Tucked away in the quiet Pańszczyca Valley at 1,654 m above sea level, Czerwony Staw — the 'Red Pond' — is one of the Tatra Mountains' most intriguing little secrets. What makes it truly special is the striking brownish-red colour of the stones lining its bed and shores, giving the whole place an almost otherworldly glow.

The pond is small and intimate: just 108 m long and 46 m wide, with a maximum depth of only 0.9 m. During dry spells it can split into two separate pools or even disappear almost entirely — so every visit brings something slightly different. The surrounding valley is peaceful and off the beaten track, far from the crowds of the more popular Tatra trails. In early autumn, when the grasses turn golden, this spot feels particularly magical and remote.

• Murowaniec mountain hut (Gąsienicowa Valley) — yellow trail through Pańszczyca Valley, approx. 1 h to the trail junction (↓ 50 min), then approx. 1 h 45 min onward to Krzyżne Pass (↓ 1 h 15 min); difficulty: moderate
• A black connector trail joins the yellow trail approx. 500 m before the pond — an alternative approach from the valley

Here is a fun historical footnote: in the 19th century this pond was known as the 'Green Pond' — Zielony Staw. It was only later, as observers noticed the remarkable reddish tint produced by the cyanobacterium Pleurocapsa aurantica, that the name was changed to the one we know today.