Stawek na Kopkach is a small mountain pond tucked away in the Dolina za Mnichem valley, one of the wildest corners of the High Tatras. It is a spot for those looking for something beyond the standard views - a quiet, picturesque detail set within a raw, rocky landscape.

The pond sits at around 1875 m above sea level, in a shallow rocky depression on the slopes below Szpiglasowa Przełęcz. It has a muddy bottom and stony shores, surrounded by the steep, rugged terrain typical of this part of the Tatras. In summer the water surface contrasts with the grey rock and patches of grass, while in autumn the surroundings take on a stark, austere character. There are no crowds here - only those who look away from the trail will spot it, since no path leads directly to the water.

How to get there

• From Morskie Oko, via the threshold of Dolina za Mnichem and the slopes of Miedziane, to Szpiglasowa Przełęcz - walking time: 2:30 h, descent: 1:50 h, demanding route
• From the lower threshold of Dolina za Mnichem to Wrota Chałubińskiego pass - walking time: 1 h, descent: 45 min

Practical information

• No marked trail leads to the pond itself - it can only be seen from a distance, from the trails to Szpiglasowa Przełęcz and Wrota Chałubińskiego
• The pond is home to rich aquatic fauna
• It has no inflow or outflow

The name comes from shepherding traditions, a reminder that these hard-to-reach areas were once used for grazing sheep. Józef Nyka measured the pond in 1954, when other nearby ponds had already dried up, suggesting it holds water fairly permanently.