The Tatra National Park, established in 1954, is a true jewel in the crown of Poland's mountains. Covering an area of more than 21,000 hectares, it protects the highest part of the Carpathian Mountains in Poland. It is a place where alpine landscape meets rich highland culture, creating a unique blend of nature and culture.

However, the history of protecting Tatra nature goes back much further. As early as 1873, the Tatra Society was founded, which was the first to start promoting the idea of protecting this unique area. It is worth knowing that before the park was created, the Tatras were intensively exploited - forests were cut down, sheep were grazed on the mountain pastures, and even mining activities were carried out. Traces of this activity can still be found today, wandering along the park's trails.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Tatra National Park is its climatic and vegetation storied nature. As you hike from the valleys to the peaks, you can observe how the vegetation changes - from the lower regiel with Carpathian beech, through the upper regiel with dominant spruce, to the pine forest floor, alpine pastures and crags. This diversity means that each tour offers a completely different visual and natural experience.

The park is famous for its picturesque valleys, the most famous of which are Koscieliska Valley and Chocholowska Valley. Less crowded, but equally charming, are the Strążyska Valley or Dolina ku Dziurze. The latter hides a fascinating system of caves, which is a paradise for speleologists and lovers of underground exploration. Also worth mentioning is the Mroźna Cave in the Koscieliska Valley, which is open to tourists and offers an unforgettable experience.

Tatra National Park is also home to many rare animal species. The symbol of the park is the Tatra chamois, but marmots, brown bears, lynxes or wolves can also be found here. For lovers of ornithology, a treat will be the opportunity to observe a golden eagle or peregrine falcon. It is worth remembering, however, that wild animals are best observed from a distance, respecting their natural habitat.

One of the lesser-known, but worth discovering places in the park is Hala Gąsienicowa in winter. While it is swarming with tourists in summer, in winter it offers a magical, peaceful atmosphere, and the view of the snow-capped peaks is breathtaking. For more experienced tourists, an interesting suggestion would be an expedition to Świnica (2301 meters above sea level) - a peak offering panoramic views of the Polish and Slovak Tatras, yet less besieged than the popular Rysy or Kasprowy Wierch.

It is worth mentioning the fascinating legend associated with Morskie Oko - the most famous Tatra lake. According to legend, this lake is connected to the Adriatic Sea by an underground tunnel. Legend has it that a mountaineer threw a wooden figurine into the lake, which was later fished out by fishermen on the Adriatic. Although scientifically impossible, this tale adds to the magic of this already enchanting place.

The Tatra National Park, compared to the other parks described, offers the most extensive tourist infrastructure, making it accessible to a wide range of visitors. At the same time, its alpine character means that the toughest trails and the most demanding climbing challenges can be found here.

Crossing the Polish-Slovak border, we enter the Slovak Paradise National Park (Slovenský raj), which fully deserves its paradise name. Established in 1988, although as a protected area it has been in operation since 1964, this park delights with its unique geological formations, deep gorges and spectacular waterfalls. It is a place where nature has created a true rock labyrinth, through which some of the most exciting hiking trails in the entire Carpathian Mountains lead.

The history of the area is fascinating - it was inhabited by human communities as early as the Bronze Age, as evidenced by archaeological finds. In the Middle Ages the region was an important center of mining and metallurgy, and traces of this activity can still be found today. Of particular interest is the history of settlement in the Hornád Valley, where the first settlements associated with the mining of metal ores were established.

The geological past of the Slovak Paradise dates back to 225 million years ago, when the area was the bottom of a shallow sea. The limestone sediments that accumulated there formed limestone plateaus over time, which were then cut by rivers, creating spectacular gorges and canyons. This unique relief is what makes the park unique in Europe.

The most distinctive feature of the Slovak Paradise is its gorges, the most famous of which are the Sucha Bela, the Hornad Gorge and the Great Falcon. Hiking through them is an unforgettable experience - tourists move by wooden footbridges, metal platforms, ladders and chains fixed in the rocks. Particularly exciting is the route through the Dry Bela Gorge, where several waterfalls are traversed using ladders, the highest of which, the Bear Falls, is about 30 meters high.

A lesser-known but equally fascinating site is the Kyseľ Gorge, which was closed to tourists for many years after a major fire in 1976. As of 2016, it has been reopened, but only as a ferrata - a trail insured by a steel cable, which can be traversed in special belaying equipment. This is a real treat for adrenaline seekers and unforgettable views.

Slovak Paradise National Park is also home to many rare plant and animal species. More than 4,000 species of invertebrates and about 200 species of vertebrates have been identified in the park, including rare predators like the lynx, wolf and otter. The park's flora includes more than 1,000 species of higher plants, including many endemic and relict species.

