Zwalista Turnia is one of those Tatra peaks that hides in a side ridge, rarely visited yet quietly captivating with its rugged character. Its steep cliffs, especially on the side facing Dolina Staroleśna, leave a strong impression on anyone who ventures to see them.
The peak sits on a side ridge running southeast from Mała Wysoka, separated from Baniasta Turnia by Zwalista Przełęcz and from Staroleśny Szczyt by Zwodna Ławka. Its massif holds a whole array of lesser-known features - Zwodna Baszta, Zwalisty Przechód, Zwalista Baszta, Sucha Przehyba and Sucha Kopa on the southwestern slopes, and Wyżnia and Niżnia Zwalista Szczerbina, Mała Zwalista Turniczka and Zwalista Kopa along the northwestern ridge. This is a place for those who appreciate the wild, raw atmosphere of the High Tatras, with views over rocky ridges and deep valleys.
How to reach the summitThe Polish name refers to the peak's tumbled, jagged shape, while the Slovak, German and Hungarian names honor Paul Wexter, founder of the settlement Tatrzańska Polanka. The first summer ascent was recorded in 1892, and the first winter ascent in 1928.