Chata Milana Rastislava Štefánika – Útulňa Ramža Shelter - The E8 Long-Distance Hiking Trail through the Low Tatras – Stage 3

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.