Bystrá

▲ 2248 m a.s.l.

Although it is the highest point of the entire Western Tatras, it lies off their main ridge. This grassy-rocky peak offers a 360-degree view of the Western, High and Low Tatras, but its more demanding approach makes it one of the less-visited summits.

Route length

9.4 km one way
18.8 km round trip

Elevation gain

1,408 m

Time (one way)

~4:00 h

Difficulty*

3/5

Community rating

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Trailhead

Hrdovo (~840 m a.s.l.)

📍 GPS parking

N 49.12101°, E 19.86054°

🔗 Route on Mapy.com

Open route on Mapy.com →

Elevation profile (podľa publikovaných dát trasy, nie z GPX)

Route breakdown

1 · Hrdovo 840 m · 0.0 km · 0:00 h	Starting point — the route begins here.
2 · Bystrá 2248 m · 9.4 km · 4:00 h	Bystrá summit — the end of the route.

ℹ Practical info

🅿 Parking	Hrdovo — car park by the road
💧 Water	Not available in the upper sections — bring an adequate supply
🏠 Hut	None directly on the route
🚡 Cable car	No
❄ Ascent season	1 Nov – 31 May closure (fully accessible from approx. 15 Jun)
☀ Best time	June — October
🧭 Orientation	Marked trail, several steep sections near the top
🎨 Trail marking	🟡 yellow (whole route, Hrdovo → Bystrá)
🔄 Descent	Same route back
🔀 Alternative route	An alternative is a loop route from the Račkova Valley instead of from Hrdovo via the Jamnícka Valley — a different direction, longer (approx. 22.9 km loop, ~1,513 m of ascent, approx. 8:30 h).
🚨 Emergency number	Mountain Rescue Service: 18 300 (or 112)

What to bring

🎒 Hiking boots

🎒 Trekking poles

🎒 Waterproof jacket

🎒 Water (min. 2 l)

🎒 Food / energy bars

🎒 First aid kit

🎒 Warm layer

🎒 Map / GPS / phone

⚠ What to watch out for

Weather in the Tatras changes quickly — check the forecast and turn back if a storm approaches.
In winter and spring (1 Nov – 31 May) the upper sections of the trail may be closed — check current conditions at tatry.sk or hzs.sk.
Bring an adequate supply of water — refill points may not be available on high-mountain routes.