Hikes in Jarabá

An easy route from Čertovica to Beňuška is a scenic route suitable also for families with children. It leads along a forest road and grassy mountain meadows with beautiful views of the Low Tatras, Slovak Ore Mountains, and Horehronie basin.

Day 3 Bacúch, crossroads (Vacok, fork) - Čertovica (Devil's Wedding Pass)

With a route length of 16.7 km and 910 m of elevation gain, today’s ride is a bit more leisurely after the rigors of the past few days. We’ll have time to recover in preparation for the two remaining stages. As on previous days, we’ll be traveling through the Low Tatras National Park, established in 1978. In 1997, the protected areas were expanded once again, making it the largest national park in Slovakia by area. During our hike, we cross the imaginary border separating the Western Low Tatras from the Eastern Low Tatras at the Čertovicou mountain pass. At this point, a brief word in favor of long-distance hiking: A long-distance trail always offers the opportunity to push beyond one’s limits. It is a journey into the unknown that leads back to oneself. When you leave your familiar surroundings behind, you look far beyond your own horizons, and that’s when you learn the most about yourself. The 5-day long-distance hiking trail described here is a self-guided introductory course—go for it!> From Chata generála Milana Rastislava Štefánika01 (1,720 m), we pass the SNP monument and begin our day’s hike heading east across the mountain ridge of the Low Tatras, which stretches out before us. We hike mostly above the tree line on the grassy meadows typical of these high altitudes, within the Nízke Tatry National Park. We descend into the realm of the mountain pines to Kumštové sedlo02 (1,549 m). After a series of ups and downs—as is typical in the mountains—we then begin a steady descent to the Čertovica road pass. At this point, our route intersects with Hiking Trail 12. Right by the road here, you’ll find lodging and a restaurant. There are no shopping options here! For a more relaxed, rustic atmosphere away from the noise of the road, head left downhill behind the pass road to Chata pod Čertovicou03 (1,130 m). This comfortable lodging is more like a hotel than a mountain hut.

One of the easiest hikes in the Low Tatras, allowing you to reach the scenic heights of the range without much effort. The starting point is the mountain village of Vyšná Boca, where visitors are surprised by the small ski resort of Bačova Roveň. Starting at the Evangelical church—one of the village’s cultural landmarks—we hike past historic buildings toward the main ridge of the Low Tatras. From the scenic high-altitude trail, we look north into the picturesque valley with the Váh—Slovakia’s longest river—and south toward the Hron River, which separates the Low Tatras from the Slovak Ore Mountains. On a clear day, you can also see along the western and eastern ridges of the “Skeleton of Slovakia,” as the main mountain ridge is also known.> About 5 m north of the aging church in Vyšná Boca01 (960 m), a side road branches off to the right from the main road through town. There is also a signpost at this point; we follow the marked hiking trail toward Bacúšske sedlo. At the next fork in the road, we keep slightly to the right and walk past historic farmhouses. At the end of the paved road02 (1,034 m), the trail continues on a gravel path. At a fork in the trail, we continue straight ahead and cross the stream. Near some isolated wooden huts, the trail forks again; we take the path slightly to the right and pass the gate. Where the trail branches off to the left and right, we continue straight ahead on the marked path, which tends to be more of a stream bed than a hiking trail after prolonged periods of rain. We cross a path in the nearly treeless terrain. Once we reach a mountain ridge, we walk a few meters to the right and then turn left below the ridge to reach Bacúšske sedlo03 (1,319 m). We now head west on the E8 long-distance hiking trail toward Čertovica. At the next fork in the trail, both branches lead to our destination. After a longer stretch, we reach Sedlo pod Lenivou04 (1,378 m) and follow the signs to the right toward Čertovica. The forest road leads gently downhill to the Čertovica Pass05 (1,232 m). Just before the pass road with the houses, a narrow paved road branches off to the right and leads downhill. There is also a signpost here pointing toward Chata pod Čertovicou, 100 m away. After a short descent, you’ll reach a side road leading to the lodge and its restaurant. If you skip the side road, the trail through the valley takes you past several historic farmhouses. At the main road through Vyšná Boca01, turn right to return to the starting point.