Nestled at 1,919 m above sea level in the Slovak High Tatras, Mały Żabi Staw Mięguszowiecki is a captivating alpine lake that rewards every hiker who takes a short detour to visit it. With its mirror-like surface reflecting the surrounding peaks and ridges, this is one of those places where you genuinely want to stop and breathe it all in. It sits just a short distance from the popular red trail leading towards Rysy, making it an easy and worthwhile side trip.

The lake lies in the Žabia Mięguszowiecka Valley, a side branch of the Mięguszowiecka Valley, and covers an area of 1.19 ha with a depth of around 12.6 m. Its outflow, the Żabi Potok Mięguszowiecki stream, feeds into the Hińczowy Potok. Nearby you will find the larger Wielki Żabi Staw Mięguszowiecki, and slightly higher up, the Wyżni Żabi Staw Mięguszowiecki. In summer the surrounding slopes glow with alpine greenery; in autumn they turn gold and russet, making this spot especially photogenic.

• From Štrbské Pleso or Poprad — follow the red trail through Mięguszowiecka Valley towards Váha and Rysy; the lake is a short distance off this trail — difficulty: moderate.

• The lake lies within the Slovak Tatra National Park (TANAP) — nature protection rules apply and off-trail movement is restricted.
• Tourist season: June–October; outside this period trails can be icy and require appropriate equipment.

Interestingly, Mały Żabi Staw and the neighbouring Wielki Żabi Staw were once a single body of water — the ridge separating them today rises only a few dozen centimetres above the water's surface, a fascinating reminder of how glaciers once shaped this landscape.