Szpiglasowe Stawki are a group of four small lakes tucked away on a grassy terrace above the Valley of Five Polish Lakes. This is a spot for hikers who enjoy spotting something beyond the main trail - the lakes lie off the beaten path, yet they are perfectly visible from above.

The terrace holding the lakes sits on the lower slopes of Miedziane and Szpiglasowy Wierch, at roughly 1760-1775 meters above sea level. In summer the grassy terrace turns vividly green and the water surfaces mirror the surrounding peaks. In autumn the area glows with golden colors, while in winter the lakes often disappear under snow, creating a raw, wild High Tatras landscape. It's a view that stays with you - intimate, peaceful, far from the crowds.

How to get there

• Valley of Five Polish Lakes - yellow trail towards Szpiglasowa Przełęcz (pass), lakes visible from the route, time and difficulty depend on the chosen approach into the valley
• Alternatively: approach from Morskie Oko through the Valley of Five Polish Lakes, then the same yellow trail towards the pass

Practical information

• No marked trail leads directly to the lakes themselves - they can only be admired from the yellow trail leading from the valley up to Szpiglasowa Przełęcz
• The rare (in the Carpathians) Lachenal's sedge grows near the lakes

A small stream rising near the lakes feeds into Wielki Staw, whose shore lies just 220-270 meters away - an interesting detail for anyone curious about Tatra hydrography.