Żleb nad Kamieniołomem is a small, forested ravine tucked into the Western Tatras, a place almost no one talks about — and that's exactly its appeal. This is a spot for those who crave the wild, untouched corners of the Tatras rather than another crowded trail.
The valley cuts into the northern slopes of Krokiew, surrounded by ridges descending from Opalone. It stretches just 720 meters, climbing steeply southward, and is entirely covered in forest. It's known for its steep gradient and smooth, slippery slopes built from dolomitic limestone in the upper part and Eocene nummulitic limestone below. No stream runs through the valley, and the atmosphere is quiet, raw, and rarely visited — especially demanding in autumn and winter when the steep terrain becomes even trickier.
How to get thereThe name comes from an old quarry that operated at the valley's mouth between 1908 and 1934, supplying stone used in the construction of the Tatra Museum in Zakopane. Guidebook author Władysław Cywiński jokingly nicknamed this spot 'Only for Lumberjacks' — a fitting description of its rugged character.