Juhaska Cave, once known as Juhaska Grotto, is a small but atmospheric rock shelter in the Strążyska Valley, offering a rewarding detour for hikers who enjoy a bit of adventure beyond the marked trails. Its two entrances, including the striking Eagle Window visible even from Zakopane, have made it a point of interest for over a century.

The cave lies in the northern wall of Juhaska Turnia, part of the Długi Giewont massif, within the Banie gully. Inside, a single spacious chamber stretches 23 metres long and 5 metres wide, with a steeply rising floor. A large opening in the ceiling floods the interior with natural light throughout the day, and since there are no dripstone formations, the walls remain dry. The setting is rugged and dramatic, framed by the rocky slopes of Giewont, with views that once drew eagles to nest at the so-called Eagle Window.

How to get there

• Approach via Wyżnia Sucha Przełęcz (Upper Sucha Pass), located roughly 100 metres in a straight line from the cave - the final stretch is highly exposed and demands a good head for heights.
• The route follows a gully, then a steep rocky ledge resembling a narrow chimney, before a grassy shelf leads around an overhanging wall - a section best suited to experienced mountain hikers.

Practical information

• The approach is steep and exposed - sturdy trekking boots and caution are essential.
• The cave interior is dry and naturally well-lit, with no dripstone formations.

At the cave's entrance stands a stone cairn and wooden cross marking the spot where a 9-year-old shepherd boy, Józef Hadowski, died in 1879 - the first recorded victim of Giewont. Mariusz Zaruski named the cave in his memory after exploring it in 1907.