Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy — literally 'Black Gąsienica Lake' — is one of the most stunning glacial lakes in the Polish Tatra Mountains. Sitting at 1624 m above sea level, its deep sapphire water with visibility reaching 12 metres will stop you in your tracks the moment you arrive.

The western shore is dominated by the dramatic rock walls of Kościelec peak, creating a natural stone amphitheatre reflected perfectly in the still water. The lake owes its dark, almost black hue to the shading from surrounding peaks and to cyanobacteria covering the boulders along the shore. From late spring, when the ice finally melts (typically between May and July), through to early autumn before it freezes again (usually October or November), the lake offers breathtaking scenery in every light. Look out for the tiny island covered in dwarf mountain pine near the north-eastern shore — it rests on an ancient roche moutonnée.

• From Murowaniec mountain hut on Hala Gąsienicowa — blue trail along the eastern shore, approx. 30 min, easy
• From Czarny Staw to Zawrat pass — continuation of the blue trail, approx. 1 h 50 min, demanding
• To Skrajny Granat peak — red trail branching off the blue trail on the eastern shore, approx. 1 h 45 min, demanding
• To Mały Kościelec and Karb pass — yellow trail from the northern shore, approx. 40 min, moderate

• The lake is within Tatra National Park — leaving marked trails and swimming are strictly prohibited.
• The lake has been stocked with trout since 1881, but fishing is not permitted.

In 1909, there was a plan to build a mausoleum for the Polish Romantic poet Juliusz Słowacki on the tiny island in the lake — thankfully, nature conservation activists stepped in and the island remains a wild, untouched gem to this day.