March 2025
Droga pod Reglami: a walk that never gets boring
March in Zakopane is a time of subtle revolution, a magical transition between deep winter and the promise of spring. On the highest peaks of the Tatras, whiteness still reigns supreme, but in the valleys and at their foothills, you can already feel a warm sigh. It is the perfect moment to head to the Trail under the Tatras Borders – a path that, although close to the town, can reveal a new perspective on the mountains every time.
A walk with a panorama of Zakopane and the sound of streams
Droga pod Reglami is a several-kilometer arterial road running at the foot of the Tatras, along the border of the subalpine forest and built-up areas. It is a trail that serves as a natural link, connecting the exits of the key Tatra valleys: Strążyska, Biały, Mała Łąka, and further to Kościeliska. Its greatest strength is the dynamic change of landscape. Sometimes you walk surrounded by tall spruce forest, almost in the raw Tatra scenery; moments later, the path opens to a panorama of Zakopane, offering a postcard view of the town with the dominant Gubałówka hill in the background. This is a walk that in March changes its face from hour to hour. In the morning, the frozen ground still reminds of winter; in the afternoon, the sun reveals the first dark patches of earth and wet, fragrant litter. It is a moment when the mountains begin to breathe more fully, shedding the weight of snow-induced dormancy.
Spring awakening: a sensory feast
The beginning of March on Droga pod Reglami is a true feast for the senses. The first noticeably warmer rays of sun make ice and snow on the branches melt. You can hear the rhythmic dripping of water from melting snow caps and the sound of streams regaining strength anew. Spruces lose their snowy burden, and the air is filled with an intense, fresh scent of moist earth, wet wood, and resin. It is an excellent place to observe nature in transition. Just slow down, pause, and listen: you will surely hear the first, timid bird songs, birds returning after winter. You don’t have to climb two-thousanders to feel the majesty of the Tatras – just follow this gentle path and let the mountains tell their story themselves. Droga pod Reglami proves that sometimes the simplest trails provide the greatest relief.
Valley after valley: a clasp connecting Tatra treasures
A key advantage of this route is its accessibility to the Tatra interior. Droga pod Reglami acts as a baseline from which we can set off to explore each of the charming subalpine valleys. You can start your walk at Kuźnice, and after a few kilometers of an easy trail, spontaneously decide: whether to turn into Strążyska to see how the icy Siklawica is doing, or maybe enter the Biały Valley, whose stream is exceptionally loud and swift in March. Each segment of the trail and each valley it leads to has a different microclimate. In March, this contrast is particularly visible: the contrast between a snow-covered, shaded ravine and a sunny clearing. It’s a route you can walk at any time of the year, but March gives it a special, cleansing charm.
A walk in the rhythm of the day: the magic of the moment
Droga pod Reglami is a trail created for those who just want to be. It doesn’t require haste or a specific goal other than enjoying the moment. You can set off early in the morning when mist still covers the town and gives Giewont an ethereal, fairy-tale character. It is equally beautiful in the afternoon when the sun hides behind the massif, painting the sky over Zakopane in orange-golden shades. This walk is like an introduction to the Tatras – light, everyday, perfect to get your legs moving after winter, and at the same time full of meaning and beauty. It is proof that the true magic of the mountains often awaits just beyond the doorstep, on this gentle path, where winter meets spring.