Dolina Sucha is a small, quiet valley in the Western Tatras that few visitors know about - and that's exactly its charm. If you're looking for a place away from the crowds, where the forest whispers just as it did centuries ago, this is it.

The valley descends from the Przełęcz między Kopieńcami pass in a northern direction, is only about 1 km long, and merges with Dolinka Chłabowska, forming its western branch. Its name doesn't lie - there's no permanent stream here, water only appears on the valley floor after heavy rainfall or sudden snowmelt. The highest part is Polana między Kopieńcami, a sloping meadow that has been slowly reclaimed by forest since grazing stopped. Further down, the valley narrows into a tight ravine before widening again into the long, narrow meadow called Sucha Dolina. Both meadows once belonged to Hala Kopieniec pasture and are now gradually returning to a wild state, giving this place a calm, forested character throughout the year.

How to get there

• No marked hiking trails - the valley is accessible via a network of forest roads and paths used mainly by National Park staff and forestry workers
• Access is possible from the direction of Droga Oswalda Balzera, along which the conventional Tatra border runs here

Practical information

• The entire valley, including its mouth, lies within the Tatra National Park
• No marked trails - the area is used mainly for forestry and conservation purposes

This is a place for those who value silence and untouched natural beauty away from the crowds - Dolina Sucha remains one of the lesser-known corners of the Western Tatras.