Polana Chochołowska

Polana Chochołowska is the largest glade in the Polish Tatras and one of the largest in the whole range: about 20 ha of meadow in the upper part of the Chochołowska Valley in the Western Tatras, at 1,090–1,175 m, within the Tatra National Park (TPN). It slopes gently to the south-east from the foot of Bobrowiec, the dolomite crags of the Chochołowskie Mnichy rise above it, and from the meadow you look up the head of the valley to the highest visible summit, Wołowiec (2,064 m). Grześ, Jarząbczy Wierch and the massif of Kominiarski Wierch are also in view.

The meadow takes its name from the village of Chochołów, which received grazing rights here as early as the 16th century. It used to be one of the main pastoral centres of the Tatras: in 1930 there were 60 huts, sheds and barns, and in the 1950s about thirty buildings where five or six head shepherds (bacowie) from Chochołów, Dzianisz and Ciche worked in summer, grazing some 500 sheep and 100 cows. Today the largest group of historic shepherds' huts in the Tatras survives here. The meadow belongs to the Forest Community of the Eight Villages based in Witów: their ancestors jointly bought these lands in 1819, later lost them through a dishonest proxy and regained them only in 1867 after long lawsuits; the right to manage them under TPN supervision was won back in 1983.

Since 1981 so-called cultural grazing has been allowed in the TPN, and sheep graze the meadow again. It is thanks to grazing that every spring the largest purple carpet in the Tatras blooms here — Crocus scepusiensis, with a population estimated at about 14 million plants. The sheep fertilise the soil and tread the seeds in, and ants spread the crocus seeds too.

What to see and do

• The crocus bloom — usually peaking in the first half of April, though the exact date depends on the weather.
• The shepherds' huts and a bacówka with cultural grazing, where you can see sheep's cheese being made (see Shepherds' Huts on Polana Chochołowska).
• The chapel of St John the Baptist — a small wooden church in highland style built around 1960; in 1973 scenes for the TV series "Janosik" were filmed beside it. Mass is held on Sundays from June to October.
• The PTTK hostel on Polana Chochołowska (1,146 m) — the largest in the Polish Tatras, built in 1953; by the entrance a plaque commemorates Pope John Paul II's visit to the valley on 23 June 1983, and the second floor has an exhibition about his mountain journeys.

Getting there

The walk starts at Siwa Polana (910 m) near Witów — the last car park, a minibus stop and a ticket office. Then follow the wide track along the valley floor: the first 3.5 km to the Huciska glade are asphalt, then a hardened track, partly cobbled. According to the signposts it takes 2 h 10 min from Siwa Polana to the hostel and 1 h 45 min back. It is a long but easy walk without steep climbs, suitable for children. Mountain trails start from the meadow: Polana Chochołowska – Grześ (1 h 30 min), Polana Chochołowska – Rakoń to the ridge between Rakoń and Wołowiec (2 h 15 min) and Polana Chochołowska – Trzydniowiański Wierch (2 h 20 min).

Season and safety

Most of the valley belongs to the Witów community, which sets and collects its own entry fees; according to the TPN they usually match the park's prices (as of October 2026: TPN ticket 11 zł, reduced 5.50 zł, children under 7 free), and at Siwa Polana payment is often cash only. Bicycles cost an extra fee. The Chochołowska Valley is the only place in the TPN where you may bring a dog — only along the valley floor to the hostel and on a lead. From 1 March to 30 November walking on TPN trails between dusk and dawn is forbidden. In winter a small T-bar lift runs on the meadow, and higher up there may be avalanche danger. TOPR rescue: 601 100 300 or 985.

Nearby

Above the meadow rise Volovec and Starorobociański Wierch (Klin); over the Iwaniacka Pass you can cross to the neighbouring valley with Hala Ornak and further on Smreczyński Staw Lake.

Official website: tpn.gov.pl

Photos: Aneta Pawska, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Qvidemus, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Cybularny, CC0, Wikimedia Commons; Zakopane2017, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Paweł Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Piotrass007, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.