Dziura pod Świstową Studnią is a small cave tucked into the rocky walls of the Mała Łąka Valley — a place that will appeal to cave enthusiasts and anyone drawn to the wilder, less-trodden corners of the Tatras. It's not a spot for casual sightseeing, but its surroundings offer a genuinely rugged mountain experience.

The entrance lies in the walls descending from the Kotliny basins toward Niżnia Świstówka, close to Jaskinia Wilcza and the Świstowa Studnia cave, at an elevation of 1692 metres. This is raw, rocky terrain — the cave walls are damp and covered in moss and lichen, and inside there are no dripstone formations, giving the place a stark, untouched character. In summer the surrounding slopes come alive with alpine flora, while in winter the area becomes difficult to reach and demands solid mountain experience.

How to get there

• Zakopane / Kuźnice — trail toward the Mała Łąka Valley, then ascent toward the Kotliny basins and Niżnia Świstówka; a demanding route suited to experienced mountain hikers
• Alternatively from the Kościeliska Valley via ridges and passes — a difficult route recommended only for those experienced in high-mountain terrain

Practical information

• The cave is 12.5 metres long with a vertical extent of 3.5 metres — a small chamber and a steep passage ending in inaccessible fissures
• Entering caves in the Tatras requires permission and often a speleological licence — the area lies within the protected Tatra National Park
• No dripstone formations; walls are damp and covered with moss and lichen

The cave was discovered by A. Wilczek and I. Felisiak of the Kraków caving club (AKG Kraków) in October 1982, and research in 1998 revealed that it connects through fissures with the Partie za Kolankiem section of Jaskinia Wielka Śnieżna — one of Poland's longest cave systems.