Gąsienicowa Valley
Gąsienicowa Valley – a valley in the Western Tatras, which is the upper branch of the Suchej Woda Valley. It separates from it at an elevation of 1,425 meters above sea level. Its slopes are formed from the northeastern ridge of Kasprowy Wierch to Kopa Magura on the west; from the south, by a section of the eastern ridge of Świnica from Skrajny Granat to Świnica and a section of the main ridge to Kasprowy Wierch; and from the east, by the northern ridge of Skrajny Granat.
The Gąsienicowa Valley has two branches, separated by the Kościelców Ridge, called the Czarna Gąsienicowa Valley (on the eastern side of this ridge) and the Zielona Gąsienicowa Valley (on its western side). The Zielona Gąsienicowa Valley has one branch – the Sucha Stawiańska Valley, also known as the Kasprowy Cirque, and upper levels – the Świnicka Valley, Mylna Valley, and Zadnie Koło, located at the foot of Świnica. A branch of the Czarna Gąsienicowa Valley is the Kozia Valley, and its upper levels form the Czarny Staw and Zmarzły Staw cirques.
The Gąsienicowa Valley contains several ponds, known as Caterpillar Ponds. These include: Zielony Staw Gąsienicowy (Green Caterpillar Pond), Długi Staw Gąsienicowy (Long Caterpillar Pond), Kurtkowiec (Kurt), Dwoisty Staw Gąsienicowy (Double Caterpillar Pond), Zadni Staw Gąsienicowy (Litworowy Caterpillar Pond), Czerwone Stawki Gąsienicowe (Red Caterpillar Ponds), Mokra Jama (Moor Jama), Kotlinowy Stawek (Kotlinowy Stawek), Dwoiśniaczek (Troiśniak), Dwoiśniak (Dwoiśniak), Jedyniak (Jedyniak), and Samotniak (Samotniak).
In the northern part of the valley lies Hala Gąsienicowa, a former shepherd’s pasture. The valley is largely covered with dwarf pine.
The valley is traversed by the yellow-marked Murowaniec Mountain Hut – Kasprowy Wierch hiking trail, the black-marked IMWM Station – Świnicka Przełęcz hiking trail, the blue-marked Kuźnice – Zawrat hiking trail, and the green-marked Siedlarska Droga Wierch Poroniec – Murowaniec Mountain Hut hiking trail.
Hikes related to the tag GĄSIENICOWA VALLEY:
