Žabie plesá Mengusovské (Frog Tarns)

Žabie plesá Mengusovské (the Frog Tarns) are three glacial lakes in Kotlina Žabích plies, the upper storey of Mengusovská dolina in the Slovak High Tatras, within Tatra National Park (TANAP). The basin lies right below Rysy: to the north it is closed by Volí chrbát, the ridge on the Polish border with Žabí kôň, Žabia veža and Volia veža; to the west by Mengusovský Volovec; and to the east by the Kôpky ridge.

The largest is Veľké Žabie pleso: according to measurements by TANAP staff in 1962–1967 it covers 2.65 ha, measures 287 by 170 m, is about 7 m deep and lies at 1,919–1,921 m. Next to it lies Malé Žabie pleso — smaller (1.19 ha) but the deepest in the basin at 12.6 m. The two were once a single lake; after the water level dropped they were separated by a stone bar that rises only a few dozen centimetres above the surface. Žabí potok flows out of Malé pleso into the Hincov potok. The third and smallest, Vyšné Žabie pleso, lies at about 2,045 m. The name comes from a rocky islet in Veľké pleso whose outline reminds some people of a frog; the other tarns took their names from it.

Interestingly, in 1895 the engineer Jozef Pfinn proposed extending the rack railway from Štrbské Pleso all the way to the Frog Tarns and building a cable car from there to Rysy. The project was never carried out, because of opposition from the hiking community and lack of money.

What to see and do

• The "frog" islet in Veľké pleso — best seen from above, from the path to Rysy.
• A panorama of the basin — Žabí kôň and Rysy rise above the water, and the jagged Bašty ridge is well seen from the tarns.
• Chata pod Rysmi (2,250 m) — above the tarns, below the Váha saddle: the highest mountain hut in Slovakia, open only from 1 June to 31 October. It opened in 1933 and was destroyed by avalanches several times; since the 2010–2013 reconstruction the building is protected against them.

How to get there

The Frog Tarns lie on the red Junction at Žabí potok – Rysy route. From Štrbské Pleso the red and blue trails lead past Popradské pleso to the junction above Žabí potok — 1 h 45 min (1 h 35 min down). From there the red trail climbs the Žabia dolina past Veľké Žabie pleso to Chata pod Rysmi — 1 h 45 min up, 1 h 15 min down; one more hour takes you to the summit of Rysy. Malé pleso lies a little off the path but is clearly visible. From Štrbské Pleso to the tarns it is about 600 m of ascent and several hours of walking: a real high-mountain hike, and above the tarns the path climbs the rocky slopes of Dolinka pod Váhou. Children and people without mountain experience should rather stop at Popradské pleso.

Season and safety

The red trail from the junction above Žabí potok via Chata pod Rysmi to Rysy is closed from 1 November to 31 May (§ 4 of the TANAP Visitor Regulations, decree 26/2023), so you can visit the tarns from 1 June to 31 October. Entry to TANAP is free. You may walk only on marked trails and only in daylight; dogs are not allowed on the red trail to Rysy, and drones are banned without a permit. Snow often lingers in the basin until June, and the slopes above Chata pod Rysmi are avalanche-prone. Mountain Rescue Service HZS: 18 300, general emergency number 112.

Nearby

• Popradské pleso and the Symbolic Cemetery — on the way from Štrbské Pleso.
• Veľké Hincovo pleso — the largest lake of the Slovak Tatras, in the neighbouring valley.
• Rysy — the summit above the basin.
• Czarny Staw pod Rysami — on the Polish side of the ridge.

Official website: tanap.sk

Photos: Rafał Kozubek, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Krzysztof Dudzik-Górnicki (User:ToSter), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Punteador, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Rafik k, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Andrej-airliner, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.