Kurtkowiec is a small but truly remarkable mountain lake tucked in the western part of the Gąsienicowa Valley in the Tatra Mountains, sitting at 1,686 m above sea level. What makes it stand out? A tiny island covered in mountain pine — the highest-elevation island in all of Poland, at 1,689 m.

The lake is irregular in shape, barely 1.6 ha in area and 4.8 m deep, yet it carries an atmosphere that feels almost private compared to busier Tatra spots. In spring, snow still clings to its banks; in summer the calm surface mirrors the sky and surrounding ridges; in autumn the dwarf pine on the little island turns golden. The neighbouring Zielony Staw (Green Lake) is separated from Kurtkowiec by a glacial moraine, over which the trail to Świnica runs. Just north of the lake you can spot a cluster of tiny ponds called Dwoiśniaczek.

• From Murowaniec mountain hut — yellow trail towards Kasprowy Wierch, then black trail branching off towards Świnicka Przełęcz; approx. 30 min to the trail junction near Kurtkowiec (↓ 25 min); moderate difficulty
• From Zielona Dolina Gąsienicowa — blue trail to Karb Pass, running between Kurtkowiec and Czerwone Stawki; approx. 30 min (↓ 20 min); moderate difficulty

• Kurtkowiec lies within Tatra National Park — staying on marked trails is mandatory and entering the water is not permitted.
• The lakeshore is home to Lachen's sedge (Carex lachenalii), a protected species found in Poland only in the Tatras, at very few locations.

Keep an eye out for the tiny island — it holds a quiet national record as the highest-situated island in Poland, a charming detail that makes this modest lake truly one of a kind.