Nestled at 2,013 metres above sea level in the Slovak High Tatras, the Middle Spiš Tarn is one of five glacier lakes scattered across the Valley of Five Spiš Lakes — and its raw, high-alpine beauty will stop you in your tracks. The lake sits right beside Téry Hut, making it both a rewarding destination and a perfect resting spot on longer ridge routes. If you are after dramatic mountain scenery without the crowds, this is your place.
The tarn covers 2.36 hectares, measures 225 by 142 metres and reaches a depth of around 4.6 metres. It lies in the upper part of the Malá Studená Dolina valley, and the surrounding peaks reflect on its surface in a way that feels almost unreal. In summer the water shimmers with cool blues, while autumn paints the dwarf pines in gold and rust. Winter turns the entire basin into a silent, snow-covered world reserved for experienced mountaineers only.
How to get thereFun fact: the Middle Spiš Tarn is the second largest of the five Spiš lakes — only the Great Spiš Tarn is bigger. Téry Hut right beside it is one of the highest-situated mountain huts in the Slovak Tatras and a fantastic base for further alpine adventures.