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A trip to Waterfall Skok, which can be seen from Štrbské Pleso, is ideal for people who only have half a day. It will take no more than three hours for the return trip, including rest time by the waterfall. However I recommend hiking over Waterfall Skok (with the help of chains) to Pleso nad Skokom, a beautiful tarn with a great view. It would be the perfect place for lunch.
Would you like to continue hiking without the crowds? Follow a good but rocky track for another 30 to 40 minutes to reach Capie pleso (Billy Goat Mountain Lake). From there you can continue to Bystré Saddle, and even to the narrow Furkotská Valley. Waterfall Skok is truly the first stop on what could be an all-day hike to some truly stunning mountain scenery in Slovakia’s High Tatras mountain range. Once past the waterfall check out the crowds.
You may also like: Hiking Rysy from Slovakia to reach the top of Poland.
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Summary of the Skok Waterfall trip
distance: Approximately 11.4 km round trip hike – but it depends on your starting point in Štrbské Pleso
Height gain: 442 m or 1450 feet
Time needed: 2.5 – 3 hours + another 1.5 hours to go to the lake above the waterfall and back
difficulty: Easy for casual hikers. Moderate if you climb the chains above Skok Waterfall.
Don’t forget: pack 10 essentials for hiking And please practice the seven Leave no trace principles.
Draw a map: Although the trail to Waterfall Skok is easy to follow, I recommend it Organic maps – Free offline hiking app.
Hiking season: You can hike to Waterfall Skok year-round, but you can’t hike beyond it once winter comes.
You may also like: Hiking Rysy from Slovakia to reach the top of Poland
Reach the trailhead
The trip to Waterfall Skok starts in Štrbské Pleso – an easily walkable town. We were staying at the Panorama Hotel, so we simply climbed the main access road to the signed path next to the Chata pod Soliskom lift to walk the path to Waterfall Skok.
If you drive, there are several parking lots (for a fee) around the ski resort, but they get very busy on weekends. There too Train to Štrbské Pleso Nearby towns like Tatranska Lomnica and Stary Smokovec take you within walking distance of the Waterfall Skok trail. Just follow the paved path towards the ski jumps.
It is the yellow marked trail on your right as you walk the route you are looking for. It takes you all the way to Waterfall Skok. The photo below was taken at the beginning of the trail.
Description of the height of the Skok waterfall
Hiking to the 30 meter high Skok Waterfall is quite simple. You can walk into a valley called Mlynická dolina via a gentle climb. The trail starts in the forest (full of roots that can be slippery when wet) and in a short time becomes quite rocky. As you get higher, 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 recommend hiking up the waterfall via a path with chains to help you up. You can only hike up Waterfall Skok in summer. At the top you will find the small and beautiful lake – Pleso nad Skok.
Hiking over Skok Waterfall to Capi Pleso (Mount Billy Goat Lake)
Continue on a good trail from Pleso nad Skokom and climb gradually at first on the way to Capie pleso – also called Billy Goat Mountain Lake – 2000m above sea level. The final climb to the lake is steep but short. As a side note, Billy Goat Mountain Lake gets its name in part from the large number of chamois – a type of goat antelope – that roamed the Mlynica Valley many years ago.
On a walk to Capi Pleso, you will pass a stone with an inscription and a cross. In 1979, seven of the nine people on board a helicopter were killed during a rescue mission of a German tourist. It is a horrific tragedy reminiscent of the crashes of three planes in a row in the nearby Rocky Mountains Memorial Lake.
If only we had more time
We didn’t have the prettiest day hiking to Capie pleso and we didn’t get an early start. But if I had dug a little deeper and researched a little more, we might have started earlier so we could have achieved that gorgeous cobalt blue. You can also visit Wahlenbergovo. It’s not far from Bright saddle Above Capi Plesso. There is an equally impressive lower lake.
From there you can take the blue path leading to Hut under Solisko Hut, climb Front soloist Then take the cable car down. This all looks great, although it’s best done on a sunny day.
Descending from the Skok Waterfall
Retrace your steps back to the top of Waterfall Skok. Take your time going down with the help of chains. Going down is always harder than going up.
Once you get back to the waterfall, stop and listen. It was quiet and peaceful when we got there in the late afternoon. What a treat it was.
You will be back on the paved road next to the ski resort in 60 to 75 minutes. The descent is much faster in the late afternoon – when there is almost no one in front of you to slow you down.
Where to stay in Štrbské Pleso?
Panorama Resort Hotel – We stayed here for three nights – because we had done several hikes in the area. An excellent breakfast is included. Their spa with hot tub, sauna and steam room can be booked free of charge. The staff is very helpful. The rooms are fine – nothing special but spacious. They keep free beer and drinks in the room’s mini fridge.
Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras It comes with a hefty price tag, but its lakefront location is unparalleled. There is a beautiful path around the lake, boats to rent and lots of birdlife to observe.
Crocus HotelThe top-rated hotel offers spacious rooms with balcony and kitchenette – just half a kilometer from the lake.
Pension Plesso Rated as outstanding, it is a mid-range hotel.
Popradsky Pleso
Mountain Hotel Popradski Pleso It overlooks Popradské Pleso and has a great rating. It is an hour’s walk from Štrbské pleso but cannot be reached by car.
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