Vyšné Jamnícke pleso is a serene alpine lake sitting at 1835 m above sea level in the Slovak Western Tatras, cradled beneath the slopes of Roháč Ostrý, Voloviec and Lopata. If you're looking for a peaceful mountain escape with dramatic high-alpine surroundings and far fewer crowds than the High Tatras, this is your spot.
The lake covers around 0.41 ha and measures roughly 110 × 58 m, nestled on the flat floor of the upper terrace of the Jamnícke Lakes Cirque. The shoreline is grassy and stony, and the surrounding meadows are dominated by a rush species that turns a striking reddish hue as early as midsummer — giving the slopes a warm autumnal glow while the season is still in full swing. A low ridge called Stavianska vrchovina separates it from the lower Nižné Jamnícke pleso, from which a stream carries meltwater further down the valley. The atmosphere here is wonderfully remote and wild, whether you visit in the lush green of early summer or the golden tones of late August.
How to get thereA fun fact: measurements taken back in 1935 recorded a maximum depth of just 2.9 m — proof that even the shallowest of mountain lakes can leave a lasting impression.