Thousands of tourists flocked to the Tatra Mountains over the weekend, causing massive congestion on trails, despite warnings of strong winds and ongoing maintenance work.
Crowds on Tatra Trails
The sunny weekend weather drew large crowds to the Tatra Mountains, with many tourists taking to social media to share their experiences of long queues on popular trails. A video posted by Tatromaniak showed a long line of hikers on the trail to Szpiglasowa Przełęcz, with the caption “Just go in September, they’ll say, it’ll be less crowded, they’ll say…”
Safety Concerns
The crowds raised concerns about safety, with one user commenting that the situation was “no longer funny and definitely not safe.” Another user noted that hiking in such crowded conditions “makes no sense.” One woman shared her own experience of getting stuck in a similar queue a few years ago, adding that “September is no longer considered off-season.”
TPN Warning
The Tatra National Park (TPN) issued a weather warning, advising of strong winds that could make it difficult to move around above the upper forest limit and cause branches or trees to break in lower areas. The park also warned of large crowds on trails, which could lead to congestion and longer hike times.
Trail Maintenance
The TPN reminded visitors that maintenance work was underway on certain trails, including the section from Bobrowiecki Żleb to Rakonia, and that the work could cause difficulties for hikers, especially those using wheelchairs or strollers.