One of the hidden treasures of the Slovak Paradise is the Dobšinská Ice Cave - one of the largest ice caves in the world accessible to tourists. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and impresses with its ice formations, which persist all year round thanks to a specific microclimate. The temperature inside the cave does not exceed 0°C even on the hottest summer days.

The park is also associated with a fascinating legend about Tomášovsky Výhľade - a distinctive rock formation resembling a viewing platform. According to the legend, at the time of the Tartar invasions, local people hid in caves under this rock. One day a young girl named Katarína, in order to save her loved ones, jumped from the rock, distracting the invaders. The formation was once called 'Katarínina the rock' in her honor.

Compared to the Tatra National Park, Slovak Paradise offers less technically demanding mountain trails (except for the ferrata), but more excitement of traversing gorges and waterfalls. It's an ideal place for people who are looking for adventure, but don't necessarily want to climb high peaks.

The Carpathian National Park (Карпатський національний природний парк), located in the Ivano-Frankivsk region of Ukraine, is the third of the Carpathian natural gems discussed. Established in 1980, it is the oldest national park in Ukraine and one of the largest in the country, covering an area of more than 50,000 hectares. Its administrative center is located in the picturesque town of Yaremche, which is a tourist attraction in its own right.

The history of the area is extremely rich and turbulent. Over the centuries the region has been influenced by various cultures - Hutsul, Polish, Austrian, Hungarian and Ukrainian, which has left its mark in local architecture, art and traditions. Particularly fascinating is the culture of the Hutsuls - the highlanders who inhabit the area, whose traditions, crafts and folklore have survived to this day in almost unchanged form.

One of the park's most valuable treasures is the highest peak in the Ukrainian Carpathians - Howerla (2061 meters above sea level). The climb to it is not particularly technically difficult, but offers unforgettable views of the Ukrainian and Romanian Carpathians. According to local legend, there is a magic stone hidden at the top of Howerla, which grants wishes to those who find it. Perhaps that is why the peak is so popular with tourists.

The park protects unique mountain ecosystems, including vast tracts of primeval beech forests, which have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These old forests, which have never been cut down and are full of massive trees that are hundreds of years old, are incredibly impressive and allow one to imagine what European forests looked like before human interference.

One of the park's lesser-known but worth discovering places is Lake Nesamovyte (Несамовите озеро) - a small glacial lake located at an altitude of 1,750 meters above sea level below the peak of Turkul. The name of the lake means 'amazing' or 'crazy' and is connected with a local legend, according to which the souls of sinners dwell in its waters. Hutsul legends warn against bathing in the lake or even approaching it after dark. Despite these warnings, the place impresses with its raw, wild beauty.

Another gem of the park is the Huk (Гук) waterfall near Yaremcha - one of the highest and most powerful waterfalls in the Ukrainian Carpathians. The frothy water falls from a height of 15 meters with a huge bang (hence the name), creating a spectacular show, especially in spring during the snowmelt. Less well-known but equally charming is the Probij waterfall in the Prut River valley.

The Carpathian National Park is also a paradise for fauna lovers. Rare animal species such as the brown bear, lynx, wildcat, wolf and golden eagle can be found here. Particularly valuable are the populations of capercaillie and black grouse - rare birds whose numbers are dramatically declining in other parts of Europe.

It is worth mentioning the fascinating pastoral tradition that is still alive in the park. In the summer, you can meet shepherds grazing sheep and cattle in the woodlands, and taste traditional Hutsul cheeses, made according to centuries-old recipes. Particularly prized is bryndza, a pungent sheep's cheese that forms the basis of many local dishes.

Compared to the Tatra National Park and the Slovak Paradise, the Carpathian National Park offers the most authentic, least commercialized experience of contact with wild nature and traditional highland culture. The tourist infrastructure here is less developed, which will be a disadvantage for some and a huge advantage for others. This is an ideal place for those looking for peace, quiet and authenticity.

All in all, a trip along the Carpathian Mountains from the Bieszczady Mountains through the Tatra Mountains to the Silesian Beskid Mountains, including the three described national parks, is a fascinating adventure that allows you to experience the natural and cultural diversity of this unique mountain chain. Each park offers something different, from the alpine landscapes of the Tatras to the spectacular gorges of the Slovak Paradise to the wild, primeval forests of the Carpathian National Park. This diversity ensures that the Carpathians remain one of Europe's most interesting mountain regions, still waiting to be discovered by nature and mountain hiking enthusiasts.