The hike to Waterfall Skok, visible from Štrbské Pleso, is perfect for people who only have a half day. It shouldn’t take more than three hours for the return hike – including time to simply hangout by the waterfall. I do however recommend hiking above Waterfall Skok (with the help of chains) to Pleso nad Skokom, a pretty tarn with a gorgeous view. It would be an ideal spot for lunch.
Want to continue hiking without the crowds? Follow a good but rocky trail for a further 30 – 40 minutes to reach Capie pleso (Billy Goat Mountain Lake). From there you can continue to Bystré Saddle, and even on to the narrow Furkotská Valley. Waterfall Skok is really the first stop on what could be an all-day hike into some truly fabulous mountain scenery in Slovakia’s High Tatras mountain range. And once past the waterfall you lose the crowds.
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Distance: Approximately 11.4 km as an out and back hike – but it depends on your starting point in Štrbské Pleso
Elevation gain: 442 m or 1,450 feet
Time needed: 2.5 – 3 hours + another 1.5 hours to go to the lake above the waterfall and back
Difficulty: Easy for regular hikers. Moderate if you climb the chains above the Skok Waterfall.
Don’t forget: Pack the 10 hiking essentials and please practice the seven Leave No Trace Principles.
Map: While the trail to Waterfall Skok is easy to follow, I recommend Organic Maps – a free offline hiking app.
Hiking season: You can hike to Waterfall Skok year-round BUT you can’t hike up beyond it once winter arrives.
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The hike to Waterfall Skok starts in Štrbské Pleso – a very walkable town. We were staying at the Hotel Panorama, so we simply hiked up the main access road to the signed trailhead by the Chata pod Soliskom chairlift to get on the trail to Waterfall Skok.
If you’re driving, there are numerous parking lots (for a fee) around the ski resort, but on weekends they get very busy. There is also a train to Štrbské Pleso from nearby towns like Tatranska Lomnica and Stary Smokovec that drops you off within walking distance of the Waterfall Skok trailhead. Simply follow the paved road towards the ski jumps.
It’s the signed yellow trail on your right as you’re walking up the road that you’re looking for. It takes you all the way to Waterfall Skok. The photo below was taken at the start of the trail.
The hike to 30-metre-high Waterfall Skok is very straightforward. Walk up a valley called Mlynická dolina via a gentle climb. The trail starts off in the forest (filled with roots that would be slippery when wet) and in short order it becomes quite rocky. As you gain elevation, the trail narrows and the vegetation changes to small pines. After about 90 minutes of hiking the Skok Waterfall comes into view – along with all the people hanging around it.
It’s a good place to stop and have lunch – but so is the small lake above the waterfall.
I’d recommend hiking above the waterfall via a trail with chains to help you get up. You can only hike above Waterfall Skok in summer. At the top you’ll find the small but pretty lake – Pleso nad Skokom.
Continue on a good trail from Pleso nad Skokom climbing gradually at first on the way to Capie pleso – also called Billy Goat Mountain Lake – at an elevation of 2,000 m above sea level. The final climb to the lake is steep but brief. As a side note Billy Goat Mountain Lake gets its name in part from the large number of chamois – a species of goat-antelope – that roamed the Mlynická Valley many years ago.
On the hike to Capie Pleso you will pass a stone with an inscription and a cross. In 1979 seven out of nine people in a helicopter were killed on a rescue mission of a German tourist. It’s a horrible tragedy that is reminiscent of three plane crashes in a row in the Rocky Mountains near Memorial Lake.
We didn’t have the nicest day for the hike to Capie pleso and nor did we get an early start. But if I’d dug a little deeper and researched a little more then perhaps we would have started earlier so we could get to the magnificent cobalt-blue Vyšné Wahlenbergovo pleso. It’s not far from the Bystrá Saddle above Capie pleso. There’s an equally magnificent lower lake.
From there you can take the blue path to the Chata pod Soliskom hut, climb Predné Solisko and then take a cable car down. It all sounds and looks magnificent – though it’s best done on a sunny day.
Retrace your steps to return to the top of Waterfall Skok. Take your time descending with the help of chains. It’s always harder going down than up.
Once you’re back at the waterfall stop and listen. It was so quiet and peaceful when we got there late in the afternoon. What a treat that was.
You’ll be back on the tarmac road by the ski resort in 60 – 75 minutes. It’s much faster descending in late afternoon – as there are almost no people in front of you slowing you down.
Hotel Panorama Resort – We stayed here for three nights – because we did several hikes in the area. An excellent breakfast is included. Their spa with a hot tub, sauna, steam room can be booked free of charge. Front staff are very helpful. Rooms are fine – nothing special but roomy. They do keep free beer and drinks in the room’s mini fridge.
Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras comes with quite a price tag, but its location overlooking the lake is second to none. There’s a lovely trail around the lake, boats to rent and plenty of bird life to observe.
Hotel CROCUS, rated superb offers spacious rooms with a balcony and a kitchenette – just a half kilometre from the lake.
Penzión Pleso rated wonderful, is a mid-range hotel.
Popradské pleso
Horský Hotel Popradské Pleso overlooks Popradské Pleso and is rated superb. It’s an hour’s hike from Štrbské pleso but it’s not accessible by car.
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