Starting at the Roháče – Spálená car park
We left the car at the Roháče – Spálená car park below the ski resort. Cars can't go any further, the road into the valley is closed to traffic, so from here it's on foot. If you want to shorten the first stretch, in season you can take the tourist train.
The first part follows the tarmac road up Roháčska dolina. It's a comfortable warm-up: the road climbs only gently, the spruces smell lovely and the Roháče peaks show up between the trees more and more often.
Roháče – Spálená car park on the map
From the Adamcuľa junction to the waterfall
At the Adamcuľa junction we leave the tarmac for the green trail. This is where the real hiking begins: the path leads through the forest along a stream and gradually gets steeper. The sound of water grows louder and after a while the Roháče waterfall appears between the trees.
The water drops from a high rock wall into a stone basin, and in autumn, with everything around it in colour, it looks like a postcard. There is room for a short break below it, and it's worth stopping for a few minutes to get your strength back, because above the waterfall the path climbs hard.
Tarn after tarn
Above the waterfall the forest quickly turns into dwarf pine and the landscape opens up. The Roháče tarns lie in the valley one above the other like steps, and each one is a little different. First a small, quiet tarn hidden among boulders, the water so clear you can see every stone on the bottom.
A bit higher up, the whole ridge is reflected in the water. When we were there, the first snow lay on the peaks, the dwarf pines were dark green and the rowan trees between them glowed orange. The path runs along the shores, so you can walk right down to the water at every tarn.
At the highest tarn there is a signpost and a small flat spot below it where most people stop for a snack. Unlike the ridge hikes, there are no chains or steep rocky sections here, just a rocky path where you need to watch your step.
Above the tarns
The most beautiful spot of the whole hike comes when you climb above the tarns. Suddenly you are standing over the valley and can see all of it at once: the tarns below you, orange and yellow patches of rowan in the dwarf pine and the steep walls of the Roháče all around. The sun shines right above the ridge and the water glitters.
This is where we sat down, got out our snacks, and for a long time nobody wanted to move on. If you have time, stay here as long as you can.
Down to Ťatliakova chata and back to the car park
From the tarns we descend on a marked path to the Ťatliakova chata hut by Ťatliakovo lake. The hut works as a snack bar and restaurant, so you can buy food, drinks or a coffee here and enjoy one more look at Ostrý Roháč and Volovec.
From the hut the tarmac road leads back down Roháčska dolina. It's gently downhill all the way, past the Adamcuľa junction to the car park. Your legs will feel it, but the road is easy and goes by faster than you'd expect. If you'd like to do this part by bike, see our article Ťatliakova chata by bike.
Hungry after the hike
After a whole day in the mountains you'll be starving. For a proper meal in Zuberec and Habovka, see the Food section.