Nosal

Nosal is a low, wooded 1,206 m summit in the Western Tatras, right above Kuźnice on the south-eastern edge of Zakopane. It is a so-called "reglowy" peak — part of the lower, forested belt of the Tatras — and at the same time the final spur of the long north-eastern ridge of Kasprowy Wierch. Nosal stands between the Bystra and Olczyska valleys, and its northern foot marks the boundary between the Tatras and the Sub-Tatra (Zakopane) trench. The name ("The Nose") comes from nose-like rocks on the north-western side. Central Zakopane lies about 3.6 km away in a straight line, Kuźnice about 1 km. Thanks to the short, easy climb and the fine view, Nosal is a popular first taste of the Tatras, including for families with children.

How to get there / routes

• Green trail from Kuźnice via Nosalowa Przełęcz (1,101 m) — about 35 minutes to the top and 30 minutes down. The trail is easy, although there are rocky stretches below the summit.
• Green trail from the "Murowanica" stop on the road from central Zakopane to Kuźnice (from Bulwary Słowackiego) — about 45 minutes up and 35 minutes down. Together the two sections make a handy traverse over the summit from Zakopane to Kuźnice.
• Yellow trail from Olczyska Polana to Nosalowa Przełęcz — about 30 minutes up (25 minutes down), then the green trail to the top.

Private cars cannot drive to Kuźnice — buses and taxis run from Zakopane. In autumn 2026 TPN was repairing the footbridges by the dam at the start of the green trail to Nosal, so check the park bulletin before setting out.

The view from the summit

Low as it is, Nosal's rocky top offers a wide view: the Czerwone Wierchy and Giewont, the Bystra valley, the granite peaks above Dolina Gąsienicowa and Dolina Pańszczyca, and to the north Zakopane and the Podhale region.

Nature and history

Nosal is built entirely of sedimentary rock — Middle Triassic limestone and dolomite. Almost the whole mountain is forested, and despite the nearby town the forest is in good condition: besides the spruce typical of the Tatras there are beech, Scots pine and planted black pine. The highest cliffs, up to 50 m, drop from the north-western shoulder to the Bystra valley; above the Olczyska valley stands the rock called Pióro ("The Feather"). The cave Dziura pod Nosalem lies in the north-western slope.

The limestone rocks host lime-loving plants such as edelweiss and the bird's-eye primrose, as well as orchids rare in Poland — the fly orchid and the single-leaved bog orchid. Collectors once badly depleted the edelweiss, and fatal falls occurred on the steep north-western crags among people searching for it. Lynx, red deer and eagle owls live in the forests. The west faces, with about 30 climbing routes, were once a training ground for TOPR rescuers, but TPN has since banned climbing there.

The wooded north slope carries a ski area with several lifts, and from the top station a ski trail runs over Nosalowa Przełęcz to Kuźnice.

Safety, season and rules

Nosal can be climbed all year round, but in winter and after rain the rocky sections below the summit can be slippery. Keep away from the edge of the north-western cliffs and stay on the trail.

• The summit lies within Tatra National Park: entry is paid (since 2025: 11 PLN, reduced 5.50 PLN).
• From 1 March to 30 November all park trails are closed from dusk to dawn; from 1 December to the end of February, from 22:00 to 05:00.
• Dogs are not allowed on the Nosal trail: in TPN they are permitted, on a lead, only on the Droga pod Reglami and along the floor of Dolina Chochołowska. Drones are banned.
• Emergency numbers: TOPR 985 or +48 601 100 300, and 112. Current conditions are in the daily TPN bulletin.

Interesting facts

• Nosal is known not only to skiers but also as a spot for paragliding and hang-gliding.
• Modest as it is, Nosal formally ends a ridge that begins on Kasprowy Wierch at almost 2,000 m.

Photos: Cybularny, CC0; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0; Opioła Jerzy, CC BY-SA 3.0; Krzysztof Dudzik-Górnicki (User:ToSter), CC BY-SA 4.0; Cybularny, CC0; Andrzej Otrębski, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons.