Wielka Siklawa

Wielka Siklawa or Siklawa Wodospad is one of the better known waterfalls in Poland and is located south of Lysa Polana (Zakopane) in the region Małopolskie.

From Zakopane drive to Bukowina Tatrzańska and Lysa Polana over road 961>960. You have to park your car at the big parking at Lysa Polana (Palenica Białczańska) because the last part of the road to Morskie Oko (a big lake) is prohibited for cars. It can be very crowded and you have to pay for the parking and for the entrance to the lake.

First you have to walk in the direction of lake Morskie Oko (over an asphalt road). Halfway you pass the waterfall Mickiewicza Wodospad, after 40 minutes. Just after the waterfall there is a path (green trail) going right following the river Roztoka. After another 45 minutes (3.6 kilometer) you should see a waterfall called Buczynowa Siklawa coming down the mountains. From here it is another 15 minutes to Wielka Siklawa. The walk is not very difficult but the trail goes up all the way with an elevation of 450 meter.

Wielka Siklawa is the highest waterfall in Poland and is located in the Roztoki Valley. Origin of the waterfall lies at lake  Wielki Staw (one of the most famous mountain lake in the Polish Tatry mountain range).

Wielka Siklawa is more impressive then it looks like from a distance. The river Roztoka thunders down from lake Wielki Staw over a height of 70 meter. Early in the summer or after heavy rainfall  the river Roztoka can be very powerful, a good time to visit Wielka Siklawa.

Pictures by Sammler and Zofia Brola – Wikpedia