Hiking Slowakia Lower Tatras

Slovakia

 

Four day walks in this mountain area of the Lower Tatras, Slovakia

Getting there: The highways to Vienna (A) and Bratislava , going north to Trenĉin and Ruzomberok. Our destination was  Liptovska Osada, between the higher and lower Tatras, or between Ruzemberok and Banska Bystrica. The Narodny Park Velka Fatra.
Maps: You easy can buy useful walking maps in the cities of Slovakia. Just as in the Czech Republic, the - many - trails are well maintained. We used the “Turisticka Mapa Vel’ka Fatra, nr 121, VKU (Vojensky kartograficky ustav Harmanec. Scale: 1:50.000.
Accommodation: although booked for one night we stayed more days at a pension in Liptovska Osada: a lot of snow. So, we made day walks from this pension (guesthouse).

Easter 1995: 4 day-walks from a private family-pension* in Liptovska Osada. A great base for beautiful hikes across the mountain peaks. To enjoy all those views on the snowy mountain peaks..
Height: 609 m until 1532 m.

12-16 km a day.

Day 1: Liptovska Osada - Malý Zvolen (1372 m) - Zvolen - Donovaly 
Dag 2: Liptovska Osada - Liptovské Revúce climbing the Ploská (1532 m) vv
Dag 3: Liptovska Osada - Ružomberok climbing the Šiprúň  (1461 m) vv
Dag 4: Liptovska Osada - Smrekovica (1530 m) vv

On trail: A dense network of marked hiking trails has been established for tourists to explore Veľká Fatra. Dense forests ( with rhododendron) and many rocky outcrops, ravine-like valleys with remnants of primeval forests, swamps, travertine hills and terraces.
Walking through the snow at Easter is a special experience. In clear weather, phenomenal views. But also 's guessing exactly where the trail goes. And.....fresh bear tracks ....ook there would still live lynx. Near the famous ski resort of Donavaly were some hikers. Other than that, we didn't encounter anyone. No bears either.......

From Ružomberok there are also a few marked trails to the Šiprúň. Ask for information at the Ružomberok tourist office, maps, altitudes, duration, etc.
Distance Liptovsk Osada - Ružomberok 15 km.
The Šiprúň.is a massive mountain with two peaks. If you want to visit one of the best viewing hills of Veľká Fatra, Šiprúň is a good choice. You can expect a view of the surrounding mountains, almost all of Veľká Fatra and also part of the Low Tatras.... 

From Liptovske Revúce a nice, not difficult climb of the Ploská can be made. There and back 11 km. To 1532 m. Marked route. Here you have a great view of the other hills of Clerny Kamen and Rakytov.
Liptovské Revúce is best known for the championships "cooking national dishes". Unfortunately, we do not know when these take place here....

The Low Tatras is a UNESCO protected area. Partly because of the karst rock, one finds beautiful caves here. Such as the Harmanecká jaskyňa with its rich, predominantly white or gray-white dripping decoration, large halls and a system of corridors (just outside the NP).

Hidden in beautiful valleys are some villages, where - around Easter - we were kindly admitted to the local festivities and folklore: mostly (folk) music with a lot of drinks....

* 2019: The pension is closed. But there are alternatives.

Click here for more walks in the Slovak Paradise.

Below a photo-video collage of the Big Tatra, in summer!