Trail:
Štrbské Pleso (1350 m.a.s.l.) / Tri studničky (1130 m.a.s.l.) – junction below Malý Kriváň – Kriváň (2494 m.a.s.l.)
Return way: Kriváň – junction below Malý Kriváň – Jamské pleso (1447 m.a.s.l.) – Tri studničky / Štrbské Pleso
Elevation gain:
Variant Štrbské Pleso: 1144 m
Variant Tri studničky: 1364 m
Duration: all-day tour – 6:30 h ( ↑ 3:30 ↓ 3:00)
Fitness level of difficulty: 2/3
Technical level of difficulty: 1/3
Starting point:
• Štrbské Pleso
• Tri Studničky
• bus stop Biely Váh
There are two hiking trails leading to Kriváň: from Štrbské Pleso and from Tri Studničky.
Variant Štrbské Pleso:
One hour walk along Tatranská Magistrála (Tatra Highway) traversing southern slopes of the Tatras, takes you on a trail from Štrbské Pleso to Jamské pleso (1447.5 m.a.s.l.) where the path leading from the Biely Váh bus stop feeds into. The trail ascends northward along Pavlov chrbát, crossing dwarf-pine shrubs, whilst later the beautiful views open up overlooking Važecká valley as well as the scenic views of the Western Tatras ridge situated on the opposite side. After 1 hour 15 min walk, the path traverses from the left side below the peak of Malý Kriváň (2334.5 m.a.s.l.) and feeds into the crossroads below Malý Kriváň (2120 m.a.s.l.). Then follows the final 45-minute climb across Daxner’s saddle up to the summit of Kriváň. On the way back you do the same trail.
Variant Three wells:
The trail goes up the steep forest-covered slope right from the beginning, later it passes through the dwarf-pine shrubs to the top named Grúnik (1576 m.a.s.l.). The path leads to Krivánský žľab and traverses under the Priehyby ridge. After 2 hours and 15 minutes, you will get to the crossroads below Malý Kriváň, and from there onto a path leading from Jamské pleso (described in the Štrbské Pleso variant) right to the top of Kriváň.
Do the same trail on the way back, or descend (as in the Štrbské Pleso variant) by walking across Daxner’s saddle, along Pavlov chrbát to Jamské pleso, joining Tatranská magistrála trail and finally reaching Tri studničky after 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Views from the top:
The summit provides with magnificent views over the Nefcerská valley situated in the northeast, the Kôprová valley in the northwest and the Važecká valley in the east. A bright coloured Krivánske Zelené pleso (2012.5 m.a.s.l.) can be admired at the bottom end of the Važecká valley. From the top you can see the Kasper hill (1985 m.a.s.l.), Svinica (2304 m.a.s.l.), Hrubô (2428 m.a.s.l.), Furkotský peak (2403.5 m.a.s.l.), Mengusovský peak, Rysy (2,499.6 m.a.s.l.), Vysoká (2,547 m.a.s.l.), Gerlach (2654 m.a.s.l.) or Ľadový and Lomnický peaks (2,633 m.a.s.l.) in the far distance.
Related valleys:
• Važecká dolina
• Kôprová dolina
