Slovak Paradise
Slovak Paradise, Geravy, caves
The Slovak Paradise, located in the eastern part of Slovakia, was declared a national park in 1988. It is an ideal place for many attractions, attractions and opportunities for year-round recreation. The biggest positive of the area is a high-quality and healthy environment.
Visitors can forget about everyday stress here. However, in this oasis of peace and quiet, there are plenty of opportunities to use your free time. Nature and sports lovers will find a wide range of opportunities for sports or exploring the beautiful nature and world-famous cultural monuments.
Near the village of Mlynky there are the world-famous Dobšinská Ice Cave, Stratenská Cave, Palcmanská Maša Dam, Zejmarská Gorge. This only accessible gorge in the southern part of the Slovak Paradise will take you to the vast plain of Gerava. It is characterized by forests, mountain meadows and surface karst formations. It is also possible to get to Geravy from the village of Dedinky by chairlift. The cable car route is 2000 m long and is considered one of the most beautiful cable cars in Slovakia.
On a circular road around Mlynky, it is possible to admire impressive rivers such as Hornád and Hnilec, streams - Veľký Sokol, Suchá Belá, Biely potok, gorges with waterfalls, or caves. To make sure you don't miss it, it is also possible to book a tourist guide.
The Slovak Paradise is created for winter hiking not only through gorges, but also a hike through quiet valleys and ridges. When crossing the gorges in winter, it is necessary to pay attention to equipment such as - sturdy shoes, crampons, sticks, spare clothes.
Ice climbing is possible from 1. December to 15. March, when the waterfalls will become icefalls. Areas where ice climbing is allowed:
Falcon Valley,
Suchá Belá,
Kláštorská gorge,
Letanovský mlyn.
Every year in January, the Ice Marathon in the Slovak Paradise takes place, in which, in addition to Slovaks, icebreakers from surrounding countries also participate in various categories.
Gorges for a hike
Suchá Belá,
Kláštorská gorge,
Letanovský mlyn,
Zejmarská gorge,
Piecky Gorge.
Suchá Belá is ideal especially in winter, because you don't have to wait in line for ladders. It is one of the most visited gorges in the Slovak Paradise. The hike takes about 2 hours. The boarding is from Podlesky near Habušice. Along the way, you have the opportunity to see 4 waterfalls (Bowl Waterfalls 29.5m, Window Waterfall 12.5m, Trough Waterfall 8.5m, Side Waterfall 8m).
The Kláštorská gorge begins at the Hornád Gorge at the rope bridge and ends at Kláštorisko. The length of the hike is about 1 hour. Along the way, you have the opportunity to see up to 7 waterfalls (Waterfall of the Explorers 11.5m; Anton Straka Waterfall 13m; Rainbow Waterfall 8.5m; cascades of Gust Nedobré 3m; Small waterfall 3m; Moss waterfall 6m; Carthusian waterfall 4m;)
Zejmarská gorge, the only gorge that is accessible from the southern part. The entrance to this gorge is from the village of Mlynky, part of Biele Vody and the end is on the edge of the Gerava plateau. The length of the hike is about 50 minutes. If we go on this hike, we will certainly see the 22.5m system of Sticker Waterfalls.
Letanovský Mlyn is one of the moderately difficult hikes with a length of 4 hours or more. The beginning is from the village of Hrabušice.
Piecky. This gorge is considered to be the most indented in the Slovak Paradise. The entrance is from Píla near Hrabušice. The length of the hike is 2 hours and on the way we can see 2 waterfalls (Great Waterfall 13m; Terrace waterfall 8m).
Veľký Sokol we rank it among the longest and steepest gorge in the Slovak Paradise. The start is from Píla near Hrabušice and ends on the Glac plateau. The hike takes about 2:30 hours. There are 2 waterfalls along the way (Small waterfall 8.5m; Great waterfall 7m).
Falcon Valley. This gorge is known for having the longest waterfall in the Slovak Paradise. The entrance is in the village of Tomašovská Belá from the crossroads Sokolia dolina estuary. It ends at the Sokolia dolina crossroads, the end. The hike lasts about 2 hours. On the way, we can see 3 waterfalls (Rock Waterfall 3.5m; Veil waterfall 70m; Vyšný waterfall 15.5m).
An easier hike for less demanding tourists is a hike to the Tomášovský view. This hike lasts about 3 to 4 hours and starts from Čingov. At the end of the hike, you will be rewarded with a spectacular view.
Kyseľ entrance to the Kyseľ crossroads accessible from Kláštorisko. Veľký Kyseľ leads to Biskupské chyžky with a hike length of 1:15. Along the way, you can see 4 waterfalls (Pawlasov waterfall 5.5m; Waterfall of the Nature Conservationists 10m; Side barrier waterfall 17m; Barrier waterfall 10m). Malý Kyseľ ends at Suchá Belá, the length of the hike is about 1 hour. On this hike it is possible to see 2 waterfalls ( Small waterfall 7m; Moss Waterfall 8m). Via ferrata of the Mountain Rescue Service – Kyseľ, entry from Biely potok and the end is at the confluence of Malý and Veľký Kyseľ. The Kyseľ ferrata has been open since 1. November to the 15th. A winter closure is in effect in June.
In winter, the Hornád Gorge offers crossing the frozen surface not only on skates, skis, cross-country skis, but also on foot. In case of not very favorable winter weather (non-frozen ice surface), this terrain can be traversed with the help of risers.
If you decide to visit a gorge in the Slovak Paradise, do not forget to check the current information about the conditions in the Slovak Paradise on the website of the Mountain Rescue Service.
