Off-trail in the Prószéki valley on an adventure hike in the Chočské vrchy

Itinerary

• We hike up the K trail in the Prosiecka dolina (Prószéki valley) to the Oblazy junction.
• On the K▲ trail, we make a detour to the Vodopád Červené piesky waterfall.
• On the K trail, we reach the top of the gorge, to the Svorad junction.
• In the valley, we return to the starting point on the K trail.

Detailed description of the hike

Upwards in the rock world

From Prosiek, we start on the K trail in the direction of the mountains bordering the upper end of the village. The little known Chočské vrchy (Kócs Mountains) range in our country is arranged in a regular band as a continuation of the Liptovské Tatry (Liptói Havasok), on the edge of the Liptov basin spreading between high mountain ranges. Although its limestone mountains (except for the main peak) only slightly exceed 1000 meters in height, the gorge valleys cutting perpendicularly into the range give a serious impression of a mountainous region. These valleys drain surface water from the higher terrain of Upper Liptov, cutting gorges with impressive limestone cliffs. We soon reach the foot of the mountains by a resting area and nature trail board at the edge of a clearing, where the path also turns into the closing valley.

At first, we meander among alder and willow groves against the flow of the stream, but at one point the valley suddenly changes, with steep limestone walls blocking our way, and only the stream finding a path through the vertical rock incision. Ingeniously constructed plank footbridges lead across the dramatic narrow section, where we can observe the stream's surface-shaping activity up close. The grey limestone walls are divided into hollow recesses as the swirling water occasionally deepened the basin framing the rocky curtain. In fact, it is not primarily the water's dissolving effect, but the gravel it transports that gradually wears down the walls. That is why we see rounded, polished stones everywhere in the bed, rolling down with the water during floods, constantly colliding with each other and the gorge walls.

The narrowest part of the cliff gorge is barely a few tens of meters, at the end of which the footbridge leads to the far bank with a slightly exciting chain section. Here a stone dam backs up the Prosiečanka stream, which roars turbulently over the dam with a noisy foam, deepening a pool on the far side. As we cross this barely hundred-meter narrow section, the valley gradually widens and the walls that were previously within arm's length recede to a respectful distance from the stream, giving way to the emergence of the gorge forest. The perpetually damp, shady valley floor is thickly covered by moss on the solid and calm surfaces. Around us, moisture-demanding trees and soft-stemmed plants form a lush community, typically ferns and dense green willows filling the space through which the widening path pierces. We cross the stream at numerous points, mostly helped by larger rounded boulders, but during snowmelt or rains, the flood filling the bed can cause difficulties. Under a larger cliff wall, we then reach the junction of the gorge, from where we can visit the highest waterfall of the valley system, the nearly ten-meter Vodopád Červené piesky (Red Sand Waterfall). This is about a 10-minute detour to the left in a side valley (descending on a chain section). At the junction, there is a sheltered resting place equipped with tables and benches, so if we want to eat or rest in civilized conditions, it is worth doing so here.

Waterfall among the rock towers

The detour path follows the scree slope accompanied by the K▲ trail and climbs about 70 meters over a distance of barely 300 meters, so the ascent is the biggest effort. In the last section, chain protection provides support on the rocky trail leading under the waterfall. The stream originates in the slopes of the Gruň and Diel mountains above us, on the Liptov and Árva borderland, and here it first meets the cliffs forming the mountain range, running precipitously towards the Liptov basin. In dry periods, we may only see the cliff, but during snowmelt or heavy rains, a substantial waterfall falls down the 15-meter-high vertical wall. Below, the stream collects in a small pool before gathering strength again after the big drop to rush on among the huge stones in the valley. We should move carefully on the always wet rocks, as water-worn surfaces are extremely slippery.

From the waterfall, we return to the junction, from where the main valley of the Prosiečanka stream continues northeast. Still following the K trail, we can exit the gorge, and the most exciting parts are yet to come. From here on, we need to pay even more attention to our steps, especially if the stream is still swollen, although these rock steps are mostly dry. The scree fills the narrow rock bed, and the water flows further between the stones. The cliffs close in again, similarly to the lowest section; a barely several meters long narrow corridor opens, where a higher terrain step also blocks our way. We can overcome this obstacle by a metal ladder, and before that, we climb out of the now adventurous gorge aided by chains. Here in the upper section, large rock basins have formed in the bed, which were also worn by pebbles spun by the falling water. We have to crawl about 50 meters through the narrow gorge until the environment finally softens, with no big elevation differences, so the pine forest can also conquer the valley floor. The previously rocky, gravel path becomes more comfortable and soft; we leave the excitement behind and more pleasant experiences await us on the plateau meadows.

The surrounding pine forest ends almost abruptly as we reach the plateau; only a few pine groups break up the flat pasture sprawling over the terrain. Meadows nestled in the mountains' wreath get sufficient precipitation to serve as green pastures for the population's animals all summer. That is why the forest was cleared here and the gentler terrains were left as pasture.

The return

Our journey ends here, but if we want to visit a good viewpoint, we follow the K trail eastward to the pass where a cross stands beside the road. Here, we turn north onto an unmarked cart path on the hillside rising opposite. The unmarked road is barely a kilometer, reaching the ridge opening onto the Diel meadow. If visibility conditions are good, from there we have a great view of the rocky western part of the Liptovské Tatry, which rises barely 10 kilometers opposite above the forested peaks of the Chočské vrchy.

We can return to Prosiek along the same path, but if we have enough time and energy left, following the K trail further along the neighboring gorge, the Kvačianska dolina (Kvacsány valley), we can descend to Kvačany. From there, the S trail winds back to Prosiek.