December to 31 May.
• There is a so-called 'deadly shortcut' on the ridge — the old trail variant through Świstowy Przechód. It is extremely dangerous, especially in winter and spring when ice-covered. Always follow the marked new variant on the western side of the ridge.
• By 2003, over a dozen people had died in the Świstowy Przechód area.

The history of this spot carries a sobering weight: on New Year's Eve 1956, three skiers fell from a 300-metre cliff here; four years later, one of the survivors returned to show friends the fateful spot — and lost his life there too. A powerful reminder that the Tatras demand respect at every turn.